Volunteering

Blog post: Brian's Coquettish Volunteering Blog

Rhoda Ludford — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:29:00 GMT

Ever wondered what it would be like to volunteer on a beautiful remote island?

In the first of our two part spotlight on Coquet Island, Brian McCullen blogs about leaving Brighton behind, dealing with complete isolation, challenging himself, Terns and Puffins and living a more simplistic way of life. Week two to follow next week . . .

THE COQUET EXPERIENCE

DAY 1 --- THE JOURNEY

A BIG thank you to my lovely friends for taking me to the coach station. 05:30hrs and Brighton alive with youngsters coming out of the nightclubs, staggering around dishevelled and drunk. Fish and Chip wrappers blew around in the breeze as refuse workers clanked and cluttered around emptying bins. Quite funny really, I am just about to board a coach that will take me to as near to complete isolation as it gets. I arrived in Alnwick at 17:30hrs, an hour late as the driver had to detour to avoid traffic jams on the M1 (nothing new there then). Alnwick is a lovely town, most of the houses built of sandstone. I was met by Wesley who was everything I expected. A modern day “hippy”, one of the “planet of the earth” children I surmised!!! We drove to Amble Marina where I was to board a small “Launch” to take me to Coquet Island. There I met Paul the site manager, a big burly chap with a broad Geordie accent. We then set sail for the island. I have never experienced cold like it before and my hands and face became non-existent in a matter of seconds. It was like being on a roller coaster for the first few minutes, but we arrived safely on the Island 10mins later. As soon as I took my first island steps, I was overcome by the peace and tranquillity. No human life here (except of course the RSPB team), no cars, no rat-race; just as much peace and quiet as you could handle… After a brief tour of the grounds, the team cooked a meal of chicken and crispy spuds, all washed down with a couple of glasses of “chilled” red wine (room temperature here is fridge-like !!!). After a “get to know” chat, it was time to crash out. The front door here is left wide open all night, yet it’s quite safe. Where can you get THAT on mainland UK?? Goodnight one and all, I’m knackered.

DAY 2 --- DON’T COME HERE !!!

If you like waking up, getting out of a nice cosy bed and switching on Breakfast TV, flicking a switch to boil a kettle for your morning cuppa and slouching on your comfy sofa, then deciding (after dropping off for ANOTHER half hour) that you’re going to jump into a nice hot shower, then DON’T come to Coquet Island. This is not about comfort. This is about primarily helping the RSPB and aiding conservation, but it’s also (well it is for me) challenging yourself, taking yourself out of your “comfort zone” and reverting back to a more simplistic way of life. That is EXACTLY what it is, but it is surprisingly easy to adjust to if you just embrace and accept it. Time seems to stand still here. Just take it all in and go with the flow. You will get things done in your own time at your own pace. You can also, I guess, learn a bit more about yourself. For me, the pinnacle of Day2 was enjoying a couple of glasses of Chianti (after an enjoyable day of sand and shell shifting, lawn mowing and raking) whilst chatting with the team and watching the sun set over the Cheviots. You really ARE back to nature here. Bliss.

DAY 3 --- CHILLED

Not too much to report today. Continued shifting sand and shells from the South Beach to the Tern terraces ready for their arrival. Should be finished by tomorrow. Took loads of photo’s of various birds and the Seals. Just gonna tuck into Chilli Con Carne very soon… (Species of Seabird identified so far… Kittiwakes, Black-Headed Gulls, Lesser Black Backed Gulls, Oystercatchers, Curlews, Shags, Cormorants, and a Black Redstart)

DAY 4 --- BOULES

Pretty much the same really. Finished the North Terrace in terms of preparation for the arrival of the Roseate Terns. Mowed the Heli-Garden, then spent the rest of the afternoon learning Pétanque (a form of boules) … I scored 8 ! ! !... Must have been the Mead and Gluhvane they “tanked” me up with. Off to the mainland to try my hand at a spot of welding tomorrow…(dear god) !!!

DAY 5 --- THE AMBLE EXPERIENCE

Over to the mainland today to learn some new skills in Stephen’s Blacksmith’s Forge near Amble… but not before a hot shower and a hearty breakfast supplied care of Paul… then on to the Smithy. I hadn’t seen a real Blacksmiths in ages; think they are some sort of dying breed. They are making a pirate ship and some waves for the Puffins, and I helped to make a barbeque for the island out of an old stainless steel beer keg… Was a great experience and like stepping back in time. No “modern” here!! About half-past 5, we headed back to Amble, went to the Co-op for supplies (wine) oh yes and errrr some food too (hic), got some fish-n-chips, and sailed back to the island. We then watched the sun going down over the Cheviots, whilst eating our takeaways and drinking Weston’s Cider. Lusssssssssshhhhh…

DAY 6 --- HILARYS PUFFIN

My time here started at snails pace, but maybe as I have got used to “living” an island life then the hours seem to be accelerating but be that as it may, the fun hasn’t stopped. Yes it’s hard work mainly, but you get used to it and it’s fine by me. Today I painted the sides of the “hide” which is to be erected onto its base, by the jetty on Friday, weather permitting. Hilary had “fingered in” a picture of a Puffin on one of the panels !! I almost obliterated it with a coat of industrial white gloss, but they caught me in time. After a welcome lunch of “Spam butties” and crisps (healthy stuff eh) and a quick stomp around the island with my camera, my next task was to start applying wood preserver to the Terns’ nesting boxes…. 8 down, 196 to go !!!

DAY 7 --- A LITTLE ISOLATION

So, am halfway through my “Coquet Experience” and all is well. Today I’m going to continue with the Tern boxes…. It’s now late afternoon and have done about 150 of them…. Only 50 odd to go J It’s one of those island tasks where you don’t really concentrate on what you’re doing, THAT comes automatically… so your mind goes walkabouts instead, and for me a feeling of a strange sense of isolation. Don’t get me wrong it’s not in a bad way, but I’m finding that I’m “moulding” into my temporary surroundings and accepting this very different way of life. I’m just going with it and it’s great. I think the problem for some people would be to bring the “mainland” over with them in terms of stress, worry and general day-to-day drudgery. If you leave it all behind, it tends to leave you!! A great feeling J

Blog post: A huge big thank you to all our Volunteers

Rhoda Ludford — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:30:00 GMT

This week is National Volunteers' Week 2013

Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK – and it’s taking place from the 1-7 June 2013. Every year, over 20 million people across England and the UK volunteer, donating more than 100 million hours to their communities every week. It has been estimated that the economic value of this activity is worth in excess of £40 billion to our economy.

