The Ayrshire Rivers Trust is made up of a team of dedicated Ayrshire based biologists, ecologists and environmental managers working to improve our rivers and lochs. What you might be doing as a volunteer? - There may be availability to take part in electrofishing surveys during summer months – contact the Trust for more information. - Tree planting and native seed collection. - Assisting with our tree nursery. - Green engineering – we routinely undertake green engineering installations and projects. What are the benefits to volunteer with ART? - It adds to your education from school to postgraduate - It promotes health and wellbeing - It increases social conscience - It makes you feel part of a community - It promotes inclusion - It encourages environmental benefit

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.