NEW volunteers to survey a large part of the North Devon coastline are needed by the National Trust as part of a project to reconnect people to the North Devon coastline. 

Over a week from September 9 to 15, the Trust will be running drop-in sealife surveys across 100 miles of North Devon and Exmoor coastline.

The charity is hoping to find willing helpers of all ages to join the North Devon and Exmoor ranger teams at three different drop-in survey places during this week-long project, made possible by the People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Between September 9 and 15 the National Trust rangers and volunteers will be recording the different sealife spotted, from sea birds to porpoises. 

The results will be compiled to provide data on a stretch of coastline more than 100 miles long, and sent to the Sea Watch Foundation (www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk), a national charity working to improve the conservation and protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises in British and Irish waters.

On Tuesday, September 12 at 11am-1pm, rangers will run a two-hour public sealife survey at Heddon’s Mouth Beach on Exmoor.  It is accessible by foot or by tramper (an electric all-terrain mobility scooter, which is available to book through the National Trust’s Heddon Valley hub on 01598 763402). 

Also, on Tuesday at 11am-1pm, another public survey will be run by the rangers at Mortehoe’s Seal Seat on the coast path. Finally, on Friday, September 15, 10am-1pm at Hurlstone Point, Bossington, the National Trust will be running a public survey in partnership with Somerset Wildlife Trust. 

Anyone who wants to join can drop in at any time during the surveying hours and learn how to identify different sealife species, and record their findings.  

National Trust Volunteering and Community Officer, Amy U’Ren, who is managing the survey project, says: “The sea is such an important part of life here in North Devon and on Exmoor, and our rangers and volunteers are doing lots of exciting work that will improve the coastline for the nature and people who live here. 

“These surveys are a great chance to learn more about volunteering for the National Trust, meet the rangers, and to do your bit for North Devon’s sealife. We’re always looking for people who love nature and the outdoors to join our friendly, welcoming volunteering community.”

Anybody interested in volunteering for the National Trust in North Devon and Exmoor can drop in to help on a survey and will have the opportunity to chat to members of the ranger team about the different roles available as well as to find out about the benefits of volunteering for the National Trust. 

Volunteer roles are flexible and can offer people a great opportunity to learn something new, meet new people or to add something different to your CV.

Bob Walters, volunteer with National Trust’s West Exmoor ranger team, says: “You can get involved with as much, or as little, as you would like, from accessible surveying to physical tasks like footpath maintenance. 

“You will make friends for life, enjoy your lunch on the beach in glorious sunshine and plant trees in pouring rain! But I can assure you, you will see places you’ve never seen before, views to take your breath away and learn skills you never thought you would. 

“And every minute you give is not only valued, but absolutely appreciated by our National Trust rangers!”

To find out more about the sealife surveys, visit the ‘Things to see at do’ page on the Heddon Valley, Woolacombe, and Bossington National Trust websites, and the ‘What’s On’ page on Somerset Wildlife Trust’s website, or email [email protected]. The results from a boat-based survey by the National Trust’s Hartland ranger team will also be included in the compiled findings.

For more information on the Trust’s current volunteer opportunities please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/volunteer.