For the RSPB 2013 is a big year of change and while we are taking the RSPB forward to bigger and better things, our 17,200+ volunteers nationwide are already helping us give nature a home. They volunteer over 1 Million hours, or put another way, that’s equivalent to an extra 629 full time staff working for us!

Volunteers work in all areas and at all levels of the Society including Council which is made up entirely of volunteers. From the more traditional conservation work party volunteers and our office based volunteers through to the brand new areas of internships, people volunteering their ‘professional’ skills eg lawyers, organisational secondments to the ever growing ‘micro’ volunteering where you can volunteer via your mobile phone and even in your pyjamas! Volunteering is growing and changing to match a world where individuals expect to make a difference to the organisation they volunteer with. We are hugely proud of all our volunteers!

We want to say a very big thank you – you definitely deserve it.

You can find more information about Volunteering with the RSPB at www.rspb.org.uk/volunteering

Have a fantastic Volunteers’ Week.

Rhoda

Volunteering Development Coordinator

Blog post: A volunteer’s tale! - at Titchwell's Cafe

Sallie Crawley — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:34:00 GMT

A volunteer’s tale!

My name is Rosie, and for some years

I’ve been one of Titchwell’s volunteers.

Titchwell Reserve which is the toast

Of Birders to the Norfolk coast.

So visit us, do come and see

us ladies in the servery.

We’re all a very friendly bunch,

Sit down, relax, enjoy your lunch,

or Tea; a scone (homemade) with jam and cream.

But maybe not a dieter’s dream!

Our customers, a smashing crew,

some days a flood, some days a few,

and all with differing tales to tell

of just how much they like Tichwell.

Now all was well, ‘till one fine day

waddled in, to our dismay

a duck! And here I must confess

it made a flippin’ awful mess.

“The duck must go,” there came a shout

“It cannot pay, we’ll throw it out.”

We ran around and got quite giddy.

What made it worse, the floor was skiddy!

It ran at last under a table,

“Grab it now while we are able.”

It must have been a sight to see

a duck ejected from the servery.

I have to tell you there was more,

We had to mop and wash the floor.

An interesting place, you must agree

at Titchwell, in the servery.

So Thursdays where am I like to be?

Well, Titchwell, in the servery.

Written by Rosie Evison, Catering assistant, Titchwell

Forum post: Re: love nature bucket collection (VERY DISAPPOINTED.)

Galatas — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:14:00 GMT

[quote user="ruff13"]its too riskey nowadays with all crime going on..i wouldnt risk a life to collect for birds !!!!.theres other ways of raising money for rspb.....[/quote]

If we all had that attitude we'd all stay locked indoors 24/7.

Blog post: Volunteering on RSPB Reserve Cafes - THE exciting place to volunteer if you love good food and Nature!

Sallie Crawley — Wed, 01 May 2013 08:53:00 GMT

Don't fancy volunteering outdoors? There are plenty of roles for volunteers to help out in RSPB reserve cafes. We have reserves throughout the UK and we are always in need of extra help… in roles that you might not immediately associate with volunteering for the RSPB!

There is always a need for bird experts or complete novices, for people looking to enhance their CVs and for people with a little bit of time on their hands. So, whatever your age and experience, there is a role for you.

RSPB reserves with cafes are found throughout the UK and there is a wealth of opportunities to help. Our reserves need volunteers who can meet and greet visitors, serve tea and cakes, sell binoculars and telescopes, help with stocktaking and much more.

So what do our existing volunteers think? Grace Salter who volunteered at Rainham Marshes says: “I just love everything about coming to Rainham Marshes, the people the place, it’s lovely! I enjoy doing things and meeting people and getting out and about. I love wildlife too and always have wildlife holidays so this combines my interest in wildlife and a chance to meet new friends.”

Chris Kent, Catering Development Manager, talks about exciting news about coffee in our cafes. “Out here in catering land we are poised, like a coiled spring at the dawn of an exciting new era in catering for the RSPB! We have 12 cafes around the country that are simply fabulous for the perfect punctuation to our visitor’s day out and about with nature.

You may not associate food with saving nature but you should! What food we choose to buy has a direct impact on the planet and what’s more every single penny of profit that we make in our cafes is ploughed straight back into our amazing conservation work.

Soon we will have our own brand of coffee across all of the business, this will be available in our cafes and shops, online and eventually in your local supermarket, what’s really exciting about this coffee is that it is particularly helpful to Mother Nature and all wildlife.

Why’s this?! I hear you ask... well, I’ll tell you! This is because it has been grown in the shade rather than the traditional environment for coffee growing the “sun farm” or “eco desert” as it is referred to in conservation circles, nothing else can really survive here apart from the coffee plants themselves. Coffee grown the shade under the natural tree canopy plays a key role in the conservation of migratory birds, which find a sanctuary in their forest-like environment. The RSPB are the first to import, roast and serve it in our cafes!

So come and volunteer at one of our cafes and you could become part of the next chapter in the UK coffee revolution! Our cafes are an oasis within an oasis, good food, responsibly sourced in the heart of nature!”

How can you get involved? Here are a few of our current volunteering opportunites, click the links to find out more.....

Cafe Assistant, Leighton Moss reserve in the North of England

Shop/Retail Assistant - Conwy reserve in Wales

Catering assistant – Riverside Café, Rainham Marshes reserve in the South of England

Café Volunteer - Pulborough Brooks reserve in the South of England

Catering assistant, Titchwell reserve in the East of England

Cafe Assistant, South Stack reserve in Wales

Not found what you are looking for then visit our full list of volunteering opportunities that are updated daily.

Blog post: Fundraise for wildlife – Can you help us pin it up?

Sallie Crawley — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:55:00 GMT

We have many volunteers involved in the RSPB’s pin badge scheme who make sure that all our badges are displayed in shops all around the UK. So it’s no surprise that the public are coming across the badges and wanting to use them for parties, schools, weddings and funerals. This is great news as we are more likely to receive the full £1 suggested donation on these requests.

We have now had nearly 100 wedding favour orders in the past two years and all of these have been put together and despatched by Colin Hawkins.

Susan Sutton, Community Marketing Development Project Manager says: “Without his help in dealing with all our special order requests I could spend at least half a day each week picking and packing the orders. With schools and our local groups also wanting large badge orders, I am reliant on Colin to make sure we have enough of all the right stock.

We are also selling badges on ebay (rspb | eBay) and this is proving very popular with nearly 300 regular customers. Colin, along with my home based volunteers Christine and Heather deal with all the ebay orders and we make sure that they are all despatched within 5 days”.

