The award celebrates the remarkable contribution volunteers make to caring for our landscapes, wildlife and communities across Oxfordshire. Together, Earth Trust volunteers have given more than 21,500 hours of their time to support conservation, education and community programmes across the 530 hectares of land we care for.
From helping manage grasslands, woodlands and wetlands to supporting children’s learning, administration and creative projects, volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Their dedication helps us care for the extraordinary landscape around Wittenham Clumps and our network of community nature reserves across the county.
The award was accepted on behalf of the volunteer community by Nicola Frost, Earth Trust’s Volunteering and People Manager, alongside volunteers Tan Ridgway and Julia Hurley, at a ceremony held at the University of Oxford’s Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities on 15 September.
Nicola said:
“Our volunteer community has grown from strength to strength, increasing from around 50 people to 300 over the last seven years. They support every part of Earth Trust’s work, from conservation and land management to education and community engagement. We’re incredibly proud of everything they achieve and delighted to see their commitment recognised with this award.”
Among the many highlights are seeing habitats transformed through collective effort and supporting young people to develop confidence and skills through programmes such as Young Rangers. Volunteers also contribute to biodiversity surveys, helping build a deeper understanding of the landscape and how it can be protected for future generations.
Of course, the work is not without its challenges. Conservation takes time, results are not always immediate, and the British weather doesn’t always cooperate. Supporting a growing and diverse volunteer community also requires flexibility, learning and continuous improvement. Yet these challenges have helped create a stronger, more inclusive and resilient volunteering programme.
At the heart of it all is a shared belief that small actions, taken together, can have a significant impact. Earth Trust’s volunteers are not only caring for nature today, they’re helping ensure it can be enjoyed by future generations.
Being shortlisted for the Make A Difference Awards is a wonderful recognition of their dedication, passion and collective achievement. Whatever the outcome, their contribution already makes an extraordinary difference every single day.
