Volunteering Opportunities

Opportunities to join the National Park as a new volunteer are listed on this page. Unsure which area is closest to you? Check out the map to see which is your nearest one.

We work closely with many partners across the National Park, from land owners, large estates and national organisations to smaller community groups and trusts, to provide rewarding and interesting opportunities for our volunteers, that also meet our operational needs and corporate priorities, to help conserve and promote the special qualities of the National Park.

Please note our practical conservation opportunities vary according to landscape, season, access to land and wildlife cycles.

Apply now

Email us at –

volunteering@southdowns.gov.uk 

Practical Conservation Volunteering –

Eastern Downs –

Our Eastern Downs team covers an area from Steyning to Eastbourne, and works out of two locations at Stanmer Park and Seven Sisters Country Park.

Recruitment in this area is paused as all of our volunteer taster days are fully booked. We hope to hold more later in the year, please check back regularly.

• Practical Conservation Volunteer – Volunteering on both weekdays and weekends

Western Downs

Our Western Downs team covers and area from Petersfield to Winchester with an office near Droxford.

• Practical Conservation Volunteer – Volunteering on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays

Central Downs –

Our Central Downs team covers an area broadly from the A24 to  Petersfield with an office near Singleton.

• Barn Owl monitoring and ringing programme Volunteer – 3 year training opportunity – CLOSED

Due to a huge response, the Barn Owl monitoring role is now CLOSED – those that have applied will hear from us shortly.

• Practical Conservation Volunteer – Volunteering on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays
• River Guardian Mink Volunteer – Volunteering Ad hoc 
• Church Copse Volunteers – Currently CLOSED for the off season

 Other Opportunities 

Across the park

• Planning Admin Support – Eastern Ranger Team – Volunteering Ad hoc – Homebased

• Seven Sisters Country Park –

• Public Surveys Volunteer – Heritage and Landscape engagement

The VOCul project (Valuing Outdoor Culture and Heritage) is a collaboration between researchers from the University of Exeter, South Downs National Park Authority, Forestry England and National Trust, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

This is a date specific project, with surveys being conducted every day between Monday 23 June and Sunday 6 July.

When emailing your interest, as this is a public engagement role, please include information about any relevant or transferable skills or experience you may have, including communicating with others, conducting surveys or data entry, and interacting directly with the public. We would also like to know why you are interested in this particular role, and what you hope your availability might be during this period.

Please note the training for the project will take place at SSCP on the morning of Monday 23 June.

• Visitor Experience Volunteer – Volunteering on both weekdays and weekends
• Tours and Public Engagement Volunteer – Volunteering on both weekdays and weekends