Bristol Parks Volunteering

Bristol Parks Volunteering programme provides training, guidance and support for active citizens and volunteers to get involved in caring for parks and green space across the city.

Bristol Parks Volunteer coordinators are:

• Nic Ferris, part time: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
• Hayley Swift, part time, Monday, Thursday, Friday

Email: parkvolunteers@bristol.gov.uk

Friends of Park groups and work party Volunteer Leaders:

The council works with volunteer led Friends of Park groups across Bristol to care for and improve our city's green spaces. There are over 60 active Friends of Park groups in Bristol. View a list on the Bristol Parks Forum site.

Many Friends of Park Groups deliver work plans and activities that help care for and increase awareness of their park. Volunteer-led activities and work parties need to have a trained BCC Park Volunteer Leader present.

Individuals interested in becoming a Park Volunteer Leader should first gain experience as an active member of a Friends of Park group or park improvement project. This ensures you have a good understanding of working with your local community and Bristol Parks before stepping up to the role.

What work party park volunteer leaders do:

Park Volunteer Leaders carry out practical activities in parks with council training and insurance cover, following our parks health and safety processes.

Volunteer leaders are provided with a role description for their activities. This could include practical work such as litter picking or plant care, leading walks and talks in parks, or doing wildlife surveys.

You'll need to apply to be a volunteer leader if you want to 

• lead work sessions for a Friends of Park group activity
• start a new wildlife project, or wildlife survey
• support one of our rangers to lead work sessions

We currently offer 4 lead volunteer roles:

• Park Volunteer Leader (work parties)
• Wildlife Recorder Volunteer Leader
• Park Staff Led session Volunteer Leader
• Cemetery Volunteer Leader

For more information visit our webpages here:

Volunteering in parks (bristol.gov.uk)

This profile page was last updated in September 2026