The animal charity is recruiting 'Wildlife Friends' to mark the King's Coronation 

The RSPCA is recruiting hundreds of volunteers to take part in the Big Help Out on May 8 to mark King Charles III's Coronation celebrations - with one dedicated RSPCA volunteer already very familiar with the new Monarch

The drive is part of a major volunteering initiative and the RSPCA is asking people to sign up as 'Wildlife Friends', a brand new volunteering role and join thousands of others making a difference.

The animal charity's Royal connection goes back more than 180 years, and it is proud to be part of the Coronation celebrations and the Big Help Out.

One RSPCA volunteer who is looking forward to May's festivities is Denise Gillett, an animal rescue volunteer and keen Royalist.

Denise's devotion to Royalty earned her a 'Happy New Year message' from the new monarch during a holiday trip to Norfolk.

At New Year, King Charles III supported an annual tradition - so loved by the late Queen, of attending a morning service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham - when Denise ventured boldly from the watching crowd. She offered her good wishes to the monarch, whose life-time of service has been the inspiration for the Big Help Out.

The national day of volunteering aims to encourage people to try volunteering for themselves - as well as celebrating those who already volunteer. It wants to bring communities together and create a lasting legacy beyond the Coronation weekend.

Denise recalled: "It was so nice to be there at Sandringham to see King Charles III. We always go to Norfolk for the New Year and this year we were there when the King and Queen Consort were making their way to church at Sandringham.

"We couldn't miss the event - as it felt so right to be there with it being the first time Charles was there as King. We were so close to him when he walked by and I shouted 'Happy New Year' and he turned and wished me one too - it was so lovely to be there at the right moment!"

Denise, from Market Bosworth in Leicestershire, has been an RSPCA animal rescue volunteer for the last 18 months. She has helped the charity's inspectors and animal rescue officers make numerous collections of wildlife and small animals, during that time.

The RSPCA already has 10,000 amazing volunteers who are helping tens of thousands of animals every year. But it needs even more volunteers so we can better protect wildlife. That is why it is recruiting 'Wildlife Friends' to take part in the Big Help Out, so they can volunteer their time to complete small tasks to support, nurture and protect wildlife, either on their own, as part of their family or group of friends, or even the wider community.

For example, volunteers can:

• Organise a litter pick 
• Plant wildlife-friendly plants in gardens and window boxes
• Build nest boxes for wild animals
• Put food out for hedgehogs or create a hedgehog highway 
• Get together with their neighbours to start a wildlife project 
• Join 'No mow May' and make a habitat for butterflies, bees and insects in gardens 
• Recreate wildlife-friendly ideas from RHS Chelsea 
• Join online social media groups and signpost RSPCA advice about wildlife

People can sign up to be a 'Wildlife Friend' here and make a fantastic contribution to the RSPCA just like the charity's army of animal rescue volunteers like Denise.