The John O Groat Trail relies on volunteers to help improve the coastal paths and environment on the East Coast of northern Scotland. It links into the North Coast 500 route and encourages tourism and environmental preservation. Volunteers work on improving access to paths and tracks, but they can also help with litter picks, beach cleans or one-off activities periodically. Mostly conducted in Spring/Summer months and at weekends, howevr Volunteers are welcome to get in touch all year around and support this group.

Our visitor centre is getting ready for the new osprey and visitor season and we are looking for volunteers for one or more of the following roles: Guide in the Hide volunteer – This role is perfect for volunteers with enthusiasm for birds and a desire to communicate this to visitors, providing them with a quality bird watching experience in our viewing hides overlooking the loch Visitor Centre Volunteer – This is a front of house type role, meeting visitors, making them feel welcome and ensuring they have an enjoyable visit to our centre. There are also retail and membership aspects to the opportunity. Reserve Maintenance Volunteer – Help keep the path network and access to the centre clear and safe for visitors. A more practical volunteer opportunity with less visitor engagement aspects.

The beautiful coastal reserve of Spey Bay is a mosaic of wildlife rich habitats including the largest shingle beach in Scotland, saltmarsh and wet woodland. Bottlenose dolphins, common and grey seals visit the estuary, and foraging osprey are often spotted. Over 120 species of bird are found here including terns, shelduck, pintail, tufted duck, ringed plover, knot and dunlin. Offshore in the Moray Firth wintering populations of sea duck are found such as scaup, long-tailed duck, velvet scoter, goldeneye and red-breasted merganser. The reserve is also home to the rare small blue butterfly. Volunteer with the Scottish Wildlife Trust to help look after the unique wildlife of this area.We need volunteers to help carry out practical management work to maintain and enhance the important habitats and access at Spey Bay. Volunteer days are typically held on the third Tuesday of each month from 10.00am-3pm and you can join in for all or part-of the day. The opportunity will allow people to develop skills, meet new people and get outdoors through carrying out practical conservation tasks such as: Scrub Clearance, Tree Felling, Bat/Bird Boxes, Path Building, Beach/Forest Cleaning and Monitoring Surveys.

The Allotment Market Stall provides good-quality, well-priced, locally grown fruit and vegetables and reduces waste. We have opportunities this season for volunteers to be a part of developing our nature friendly market garden, based at Grove Nursery, Hazlehead, Aberdeen, AB15 8LD on Thursdays 1-3pm and/or Sundays 1-3pm. This provides the opportunity to: • Join in with the cultivation of a nature friendly market garden • Would suit someone who enjoys outdoors and nature and wants to be part of a community project promoting local food growing. Main tasks involve: • Help make and plant up our no dig beds. • Sowing seeds and looking after them. • Planting and tending fruit and veg. • Garden maintenance and DIY. Full training will be given. Volunteers will be accompanied and supported at all times. This is a great opportunity to: • Make a difference in your city and the environment. • Be a part of a community of growers. • Learn gardening skills. To get involved/for more information please email Jackie Welsh, TAMS Volunteer Coordinator at: Theallotmentmarketstall@gmail.com