Can you help us with your management skills? We need a 'people person' to manage and support a team of community fundraising volunteers. We have lots of volunteer box 'minders' looking after the RSPB's pin badge & collecting boxes, we want to support them with volunteer Area Co-coordinators’.

In this role you will ensure they have all the resources they need, from ordering more stationery/badges etc for them; co-ordinating income reports; recruiting volunteer to cover sick or holidays; to be on hand to answer questions (over the phone, by email or meeting up).

You'll look after the minders, liaise with and update the community fundraising team at regional office each month and ensure the boxes raise the most money they can, encouraging minders to move them to different sites if they don't do well.

If you are happy to talk to people, can motivate and enthuse them about the RSPB, can encourage everyone to be proactive about expanding this important scheme and are meticulous in your record-keeping, then you could be who we need. You will take the initiative and talk to managers at pubs, tourist attractions and other venues that might be willing to have one of our badge boxes, then find someone to look after them. Could you promote the scheme to people, enlist people you meet, or persuade existing volunteers if they might take on another box? If so, you could be perfect!

Charles Mossman, Area Co-ordinator for the RSPB's pin badges in Mid Devon, with team member and retired RSPB Local Group Leader, John Maxwell, take time out from looking after their regular badge boxes to spend time at Exmoor Zoo. Several of the team go about four times a year during the school holidays. They've found that it's a great way to meet people and tell them about what the RSPB does. Having a badge board and tombola can make a big difference to income, raising more in a day than some badge boxes raise in a year. They are also great at attracting people over for a chat.

Being an Area Co-ordinator can involve advising team members, ordering kit, collating income reports, placing new boxes and interviewing potential volunteers. For those wanting to get more involved, as Charles does, there is the chance to get the team involved in organising and/or attending events.

Can you help us minding boxes? We need enthusiastic and motivated volunteers to look after or place boxes for us in shops, cafes, vets, pubs, hotels and leisure centres. If customers are walking through a door then a charity box can be successful.

Just 30 minutes every 4-6 weeks to pop into a site, re-fill the box and bank the cash. It is also a great way of meeting new people and having fun, at the same time making a real difference towards the work of the RSPB.

All we ask is that each volunteer manages a minimum of 4 boxes at a time in the community and at work. Can you place boxes in your local shops, or have one on the reception desk at work?

If you think that either the Area Co-ordinator role or Box Minder role is right up your street please email communitymarketing@rspb.org.uk or contact your Community Fundraising Officer their telephone and email addresses can be found here.

To find out more about our Pin Badge Scheme please click here now. To find out what other volunteering opportunities there are in your area, then click here.

Blog post: Fundraise for wildlife – with events become one of our team!

Sallie Crawley — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:20:00 GMT

If you would like to be part of our local volunteer fundraising teams, we have activities that you can do all year round, or for just two hours once a year.

If you'd like to go one step further and get your adrenaline rush while fundraising for us, how about a bungee jump, skydiving, or abseiling?

Pulse-quickening activities are great ways to raise awareness of nature and our work - and great ways to raise sponsorship funds. If you've got the nerve to do it, we can give you all the support you need!

Back down to earth, if you can give just two hours of your time, you could join hundreds of other supporters in our Save Nature collections.

Want to know more then visit our web page here for lots of ideas and inspiration.

Here is an insight into how you can get involved.

Stepping over the edge for the RSPB – Abseil

Back on a balmy September afternoon during 2012 a group of 7 intrepid adventurers steeled their nerves to get a bird’s eye view of Belfast as they descended 130ft from the city’s iconic Europa Hotel.

Spurred on by their cheering friends and families the fundraisers conquered their fears to feel the adrenaline rush of stepping over the edge for nature. The group raised over £700 between them and became the first ever RSPB abseilers in Northern Ireland. Well done for such a fantastic effort team!

Relay Teams run the 2013 Deep River Rock Belfast City Marathon

Two teams will be stepping up (and out) to raise vital funds for the RSPB this May Day in the Deep River Rock Belfast City Marathon.

‘Birds Aloud’ team member Judith explains why she’s running for the RSPB: “This world is the only one we’ve got and we have to look after it. The unique thing about nature is that it connects everyone together, regardless of what they have or have not. We wanted to run in the marathon and realised we were stronger as a team running a leg each rather than as individuals running the whole thing alone so we decided to join together and raise as much as we can for the RSPB. We’ve each set ourselves a personal fundraising target of £100.

All the money we raise will make a difference to the wildlife on our doorstep. Look out for our RSPB vests along the route on 6 May and be sure to give us a wave as we tackle each leg of the marathon course!”

Mersehead Sponsored Walk

18 walkers put a spring in their step on Saturday 16^th of March when they took part in the RSPB ‘Boots and Barnacles’ sponsored walks held at Mersehead Nature Reserve in Dumfries & Galloway.

The walks went round the Coastal Trail with views across the Solway and had special access on the day to parts of the reserve not normally open for the public. During the sponsored walks, participants discovered the conservation efforts taking place on the reserve through various activities at checkpoints along the route. One example was the beach art, displayed in this picture.

The event raised almost £1000 that will be used to help continue the conservation work at Mersehead Reserve.

‘Boots and Barnacles’ was kindly supported by the Scottish Government, National Science and Engineering week and the British Science Association.

The event will be taking place again in March 2014, watch this space for more details nearer the time.

In the meantime why not take part in the sponsored event taking place at Baron’s Haugh Reserve, near Motherwell in June 2013.

Blog post: Fundraise for wildlife – how you can help!

Sallie Crawley — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:14:00 GMT

Every year, the fantastic energy and enthusiasm of supporters like you help us raise over £1.5m of donations to help nature and wildlife.

Whether you'd like to fundraise alone, with friends or with colleagues, or whether you're a teacher or business owner, we can offer a host of fundraising ideas and activities.

Some fundraisers have done physical activities like running a marathon or swimming the channel. If you want to follow in their footsteps and you have your own place then we can support you with fundraising materials.

If you want something less demanding, you could be a volunteer collector, or open up your garden and charge an entry fee.

Click here to find out more about In Aid Of fundraising. You will find all you need to know from ideas, to guidelines, and sponsorship forms. Remember every little bit helps J

Here are some examples of how other people have been getting involved, please feel free to share in the comments below any ideas you have or how you have or are going to fundraise for wildlife.

Birthday Star

Dr Stuart Blackmore (a very valued member) from Llanelli, Wales has very generously donated us his birthday money!

