Sir – International environmental charity Earthwatch is seeking volunteers to join a new research expedition right here in the UK. The Oxfordshire-based project is part of an ongoing global forest research programme.

Volunteers are needed to join the Climate Change in Wytham Woods expedition. Based at Earthwatch’s Europe Regional Climate Centre in the beautiful, ancient Wytham Woods, you will have an exciting opportunity to contribute to forest research which is assessing the impacts of climate change on forests worldwide.

As an Earthwatch volunteer, you will learn the many field techniques essential to capturing accurate data, and will work closely with both scientists and fellow volunteers.

You will help to establish and study experimental plots in the wood, tag and identify trees, measure tree diameters and CO2 emissions, and potentially even spend time in the laboratory analysing the data you collect. Evening educational sessions will cover topics related to climate change and the environment.

This is your chance to be part of “citizen science”, finding solutions to pressing environmental problems, while at the same time enjoying the beauty and diversity of nature as you work. This team will focus specifically on tree responses to climate change, but you will also learn about mammals, moths, and woodlice.

The team dates are from August 8-14 and the expedition costs £595. If you would like to join the team, to find out more please visit www.earthwatch.org/europe, or call 01865 318831. We hope to see you in the field.

Tom Berry, Manager of Volunteer Programmes, Earthwatch