If you would like to become a volunteer in the New Forest you don’t have to move out of your house to find out more.

The National Park Authority’s Volunteer Fair on Sunday 6 March is an online event with over 15 local organisations including Ringwood Race Against Time and Fordingbridge Greener Living offering a diverse range of volunteering opportunities, talks and live Q&A sessions.

The fair is the finale of the month-long Awakening Festival organised by the National Park Authority to encourage people to help tackle the climate and nature emergencies in the New Forest.

The Volunteer Fair normally attracts more than 700 people interested in volunteering with over 50 local organisations offering opportunities. Last year the event couldn’t take place because of Covid restrictions but, rather than miss another year, an online version has been created, aiming to attract people who might not have visited the fair before.

Organiser Jim Mitchell, from the New Forest National Park Authority, said: “This fair is a great opportunity for anyone curious about volunteering. Every volunteer has their own story to tell about what they have gained from volunteering and what they have given to the forest. We’re hoping that hundreds more people will be able to join online this year to find out what is on offer and then try out volunteering for themselves.

“Just sign up and come along to the free online fair to hear presentations and ask questions via the chat. There will be fascinating short online talks throughout the day on subjects such as ‘Saving the New Forest’, ‘conservation, coppicing & charcoal’, and ‘how volunteering can benefit people’s mental health’. We have several community groups attending who are working to meet the climate and nature crisis and will talk about how people can get involved.”

To find out more, and see the full programme of talks and a list of exhibitors, visit and register online at https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/volunteerfair.