BBC Make A Difference Awards – Finalists!

Earth Trust Volunteers: Making a Difference for Nature and People

We’re incredibly proud that Earth Trust’s volunteers have been named one of just four finalists in the BBC Make A Difference Awards 2026 in the Environmental Award Category. This recognition celebrates the remarkable contribution our volunteers make to nature, people and the places we care for every day.

At Earth Trust, volunteering is about much more than giving time. It’s about coming together to care for a shared landscape and creating lasting positive change.

Across our 530-hectare estate, volunteers play a vital role in restoring habitats, planting hedgerows and trees, creating wildflower meadows, monitoring wildlife, supporting education programmes, welcoming visitors and helping at events. Together, they make it possible for more than 200,000 people each year to access green spaces and for thousands of children to experience meaningful connections with nature.

In 2025 alone, volunteers contributed more than 21,000 hours of their time, helping tackle biodiversity loss and climate change while creating thriving places for both people and wildlife.

For many volunteers, their journey began with a simple desire to make a difference. Some wanted to spend more time outdoors, others were looking to learn new skills, find purpose or connect with like-minded people. What they found was a welcoming community and an opportunity to turn concern for the environment into positive action.

What keeps them coming back is seeing the impact of that work firsthand. Whether it’s watching hedgerows establish, wildflowers return, or wildlife flourish, volunteers can see the difference they’re helping to create. Equally important are the personal benefits: improved wellbeing, new friendships, valuable skills and a real sense of belonging.

 

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.

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