10th Anniversary of Volunteering!
February saw the 10th anniversary of volunteering groups at WWT Steart Marshes! The first volunteer group task was planting the orchard next to the office on 17th February 2014. Since that day we have grown to a dedicated team of over 60 volunteers who support us with practical work, visitor engagement and flora & fauna monitoring throughout WWT Steart Marshes and Bridgwater Bay National Nature Reserve (NNR). Practical management talks over the past 10 years have been many and varied, including: planting, fencing, mulching, grass cutting, raking, hedge laying, building bug hotels, constructing hibernacula (over-winter shelters for wildlife if you were wondering!), willow planting and weaving to form protective screens - and plenty more besides.
This year we celebrated our 10th with a big volunteering morning across the site. Activities included: hedge work to help let light into ditches at Bridgwater Bay NNR, improving the habitat for wildlife; cob roundhouse construction (fun in the mud - do let us know if you would like to come and help!); and willow weaving to make some repairs to our willow cow family. A group from Blossom in Somerset made willow wreaths to take away as a thank you for all the hard work they do cleaning the hides each month.
After a morning of hard work everyone was treated to a delicious lunch in our new office, provided by Kay @LiveFreeKitchen, followed by some special 'Steart Marshes creek network' cake made by talented volunteer Caroline.
As always we say a massive THANKYOU to all of our volunteers, past and present, for the huge amount of time and skill that they contribute at Steart Marshes... whatever the weather, on a regular basis, always with enthusiasm. Last year our volunteer hours added up to the equivalent of another 3.1 full time members of staff, or the same as more than doubling the warden team!
Thank you one and all, and here's to the next 10 years!
