Get Involved

Having celebrated the opening of our new Welcome Centre in December 2022, we are now pleased to offer an exciting new volunteering opportunity. This role is perfect for those who love talking to new people about heritage and nature. There is also the option to be in the heart of the action at events and family activity days throughout the year.

Our Visitor Experience volunteers will have the opportunity to get involved in:

The Welcome Centre

• Greeting visitors and being the first point of contact at the Country Park;
• Booking and signing in visitors for events, workshops and activities;
• Providing information, assisting with general enquiries about the Country Park, keeping up to date on events, happening in the Country Park and wildlife sightings;
• Processing ticket and shop sales;
• Assisting with the upkeep of the Welcome Centre, basic cleaning and tidying tasks and decorating the space.

Country Park Events

• Stewarding duties, providing information to visitors and assisting with queries for a variety of events throughout the year;
• Engaging with children and families in the ‘craft shed’;
• Assisting with the set-up and take-down of events;
• Assisting with evaluation by taking surveys and recording visitor numbers.

If you’re looking for work experience Upton Country Park can offer a range of placements that will provide you with practical skills and real-world experience to build your CV. Join our friendly, fun and engaging team for weekly roles or block placements.

A placement with our Visitor Services team will get you involved in everything from greeting visitors or helping with events, to working with school groups and creating new park activities and trails. Get experience in working with and for different audiences, marketing (including social media for business), event planning and customer service.

Or, work with our Operations Team and our amazing volunteers to get involved in all the practical elements of looking after the Country Park. From pruning to pond clearance and everything in between, gain practical hands-on experience of wildlife and habitat conservation, horticulture, and grounds maintenance.

Our Work Experience placements can run as either a weekly volunteering day or afternoon to build up your hours, or as a block placement over one or two weeks, whatever suits you.

Tell us what you want and help us make it happen.

If you are aged between 13 and 17 and looking for a way to get involved in and give back to your community, then you are warmly invited to join our Youth Volunteers.

The group meets once a month to get involved with fun outdoor activities, followed by an opportunity for you to lend us your voice and thoughts in our feedback session around the campfire, and get involved in organising youth events at the Country Park.

Boost your CV, gain volunteering hours, learn new skills, meet new people and get outdoors! (snacks provided!)

Youth Volunteers will be given the opportunity to gain experience in:

• Outdoor bushcraft and practical conservation
• Teamwork and Leadership skills
• Event organising and project management
• Marketing – including through our social media channels
• Interpretation – find out how we make the story of the Country Park come alive for visitors

When: On the last Saturday of the month, February – November, from 1pm- 3pm (please check our calendar for date confirmation)

Where: Meet at the Education Centre (see our Park Map)

If you have a thirst for knowledge, are interested in history or the conservation of your local landscape come and join our team of Interpretation and Research Volunteers.

• Use your enquiring mind to help us complete the picture of Upton Country Park’s history, tell the stories of the families that lived and worked here and gather memories from our local community, or
• Help us to record and monitor the wildlife and natural environment of the estate and uncover its natural heritage, so that we can protect it for future generations.

Contribute to the information that will be provided for visitors throughout the site and have the opportunity to work alongside the Friends of Upton Country Park, Poole Museum and History Centre, Birds of Poole Harbour and the Dorset Wildlife Trust to preserve our precious histories and landscapes for years to come.

No previous experience of research is necessary, just an enthusiasm for knowing more!

Help us with whatever time you can give to delve into the estate’s varied history or habitats and meet once a fortnight to gather and share our findings, build your skills and have a voice in how the knowledge is used.

We are looking for dedicated Engagement and Learning Volunteers to assist in the creation and delivery of our exciting new Learning Programmes.

This is the perfect way to help out if you have a background in or want to gain experience of working with schools, families and community groups, both in the Country Park and out in the local area. Use your passion for imparting knowledge and have the opportunity to work on special projects and new activities, shape our learning programme and engage our visitors in the history and habitats of the estate.

• Work around the Country Park and in schools to assist in teaching history, art and STEM subjects linked to the estate, or
• Work with local groups and families to get them involved in events at the Country Park and active in the community.

A regular weekly full or half day attendance will be required for this role (on a weekday M-F); travel expenses will be paid.

This role will require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which will be carried out at our expense.

The Gardening Group

Our Gardening Group meet Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10am near the Tea Rooms (please email uptoncountrypark@bcpcouncil.gov.uk to confirm location details).

Tasks include pruning and clearing the Walled Garden, borders and formal back lawn as well as the winter gardens near the memorial trees and Gazebo.

Practical Conservation

On Mondays, Thursdays & Fridays volunteers can get involved in practical conservation type tasks such as hedge laying, pond management and coppicing.

Please get in touch for further details as tasks change through the seasons; email uptoncountrypark@bcpcouncil.gov.uk  or call 01202 127770.