Organisation Name:
Upper Ouse Conservation Trust
Organisation's Cause(s):
Animals
Education & Learning
Environment / Green Spaces
Location of voluntary activity:
Great and Little Ouseburn, York.
When are volunteers needed: Anytime between May and September each year. Alternate Thursdays and Saturdays. See website for details.
Type of Voluntary Activity:
Conservation
Role description:
Last year we set up the UOCT community benefit society and purchased 20 acres of threatened land between the two villages and have turned it into a nature reserve with public access and given ½ acre to the village school as green space.
The site is very bio-diverse and wildlife rich but suffers from some degradation due to the infestation of Himalayan Balsam. We do have a volunteer squad who come out every week to pull the balsam but need all the help we can get to try and get on top of the problem.
The River Ouse rises in Ouseburn and the Ouse Beck flows through the reserve so addressing the balsam in the upper Ouse will certainly benefit the River Ouse as it flows through York.
Skills and behaviours needed for the role:
Interested in nature and conservation.
Able to assist with pulling Balsam.
Friendly and able to work well with others.
Will there be a DBS check? No
Driving Licence required? No
Volunteer's own vehicle required? No
Suitable for:
Families
Groups
Hearing impaired
Intellectual/Learning Disabilities
One-off Volunteering
Short term Volunteering
Volunteers Under 18
Volunteers with limited English
What will the volunteer gain/benefit from:
Working with other people.
Making a positive difference to the environment.
Enjoying nature.
Good exercise.
Mindfullness.
How to get involved:
Please visit the website www.uoct.org.uk
Email [email protected]
Call 07811213703
Web link: Click here
Closing date: 01-09-2026