WHETHER its conservation, angling or water sports you are interested in, South West Lakes Trust has a variety of volunteering opportunities on offer to suit all.

The current economic climate may be having an influence on the number of job seekers turning to volunteering. Those searching for jobs are realising the massive benefits to their chances of employment that volunteering can bring. Potential employers will always view constructive volunteering activities favourably, as it demonstrates commitment and genuine drive to achieve.

The South West Lakes Trust (SWLT) Conservation team has always had a strong link with volunteers.

The last year has given rise to an influx of applications from volunteers who wish to work with the conservation team at SWLT in various different roles across the region.

Conservation volunteers gain valuable practical skills, meet like-minded people, learn new theories and good practice in planning events etc, and get a healthy lifestyle out of it at the same time.

So far this year SWLT conservation officer Richard Smith has inducted five new voluntary conservation officers (VCOs) into roles at College and Argal Lakes, Siblyback, Stithians and Roadford. As well as the VCOs, a good number of additional volunteers have signed up with the SWLT conservation team to gain as much experience as possible, some wanting to join work groups on the sites, and others individually recording wildlife on the sites — both aspects of volunteering are invaluable to SWLT.

Some of the activities of SWLT volunteers currently include botanical surveys of meadows, practical bracken management, freshwater invertebrate surveys, reptile and amphibian surveys, invasive weed management and removal, culm grassland research, bat monitoring, and promotion of conservation activities. It is a wide ranging role which appeals to a variety of people regardless of age, gender and background.

South West Lakes Trust holds an annual Volunteer Awards ceremony to acknowledge the crucial role that volunteers play across the board, including conservation volunteers, angling volunteers, watersports volunteers and many more.

This year's awards will take place on October 6 at Lakeside, Roadford Lake.

If you would like to get involved with the conservation team at SWLT email Richard Smith at [email protected]">[email protected]

For all other volunteering enquiries please call 01566 771930 or email [email protected]">[email protected]