WILDLIFE lovers are being encouraged to visit Wentworth Castle this weekend as part of a national day of volunteering.

Volunteers have been asked to come along to the venue between 11am and 3pm on Saturday and record the number of butterflies they spot whilst wandering around the gardens and parkland as part of The Big Help Out.

By noting how many butterflies call the gardens of Wentworth Castle home, the rangers will be able to better understand what is thriving there and we be able to improve their habitat.

A National Trust spokesperson said: “This weekend, millions of people are going to be doing extraordinary things in every community in the country and it feels amazing to be a part of that collective effort.

“We’re looking forward to seeing people come together for the benefit of the local area and play their part in a project that’s going to make a difference to the lives of so many local people.”

The event is one of hundreds taking place across the country this weekend as part of this year’s ‘Big Help Out’ - a nationwide volunteering opportunity organised by The Together Initiative, a coalition of some of the UK’s best known businesses and organisations.

Brendan Cox, co-founder of Together, said “Volunteering took a real hit from Covid, and numbers still haven’t recovered.

“That doesn’t just mean that community organisations have less capacity, it also means that too few people are getting the huge benefits of volunteering - it’s good for your mental health, good for self-esteem and a great way to meet people too.

“We’re urging people to join us and give it a go - it’s so rewarding and it really could be one of the best things you ever do.”