Steart Marshes celebrates 5 years of volunteering!
This week sees a milestone for us here at Steart Marshes, it will be 5 years since the very first practical volunteer task...
This week sees a milestone for us here at Steart Marshes, it will be 5 years since the very first practical volunteer task.
Back in February 2014 a handful of brave souls came out on a cold day to help Alys (then Senior Reserve Warden, now Site Manager) plant an orchard next to the office. It was exciting to think that we were playing a part in the development of this new reserve, and that we would be able to return and see the trees as they grew over the years. The planting was challenging, not least because of the sticky clay mud which took a few casualties as they slid over, but as for the orchard, well it is thriving as you can see here!
Orchard planting February 2014
Same view of the orchard February 2019
Practical volunteering has continued from that day onward, and true to that first day, mud is generally involved! This morning the group started the day trampling down vehicle ruts around our bug hotels. The ground had been chewed up by heavy vehicles clearing reeds from the ditches, but this can be a good thing for encouraging new growth of wildflowers. Thanks to one of our newest volunteers James Johnson for the trampling photos in this article.
Volunteers trampling ruts in the soil - this can help to encourage new plant growth
Today we have 55 volunteers who carry out a whole range of roles for us. They still do the practical grounds work, but they also help with administration in the office; monitor wildlife, including birds, newts, otters and butterflies; and carry our engagement roles such as talking to the public on site or manning information stands at events. The growth in the volunteer force has resulted in the need for a full-time engagement officer to manage volunteer applications, inductions and reviews. Another vital part of the engagement role involves booking all the walks, talks and events. These have to be coordinated with tides, times of year, daylight hours, minimising disturbance to the wildlife … and most importantly working out which volunteers are free to help or lead the events. So that’s me, Nicole, I talk from an informed position as volunteer who fell over in that muddy orchard back in 2014, now Engagement Officer, amongst other things, managing our 55 volunteers.
We are very grateful for all the time and effort our volunteers put in for the benefit of Steart Marshes. In 2018 our volunteer hours totalled 931 working days, this is equivalent to us having an extra 4.1 members of staff, or almost doubling our current staff numbers!
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at Steart Marshes please contact us at info.steart@wwt.org.uk to arrange a taster day, or complete an application form on our website.
