What are your interests in wildlife?

I’ve been fascinated by the living world since being small; I remember watching ants come and go and staring into ponds for hours wondering at the lives of the tiny beasts I could see. As an adult I’m still fascinated, but more concerned than ever as I’ve seen in my lifetime a dramatic decline in the UK’s insect population and understand the huge impact this has on the rest of the ecosystem.

How long have you volunteered for?

I first started volunteering with conservation groups in 2012. I could see a growing need for environmental scientists and so had started studying for a degree part time. To get some practical experience and learn more I got involved with Lancashire Wildlife Trust and other conservation groups in my hometown of Bolton, and over the years did various surveying, ID courses and fundraising events. It was so good to meet other volunteers who had so much passion for wildlife and were happy to share their knowledge and time.

Why did you start volunteering for Cumbria Wildlife Trust?

I moved up to Cumbria in 2021 and was looking to continue volunteering regularly as I had done in Lancashire. I was lucky to move into a village sandwiched between the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks so had lots of different groups and tasks to choose from.

What volunteering do you do with Cumbria Wildlife Trust? Where?

I am involved with Eyes on the Bog, a citizen science project that uses a network of volunteers to visit data gathering sites on peatlands to check on monitoring equipment. This involves long days out on the fells, which I simply love.  I have also helped the wildflower meadows team with tasks such as seed collecting, plug planting and meadow management. Every day is unique and interesting.

What have your learnt through volunteering? Do you do anything to help nature at home or within your community too?

I have learned so much about wildlife and conservation techniques from volunteering, much from other volunteers sharing their knowledge and experience. But as a volunteer, you get invited to go on free courses and I have taken full advantage of these over the years. From identification courses in everything from newts, grassland species, mosses and mushrooms to mammal trapping and more recently a mountain skills course, the Wildlife Trusts are great at helping people to learn the skills they need to make the most of their hobby.

The practical experience and knowledge I gained gave me confidence to take on a Local Nature Reserve that had become degraded. I got local groups, volunteers and farmers involved and over five years managed to restore it to a biodiverse meadow. I love to apply my habitat knowledge in my own garden too and am always looking for ways to create a more diverse habitat and then survey it to see what appears.

What do you enjoy about it? Do you have any particular memories or experiences you can share?

I enjoy feeling like what I’m doing is helping, even in a small way, to the problems wildlife is facing in the UK. I also enjoy the companionship of like-minded people who are just happy to be outside sharing a cup of tea from a flask, tired but feeling satisfied on a day well spent.

How has volunteering benefitted you or your community?

Please see below.

Why do you think others should volunteer?

 I think volunteering has such a hugely positive impact on the volunteer and their community, and that everyone, no matter their skills or experience should try it if they are able. I have known people for whom volunteering might be their only meaningful social engagement of the week and rely on it to get them active and stay social. For others it’s a place where you can immerse yourself in a new activity that takes you away from your day-to-day life and gives you a rewarding break. I honestly think there’s something very freeing about turning up for a day’s work, just because you want to, no obligation or financial reward needed, and the genuine feeling of wellbeing it brings.

The community benefits can be enormous; it’s amazing how much difference a small but determined group of volunteers can make to a community garden or local park. Simply regularly litter picking or coppicing trees and removing dangerous branches can transform a place from unloved to a cherished site. Sadly in many places this work is no longer carried out by rangers as funding has been lost, and so wildlife volunteers are more needed than ever.

What are your visions for the future of wildlife and communities in Cumbria?

I am seeing steps in the right direction everywhere I look in Cumbria and this gives me hope. I’d love to see more interconnectedness with nature within communities, with things like littering and vandalism reduced a lot and more support of nature friendly management practices, such as allowing verges to grow in the summer. I think it’s small steps by many people that are crucial and the more people get out and get involved, the more positive change we might see.

What would you say to volunteers who are thinking of getting involved, but may not feel confident to do so?

Have a look at the volunteering activities page on Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s website. Volunteering is so varied there might be something you would enjoy. And the best part is you can just turn up and give it a go, if after a few hours it’s not for you, you can go! There’s really no expectation, they’re always just grateful to people for any help and time they can give.