People will be able to come into the Hut to find out all about the wildlife and habitats of Blashford, where to go to see particular species and what to look out for as they explore the reserve. They will also be able to find out about the many activities and sessions that take place on the reserve.

But what is a Welcome Hut without the welcome? We are now recruiting a small team of Welcome Volunteers to staff the hut, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to begin with. The main job of the Welcome Volunteers will be to provide a friendly face for visitors, offering information about the reserve and wildlife spotting tips. There may also be opportunities to help by selling small items of Trust merchandise, loaning pond dipping equipment to families and get involved in tasks associated with the day to day running of the Hut itself. It promises to be a fun volunteer role for anyone who has some time to spare and enjoys chatting about Blashford and its varied and beautiful wildlife. Our lovely new Welcome Hut and training and equipment for our new Welcome Volunteers are being funded by Veolia Environmental Trust with money from the Landfill Communities Fund.

So here comes the ask… Do you love wildlife? Do you enjoy working with people and sharing your enthusiasm? Are you looking to learn new skills and meet like-minded people? If you would like to find out more about becoming a Welcome Volunteer at Blashford, go to Welcome Volunteers | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust or email Jess.Parsons@hiwwt.org.uk. We’re very much looking forward to hearing from you.