Stuart celebrated his 60th birthday last year by hosting a bird-themed party, and instead of asking for the usual gifts, he asked his friends and family to give him money that he could later donate to local wildlife charities.

Stuart donated £250.00 to RSPB Cymru and to thank him we presented him with a Limited Edition Golden Curlew pin badge.

Running rings around competition to raise money for local nature reserve

Mark Mitchell ran rings around the opposition as he took part in one of the toughest ultra running challenges in the country and raised over £600 for the RSPB Lochwinnoch nature reserve where he works as an Information Officer.

Mark completed the 50 mile fell run at the Montane Lakeland 50 Ultra Lake District Challenge as part of a team of four including other RSPB staff members from across the UK. Considered one of the toughest ultra running challenges in the UK, the difficulty of the course means that over half of the competitors fail to complete the full run.

Mark completed the run in 17 hours, 4 minutes and 11 seconds, even managing to spot some raven and pied flycatcher on his way. He said: “The work the RSPB does can be seen by all of us, no matter where you are in the UK. Whether it's chaffinches and bumblebees in your back garden, or otters and kingfisher down on your local river, the wildlife around us enriches our lives and it is something we should be working incredibly hard to conserve for future generations”

“My body is broken but more importantly we beat our fundraising target! The stunning views were truly inspiring and made it more bearable. The thought of all the people who supported me was the real thing that kept us going though. Thanks so much for all the support everyone. "

Paula Baker, Assistant Site Manager at RSPB Lochwinnoch, said: “The team here are delighted that Mark chose to fundraise for the RSPB during his run, and even more delighted with the fantastic sum of money he has managed to raise. He quite often cycled to the reserve from Glasgow during his training, which is no easy task.”

Mark has so far raised a massive £625.93 which will be going towards conservation at the RSPB Lochwinnoch Reserve.

To find out more about challenge events in Scotland click here

Jack's Marathon des Sables - 6 days in the Saharan heat - his own mini-migration, to raise money for the RSPB

Jack Roper, from South Devon, is running the Marathon des Sables, a 6 day ultra-marathon across the Sahara desert covering 150+miles in early April. It is ranked by the Discovery Channel as "the toughest footrace on earth".

These events are great opportunities to raise money for charity and this year he is fundraising for the RSPB.

As the RSPB speaks up for nature in the UK and further afield, conserving wild places through science, campaigning and public engagement. Jack believes we all have a responsibility to protect our green spaces, particularly with issues such as climate change, urbanisation and agricultural intensification becoming ever more significant.

If you can sponsor Jack on his relatively mini trans-saharan migration you will be 'Stepping up for Nature' and making him very happy! The smallest contribution makes a difference and will be greatly appreciated. http://www.justgiving.com/JackRuns2013

When asked about the his adventure, this is what Jack has to say:

Why?

Well the answer to this is simple but comprehensive and my blog explains all (http://jackrunsmds.blogspot.com). In a nutshell I'm doing this for the experience and because I have craved the achievement ever since seeing the event years ago on Trans World Sports!

What you're really looking forwards to about it?

It will be great getting to know the other runners, my tent mates and enjoying some good camaraderie. I think these aspects of the event will be a major player in getting me through the rough times out there on the sand. It's been three years in the making getting to this point and there have been plenty of highs and lows. I have ran across some stunning landscapes and had to combat several injuries but now, I’m just looking forward to getting out there.

What you're not looking forward to?

The midday heat I guess and it's ability to sap the energy out of you. I have no problem roughing it in the desert, sleeping in the sand and eating freeze dried food but those moments you get as a runner when you’re seeking inspiration to pull you through a lethargic slump can be really tough and I expect to experience the worst of them out in the Sahara. I have a short-term memory when it comes to running though and I'm hoping I’ll have forgotten how those pains feel by each new morning where I’ll be raring to go.

Why did you choose the RSPB to fundraise for rather than any other charity?

I began volunteering with the RSPB in 2011 not knowing a great deal about the organisation. I immediately became inspired by the RSPB's work, people and ambitions where I was offered opportunity after opportunity to expand my experience and knowledge within the conservation and public engagement sector. I'm a massive believer in bringing people and nature closer together and for me the RSPB does this better than anyone so when it came to choosing a charity to run the Marathon des Sables for, it was an easy decision.

Cake and Charity

A group of Queen’s University, Belfast, postgraduates recently married two of their great loves – cake and charity – to host a fantastic bake sale in aid of the RSPB.

Working through the night cake clubbers let their creativity lead the way to produce some incredible works of art from raspberry jam toadstools to birds’ nest buns to a really wild mud cake topped with a pair of mischievous hippos!

Simply asking their fellow students to fill their plates in exchange for whatever they could afford the group raised a magnificent £192 which will go toward supporting our local conservation work.

Blog post: Find out what inspires people to volunteer as youth leaders .... the feel good factor

Sallie Crawley — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:26:00 GMT

In my last blog we told you about what our children get out of their involvement with the RSPB and our youth groups. This time we asked our volunteers ‘what inspired you to become a youth leader?” Read on to find out what they had to say .....

If our volunteers make you feel inspired yourself then please visit our volunteering pages and check out our current vacancies www.rspb.org.uk/volunteering.

If you have volunteered with children please do leave some comments and share with us what it was that inspired you and what makes it all worthwhile.

Adrian Slater, Leader at Boston Wildlife Explorers since 2005

“It could be said my failure with my three sons, and I don’t mean that in any bad way I am extremely proud of the three of them and the way they have turned out.

I started volunteering in 2004 with the South Lincs Local Group after I had visited the ABB at Kirton Marsh. The enthusiasm of the volunteers there showing us the Montagu’s Harriers was inspiring. The boys were at the age where they didn’t want or need dad trailing them all over the place for football and all the other activities teenagers get into, so I found myself with spare time on my hands. I joined the RSPB as a member and started volunteering with the local group at the Aren’t Birds Brilliant event.

Whilst volunteering I spent some time with like minded people, and as we chatted between visitors it became very clear, although from different backgrounds we all felt very strongly about the wonders of nature and how children didn’t seem to get the opportunity to see it. It was then that we agreed we should start up a Wildlife Explorers group and try and give children the chance to experience some of the wonders.

As a result Boston Wildlife Explorers was born, which has built up to a very successful group covering an age range of 4-16! The group meets once a month at the RSPB reserve at Frieston Shore with an average attendance of 40 young people. They are a great bunch and I am proud to share their passion for nature and conservation.

