Volunteering

We need friendly volunteers to assist on our dino trail

Can’t commit to regular volunteering? Seasonal volunteering is for you! We need special volunteers to help during our busy holiday periods – tasks will be varied.

We accept volunteers over the age of 18 to assist us in our Animal Park. Our volunteers are our Zoo Keeper Assistants and must commit to a minimum of one full day a fortnight (ideally one day a week, more than this is great). We are looking for dedicated, long term volunteers who are keen to learn new information and skills. It is a very busy, hands on role which can include the following duties:

• General animal husbandry: Cleaning animal enclosures (with and without animals in them), giving fresh water, changing beds, disinfecting enclosures and objects in them, preparing feeds and sometimes assisting with feeding and enrichment, helping with fruit and vegetable deliveries.
• General maintenance of enclosures: Weeding, washing windows and railings, raking etc.
• General site maintenance: Litter picking, sweeping paths, painting, emptying and washing bins and cleaning and tidying staff areas (feed room, hay and straw barn etc.)
• You may sometimes be asked to help with manning walk-through exhibits, keeper talks and shows.

Our conservation cabin is situated in the middle of the park, opposite the Red Pandas and next to the Big Cats. It is staffed exclusively by volunteers, with all profits going to support conservation projects ranging from endangered species and habitats to native British Wildlife.

The role involves:

• A full range of retail activities, including arranging displays, serving customers, pricing and restocking, and cash management.
• Engaging with customers to explain our fundraising purpose, conservation objectives and achievements to date.
• Acting as an information point for visitors needing directions or assistance.
• Helping to ensure all visitors have a most enjoyable day.
• Optionally, Conservation Team Volunteers have the opportunity to attend and assist at a range of special events organised throughout the year to raise awareness of, and funds for, specific conservation projects.
• All Conservation Team Volunteers are welcome to attend the monthly team meetings and contribute to the running of the group.