Volunteering with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust

 Question of the day: Who’s your favourite hedgehog? 

If your answer is Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, then you’d be correct.

Whether you know them from Beatrix Potter or late-night garden sightings, hedgehogs are one of Britain's most beloved animals. That's why, on one rainy June day, Roy Hooper (our IT Technician) used one of his paid volunteering days to help the Cornwall Wildlife Trust at Helman Tor, near Bodmin.

His job for the day: collecting footage from wildlife cameras set up to find out more about these iconic countryside creatures.

Here’s Roy to tell us more about his experience of volunteering with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

What is the Cornwall Wildlife Trust?

The Cornwall Wildlife Trust is one of 46 Wildlife Trusts working across the UK, protecting our wildlife and wild places. The Cornwall Wildlife Trust specifically manages 5,500 acres of Cornish land, plus the sea, creating a Cornwall where nature thrives.

In 2023, it launched the largest-ever nature recovery scheme in Cornwall, using new rewilding techniques at its largest nature reserve, Helman Tor.

The Rewilding Helman Tor project’s aim is to protect 30% of land, rivers, and seas for nature by 2030.

Check out the Cornwall Wildlife Trust site for more information on all the amazing work they get up to.

Volunteering with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust

Why did you volunteer with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust?

“I’m a big fan of the countryside - I’m always hiking and camping whenever and wherever I can. Plus, wildlife has no voice of its own; it needs volunteers to protect and preserve it, making sure it thrives for future generations to enjoy as much as I have - so if I can do my bit to help preserve the things I love to enjoy, then I absolutely will.”

How did you go about signing up?

“I actually first heard about Cornwall Wildlife Trust through a volunteer stand. The experience sounded perfect for me: physically demanding and full of hedgehogs (hopefully!) - two things I love!”

What was the whole experience like?

“A month before my volunteering day, another set of volunteers set out trail cameras to monitor the activity of hedgehogs and other animals. It was then our group’s job to collect these cameras, calibrate them, and record any changes in environment, angle, or damage that might stop the cameras from working.

"We spent most of the day trekking across wet heathland, checking cameras hidden among the gorse, and keeping an eye out for any wildlife.”

“Overall, it was a great day with like-minded people, and I’d definitely be up for doing it again!”

What’s next for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust?

“There’s actually some really exciting stuff going on! This experience was part of a larger ‘Tor to Shore’ project, which is a 5-year plan to join multiple habitats across Cornwall. The goal is to be able to reintroduce animals that were once hunted to extinction - such as the beaver (which has been reintroduced successfully to the Fowey and at Helman Tor!).”

Volunteering with Brand Revolution

Thanks for sharing your amazing experience with us, Roy!

At Brand Revolution, we want our team to feel they don't have to choose between working hours and supporting causes that matter to them.

That’s why we give every one of our team members two paid volunteering days a year - for them to dedicate to causes that matter most to them.

Interested in finding out more about what our team cares about in their spare time? Check out all our charity work and match-funded campaigns below for some proper feel-good moments.