Although I was unable to pass on my interest in nature to my sons, once the next generation arrives I’ll try again! “

Megan Carroll (17), Junior Leader at the Old Moor Wildlife Explorers since January 2012

“It was a ‘who’ more than a ‘what’ which inspired me to become a junior leader.

Having been a regular at Old Moor reserve since being a Wildlife Explorer myself, I took my eight year old sister and a gaggle of her friends round for a guided tour. A member of staff who has always nurtured my love of nature spotted me, and told me about the volunteering vacancy for a junior leader with the relatively new WEx group.

The next thing I knew, my application was in the post! I wanted to give it a try because I used to love it when people older than me encouraged me in something that is perceived as very “uncool”. Being a junior leader means I can show the children how nature, in fact, is the coolest thing in the world!

I’ve loved every minute. From showing the children how to use binoculars, to creating PowerPoint presentations, to retrieving glitter and scraping half-dried PVA glue off tables, I’ve had the chance to master some practical skills and experience teamwork with the other leaders which will stand me in good stead for later life.

It’s so uplifting when you see a new member look nervously around the room at the beginning of a session, and leave with a smile on their face saying, ‘Guess what? It’s not just me, they’re all into nature too!’”

Nicole Brandon Assistant Leader in the Edinburgh Phoenix Group since June 2012

“I became a Youth Group Leader with RSPB after seeing the enthusiasm and devotion of the volunteers and young people who make up the groups. Growing up, I never had a regular opportunity to take action for the natural world that I could see suffering all around me, or a chance to make connections with others who felt my love for nature. When I saw that I could help give this opportunity to others in such good company, I jumped at the chance. The people who inspired me to join them were the volunteer leaders and teenage Wildlife Explorers who wanted to launch Scotland’s latest Phoenix group.

As one of the founding leaders with the newly-fledged Edinburgh Phoenix, I’ve been part of us coming together as a group and getting to know our new home at Hermitage of Braid nature reserve in the heart of Edinburgh. Since July, we’ve designed and built a raised garden bed with hand tools in the freezing sleet. We’ve done botanical surveys in the stiffest of breezes. We’ve sown seeds in torrential rain. We’ve learned to spark fires with flints and firesteels in the snow. We’ve even foraged for brambles on a lovely, sunny day. It has been hard work, and not everything has gone perfectly, but our group is so hardy and friendly it doesn’t need to in order for us to have a wonderful time and to make a difference to our natural world and our understanding of it.

For anyone else who missed out on these chances earlier in life, I’d suggest getting involved with RSPB Youth Groups in your local area if you can, because there’s no reason you should miss out on these chances now!”

Tina Hanak RSPB Leader with the Macclesfield Wildlife Explorers since 2005

“So how did I get involved? My two sons started attending our local Wildlife Explorers Group after I bought them RSPB membership as a Christmas gift.

The meetings were a great mix of learning about nature, playing environmental games and getting creative with clever and effective crafts. It was fantastic seeing the boys and the other children getting so much out of the meetings and I was keen to help out.

The Leaders were an impressive bunch - really effective at communicating their own enthusiasm for the natural world. Involvement in the group re-awakened the enjoyment I had discovering wildlife and wild places in my own childhood and affirmed the aspirations I had for the boys to grow up appreciating and caring for nature and the environment.

It has been incredibly rewarding to work alongside others who are equally passionate about encouraging the next generation in learning about their world. We all have different levels of knowledge and expertise but the common denominator really is enthusiasm! Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers has been going for a long time – it started back in 1986 - but the leaders were welcoming and supportive and I was made to feel a valued part of the team from the outset.

Best of all it has been a real privilege to have the opportunity to help connect children with nature. These connections make a difference and are, I reckon, our best shot at a future where nature still matters.

Show a six year old a sea anemone opening in a rockpool, their first view of a collared dove in a telescope or help them catch a grasshopper in a summer meadow and you'll understand what I mean.”

Blog post: What do children get out of a Wildlife Explorer or Phoenix Group?

Sallie Crawley — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Children and young people are inherently curious about the world around them, and for many that includes nature. That interest is fanned by experience, the more direct and frequent the better. As children become progressively more urban and biodiversity becomes more restricted to protected areas, children’s opportunities to experience, understand and care for nature become ever more limited. Children today are only allowed to roam 50m from their home, compared with 800m 20 years ago, so will have fewer opportunities for independent discovery of the excitement of the natural world than their parents would have. We aspire to a situation where all children will care for wildlife, but are keen to make sure that the RSPB’s flavour of nature conservation has special prominence.

RSPB Wildlife Explorer Groups provide real hands on experiences of nature and wildlife for children aged 5-12. From building bird and minibeast homes to learning about migration, camouflage or taking part in their local carnival meetings are diverse and never boring!

Carymoor RSPB Wildlife Explorers group winning 2nd in class for the 'Honey bees of Carymoor' at their local childrens carnival

For teenagers, Phoenix Groups enhance their programmes by including practical conservation tasks such as coppicing, tree and scrub removal and habitat conservation.

Saltholme RSPB Phoenix group scrub bashing to improve the wet grassland for lapwings and other ground nesting species

The youth group network is run by volunteer leaders who are passionate about inspiring the next generation to care and look after the world around them. Over the last 100 years the RSPB has an exemplary record of working with children and young people – but has it made a difference? Evidence shows there is a high proportion of former junior members in a wide range of environmental organisations as staff or volunteers. RSPB nature reserves such as Fowlmere were bought with money raised by children.

To get involved as a volunteer with our youth groups, please take a look at the vacancies with have by clicking here.

So what do children get out of a Wildlife Explorer or Phoenix Group? The benefits are clear –, fun, inspiration, appreciation, encouragement, skill and potentially a career!

If you would like to find out about groups and other activities in your area, then please visit our web pages that are dedicated for children http://www.rspb.org.uk/youth/nearyou/index.aspx

Blog post: Date with Nature – St Albans Herons 2013

Rhoda Ludford — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:40:00 GMT

We have a guest blog this week from Carol Waller, one of our Date with Nature volunteers, last week she volunteered for the first time at a Date With Nature event in Verulamium Park, St Albans;

“My role involved talking to visitors about the herons in the park and helping them use our telescopes. The first pair of herons nested in the park in 1990 and since then numbers have gradually increased. Fortunately the birds do not seem to be unduly disturbed by the presence of humans. Located in St Albans city centre, Verulamium Park attracts a wide variety of visitors whether they are joggers, dog walkers, tourists or family groups.

Eager to spread the RSPB message we parked our trailer by the lake and set up our telescopes. As well as observing the herons through our telescopes, visitors could view images from a webcam on a screen in our trailer.

The level of interest was truly heartening even on a chilly Saturday in February. This event has been running for some years so some of our visitors had been coming year-on-year, others had no idea who we were or what we were doing.

This is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and spread the RSPB message to a wider audience than we would usually get at our reserves.

The event is running Wednesday to Sunday until the end of April so visitors can follow the progress of the heron chicks from hatching to fledging.”

Blog post: Volunteers, an essential element of Date with Nature

Sallie Crawley — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 01:00:00 GMT

Love is in the air! What would be your ideal date with nature?

Dates with Nature are a great opportunity for the RSPB to connect people with nature, where they live, work and play. From glimpses of basking sharks in Cornwall to puffins on Shetland there are events across the whole of the UK. The ever-popular birds of prey events have been joined by water voles, badgers, bats, seals and, soon, dolphins helping introduce the public to a wide selection of nature. Most Dates with Nature still feature birds, which is inevitable as they are often the most visible and identifiable wildlife around. In some ways the species is not important in that it is the entry point for a conversation between members of the public and RSPB staff and volunteers, not too mention our partners staff and volunteers, where we hope to enthuse people about nature and the role that the RSPB plays in conservation.

So why are volunteers essential to this? There are a few good reasons. Let’s start with the fact that volunteers are themselves enthusiastic enough to contribute their time, passion and knowledge in support of our conservation aims. As if that is not enough, their presence helps to provide a strong local voice to the conversation as most volunteers are from the local community. The icing on the cake is that their contribution of time multiplies the effectiveness of the RSPB staff involved helping to deliver highly cost-effective events.

What is in it for our volunteers? Here are what some of our Date with Nature volunteers have to say.

“The RSPB staff that I worked with on the stand were very helpful, informed and positive and really helped me and gave me a good grounding for chatting with the public.” (Katherine Travers, Edinburgh Sparrowhawks Date with Nature)

“My best day of work: Friday 10^th August, perhaps because it was my last day and I was feeling nostalgic but it was filled with sunshine and beauty so a very good day none the less. I was at Loch Gruinart. In the morning I helped Laura on the guided walk ... it was lovely to wander the site and impart some of the knowledge I had gained in the last two weeks and just to appreciate all the beautiful things around me.” (Steph Cowling, (Colchester), Islay Date with Nature)

“Herons are my favourite bird and volunteering at the project is a lot of fun. You get to meet some really interesting people”. (Barry Tennessee, St Albans Herons Date with Nature)

“The whole experience was very rewarding and increased my confidence to talk to complete strangers about birds and wildlife at similar events. Peoples’ comments when they looked through the telescopes at a heron on the nest for the first time were initially surprising; “amazing” and “awesome” were frequently heard!” (Stuart Harrison (first time volunteer), St Albans Herons Date with Nature)

“I enjoyed talking to people, enthusing and educating them about the red kites and liked the challenge of trying to read their wing tags. Volunteering helped me gain work experience after completing my degree.” (Allison Davidson, Galloway Kite Trail)

“The biggest reward is that I am contributing to the conservation of red kites and enjoy educating visitors about these birds, the importance of nature, conservation and its value. I decided to get involved directly rather than being an armchair conservationist.” (Michael Cole, Galloway Kite Trail)

How can people volunteer at Dates with Nature. All opportunities are advertised on the RSPB website here.

Have you been involved with one of our Date with Nature projects? How was it for you? We’d love to hear from you!

Blog post: What's your new year's resolution?

Rhoda Ludford — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 10:04:00 GMT

Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

What's your new year's resolution?
By the time the last few Brussels have been eaten and we can’t stand the site of another mince pie, I am already struggling with my inner willpower to stick to my chosen promises for the new year (again!).
So this time round I’m picking things that will move me towards my goals in bite sized chunks, don’t take longer than 5 minutes and won’t take willpower of planetary proportions to help me achieve them! (is that cheating?)

So with that in mind here are my top 5 volunteering bite sized ways to get involved with the RSPB that won’t break the bank, put on weight or take up too much time!.. I know they will be on my list!

1. Sit down with a cup of tea
The world's largest wildlife survey takes place on 26-27 January 2013. Just one hour sat down with a hot cup of tea watching and counting the wildlife in my garden will help The RSPB – Perfect! www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

2. Write a letter
I’m not backwards in letting people know how I feel and just five minutes writing to my local MP will help remind Defra that they must take the next step and make a strong public statement that no licences will be issued to kill buzzards, or any other bird of prey, to protect game birds or other livestock. I can even do it by email – even better! www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/campaignwithus

3. Keep my Christmas Card Stamps
I love getting Christmas cards and sending all my stamps to the RSPB can help towards each £50 needed to buy a tori-line (bird scaring device) for a longline fishing vessel. Each stamp has a small value, but in large quantities they're very valuable. Help International Wildlife? – Tick! www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/albatross/howyoucanhelp/stamps.aspx

4. Shop!
Did you know that you can raise money for nature whilst doing your online shopping? Neither did I! You can raise money for the RSPB when you shop online. When you spend money online, retailers will give a donation to the RSPB and it costs you absolutely nothing! What more reason do you need to go shopping? www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/giveonline

5. Go for a walk with my kids
The RSPB want me to Jump in puddles, kick up leaves, and listening to birds singing from the tops of trees? The kids will love that and it will help me to achieve ‘spend more time with kids’.... Kids – grab your coat! www.rspb.org.uk/getoutdoors/

Blog post: Are you thinking about a reserve based career in conservation?

Sallie Crawley — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 09:45:00 GMT

So you want to get involved but don’t have the experience?

Well look no further volunteer internships are the solution! There are practical placements and placements involving our visitor and education work.

99% of previous Residential Volunteer Interns have gone to employment in the conservation sector; with the RSPB or another conservation organisation. All our volunteering internships have a built in training programme with career coaching.

One year long Residential Volunteer Internships take place in Northern England, Eastern England, and Wales. Most are a two-site placement offering a 6 month stay at two different locations.

We also offer single site, 9 month Residential Volunteer Internships in Scotland, at Abernethy and Loch of Strathbeg.

Most Residential Volunteering internship places are advertised on the RSPB website, in CJS and in Environment Jobs in December/January each year.

Interviews take place in February and the placements begin in March.

Here’s what a three previous interns have to say:

Beki Williams said “I’m stuck in a job I don’t enjoy, in an office which has the air con on when it’s hot outside, the blinds are drawn when it’s sunny. I need a connection with the outside world, how I can escape?”

“My year as a visitor and publicity intern has been split between two reserves, the first six months at Fairburn Ings in Yorkshire and the second six months at Leighton Moss in north Lancashire. They are both excellent reserves with loads of brilliant opportunities to get the skills and experience you need to get a job in the RSPB.”

“As a result of the experiences I’ve had and skills I have developed during the internship I have been able to get a job with the RSPB; as I write this I am preparing to move to Islay, a beautiful island off the west coast of Scotland! I didn’t imagine the internship would give me such an amazing opportunity, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Mhairi Maclauchlan says “As the end of university loomed and my last exam finished I suddenly thought ...hold on what’s next! I went through school with a clear goal - GCSE’s, A-levels then University. When that came to an end I was a little bit lost.”

“I started at Blacktoft sands in 2009 and the rest as they say is history. I quickly realised that as a Residential Intern, you get out of it what you put into it. I went into it with enthusiasm and put as much effort into as I would a full time job. The rewards of this were amazing.”

“I was truly sad to leave Blacktoft at the end of my placement so when I was offered the winter contract (more reed cutting) I said yes immediately. This gave me the start I needed and following a few other work contracts one on an island in the Irish Sea and one on the coast in Northumberland I finally got a longer two year contract here at RSPB Hodbarrow in Cumbria. I’m just starting out on my career but what a start the volunteer scheme has given me! I have a feeling if I hadn’t applied I might still be sitting in my student flat wondering what to do next.”

An Interns Tale by Richard Miller

“Writing this, I am almost halfway through a year long internship with the RSPB and 4 months on, I’m really settled in. Having spent 3 months at Coombes Valley, I arrived at Leighton Moss in July and found it to be a wonderfully active and beautiful reserve. The major job when I got here was reed planting at Silverdale Moss, a very physically demanding but hugely rewarding task. I’ll be able to come back in 20 years time to find a fully fledged reed-bed teeming with bitterns and Beardies! Work here consists of many different and varied activities, depending on season, weather and what you as a volunteer want to achieve. Reed cutting takes place during the summer to provide suitable feeding areas for wildfowl and waders. More reed planting will follow in the spring, an important job to provide new habitat for the red listed Bittern. Other tasks so far have included moth trapping and identification, limestone pavement management for Butterflies such as the High Brown Fritillary, helping with guided walks and schools’ educational visits.

As my 6 month stay at Leighton progresses, my heart is set on a career in conservation. Everything about this place is fantastic! I can also say that the volunteers we work with have made my experience such a joy. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. This is very important, as the volunteers working at Leighton Moss, and at other RSPB sites across the UK, are the reason that a lot of the reserve work gets done. Residential, day, tea-room and shop volunteers all have a massive part to play in the successful running of every reserve. We could not keep running the way that we do without everyone’s vital and selfless support. A big thanks to all volunteers everywhere!

Having just passed my chainsaw assessment, I will be moving on in January to the final three months of my internship, at Fairburn Ings. I can’t wait. It keeps getting better and better!”

(update; Richard is now Assistant Warden at Leighton Moss)

Blog post: Calling All Champions

Sallie Crawley — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:39:00 GMT

Its been just over a year since the RSPB launched its Campaign Champions programme, which aims to mobilise people to step up, campaign and take action for wildlife. In this time over 200 people in over 130 constituencies have registered as campaigners to help support and protect the wildlife they love.

Campaigning is at the hear of the RSPB and it really does make a difference. It’s something we’ve been doing since 1889, when Emily Williamson started campaigning to ban the barbaric trade in feathers for ladies hats. Since then we’ve come a long way including:

Successfully banning DDT, the pesticide that got into the food chain and decimated species such as the Peregrine Falcon and Red Kite,
Supporting local campaigners against the building of a huge 4-runway airport at Cliffe in North Kent,
Gaining 350,000 signatures for our Letter to the Future Campaign, which highlighted to MPs how we have a duty to leave a legacy of wildlife and wonderful habitats for our children and our children’s children.

These past successes show that you can really make a difference!

Most recently our Campaign Champions and Activists have been busy collecting signatures for our Safeguard Our Sea Life Campaign, and so far they have collected over 2000 signatures for this vital campaign. Some of our campaigners even got to question the Minister responsible for Marine issues, Richard Benyon MP, at a live Question and Answer session.

Our Campaigners have also been campaigning on crucial areas including the vital Rio+20 Earth Summit that took place in June this year, encouraging our world leaders to embrace sustainable development. Others have been campaigning on the reform of the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), writing to their MEPs calling for greater protection to farmland wildlife. All of these actions are part of the RSPB’s biggest and most ambitious campaign ever, Stepping up for Nature. The ultimate aim of this campaign is to halt biodiversity loss by the year 2020, but to do this we need your help.

The success of our campaigns depends on many people taking small steps that together make the big difference. We are still actively looking for people to become campaigners and have two very exciting roles for you to choose from,

The first role is for Campaign Champions where you can write letters and emails to MPs, take online actions, use social media such as twitter and facebook and help spread the word about our campaigns in your local area.

The second role is for Campaign Champion Activists where you can do all of the above but also visit MPs and local decision makers to talk to them about our campaigns and the wonderful work the RSPB does.

Both roles have the potential to make a big difference as proven by the success of our current Champions and more Champions mean more success which means a better future for our wildlife.

For more information and details on how you can step up and become an RSPB Campaign Champion please go to www.rspb.org.uk/campaignchampions telephone the Parliamentary Campaigns Team on 01767 680551 or email campaigns@rspb.org.uk

Blog post: Pagham Blog - Father, visitor, volunteer, co-ordinator. Why does Roger love Pagham?

Rhoda Ludford — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 09:51:00 GMT

Falling in love with Pagham by volunteer co-ordinator Roger Johnson

I’m not sure when I first fell in love with Pagham Harbour but it was certainly more than 20 years ago when I was bringing up my then young son as a single parent. Although very much a townie, I’ve always loved the countryside and I was keen to give Dan the chance to share my enthusiasm. We became regular visitors both at weekends and during the school holidays. Gradually as he grew older, he developed other interests too so the visits became less frequent until I hardly visited at all. But then I had the chance to retire some 3 years ago and I began to revisit on a regular basis the places I had enjoyed back then. There is a seat on the Tramway and near to the kissing gate looking out over the Harbour to Pagham that I regard as just about my favourite place where I can sit and let the world pass me by. It’s an idyllic location.

Anyway, one Wednesday afternoon on the way back from a walk I popped into the visitor centre for a cuppa and got talking to Margaret, a volunteer steward. Somehow, we got on to chatting about volunteering and it turned out that they were looking for someone to fill a slot in the visitor centre on alternate Wednesday afternoons. She suggested that I might like to think about it. Well, I did think about it and the rest is, as they say, history as I now volunteer in the visitor centre every Wednesday! A natural progression for me next was to start helping at some of the varied events we put on here, both for children and adults. Helping at the children’s events led me into volunteering with the education team, which I love. I don’t have any formal teaching qualification but I like to think that I can pass on at least a little of my enthusiasm to the children. Being a big kid at heart I especially enjoy the mud sifting and the pond dipping activities or a paddle in Pagham Lagoon searching for beach beasties. I enjoyed a magical moment there when we had a school visit of 7/8 year olds from Dorking some of whom had never even seen the sea before. I’ll not forget the look of sheer wonder on their faces as they searched, knee deep in the water, for crabs or other creatures.

One Wednesday when I arrived for my stint, I was called over to talk with Kathy, my volunteer manager. At first I wondered what I had done wrong so I was surprised, to say the least, to be asked if I would like to consider taking on the role as volunteer, ‘Volunteer Co-ordinator’. I took a while to think about it before, somewhat reluctantly at first, agreeing to give it a go. That’s where I am now and I hope I’m growing into the role, using the organisational and managerial skills I developed during my working life.

I thoroughly enjoy volunteering with the RSPB. It’s rewarding and I love working as part of a friendly team. Why not join us?

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/p/paghamharbour/index.aspx

Blog post: Pagham Blog - " from volunteer to site manager" by Rob Carver

Rhoda Ludford — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:36:00 GMT

This months' guest volunteering blogs come from the beautiful Sussex coast as Rob Carver tells us what volunteering at Pagham Harbour means to him....

Many years ago (I won’t say quite how many!) I worked as a volunteer on my local waterway – a site particularly rich in rare wildlife and popular with the public. It’s a time I look back on with great fondness and it kick-started my career in conservation. I was able to bring my own skills to promoting the work here while at the same time gaining valuable experience for the future. Volunteering really did ‘open up my world’.

Now as Manager of Pagham Harbour it’s really rewarding to support volunteers and help others gain some of the many benefits of volunteering that I experienced, as well as seeing how individuals can bring their own skills to the different roles we need. And what a great bunch of volunteers we have!

My involvement with the Reserve began when I worked here as a student and Assistant Warden over 22 years ago! I had a wonderful summer. So I understand why people love this special place and are drawn to volunteer here. And thank goodness for that, as without volunteers giving their time, expertise and enthusiasm we wouldn’t be able to achieve even half of what we do – showing the public a great time, inspiring school children, recording wildlife and managing the land. In fact volunteers are our most precious resource – our lifeblood.

We are now seeking more Volunteers to help with our work recruiting RSPB members, promoting ourselves in the community, leading walks and events, carrying out wildlife surveys and assisting the public on the Reserve.

It’s an OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON AN AMAZING SITE, SEE fantastic wildlife close at hand, HELP the conservation of this internationally important wetland and work of the RSPB, and MEET PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

Doesn’t get much better than that, so do come and join us, we can’t do it without you!

Rob Carver
Manager – RSPB Pagham Harbour

Blog post: More from our local group volunteers .....

Sallie Crawley — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 11:45:00 GMT

Further to my colleague Josie's blog i thought i would add a few more words from our amazing group volunteers.

Paul Barrett from the Airedale & Bradford Local Group says "I never volunteered for anything. My work/life balance was just fine. That was before Ruth announced the imminent closure of our Local Group at one of our indoor meetings: there were not enough people to run the group. I enjoyed the talks and walks that the group organised so, along with a few others, volunteered to help out.

I never realised how much I had been missing out on. As a committee member, I attend every indoor meeting. I used to pick and choose, not attending the meetings that sounded less interesting. I've discovered that many of the 'less interesting' meetings are, in fact, the MOST interesting. Volunteering was a life changing decision. A closer involvement with the organisation has made me much more aware of what the RSPB is all about, it's more than just birds. I now spend quite a bit of my 'spare time' working for the RSPB, befriending like-minded people and enjoying a much more active life. Volunteering has been a life-enhancing experience."

and our award winning volunteers Mary & Dave Braddock from the North West Surrey Local Group said after the RSPB's AGM " It was a very humbling experience to know that we had been nominated for this most prestigious award because of doing something that we enjoy. We don’t think it has sunk in yet. Volunteering for the RSPB in our house comes naturally. We have a passion for wildlife and the environment …and so does the RSPB! We believe in the RSPB strategies and find the people who work in the organisation so enthusiastic that it is infectious. It is an organisation we feel we belong in."

Pauline Wilson, Secretary of the Orkney Local Group wrote to say: “I am delighted that we had a really successful two days of bag-packing at Tesco Kirkwall. Members of our group and most of the staff of RSPB Orkney did a brilliant job and we managed to raise a total of £1305.28 which was beyond our expectations but very welcome. The people of Orkney are so generous - we even had £5 and £10 notes in our buckets. I have enjoyed organising these events and hope I am able to do it again in 2013.”

Pictured Maggie Currie

If you would like to find where your nearest groups is, click here!

Blog post: Volunteers win RSPB's top award for their time and talents

Rhoda Ludford — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 09:59:00 GMT

Congratulations to this year’s winners of the prestigious RSPB President’s Awards which were presented at the Society’s AGM in London on Saturday 6th October.

The RSPB President’s Award is our chance to recognise those volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to the work of the RSPB. In effect it is the RSPB’s equivalent of a volunteering “Oscar” and we only give out six each year!.

Here is the low down on this year’s winners:

Husband and wife team, Mary and Dave Braddock met through their local group in 1996 and have since worked together in a huge range of volunteering roles on our behalf. You name it and they have probably done it – as well as both having full-time jobs: Dave works for Thames Water and Mary is a primary care nurse with the NHS.

As joint Leaders of the North West Surrey Local Group they present the RSPB as a fun and exciting organisation. Their passion for wildlife conservation and support for the RSPB is borne out in everything they do, and they are always willing to step up to new challenges and take on new initiatives. An avid gardener, Dave grows hundreds of quality plants in his wildlife-friendly garden each year, which he and Mary sell on to family, friends and workmates, raising more £7,000 for the RSPB over the past eight years. Their own garden is a case study on how you can provide habitat for birds, a wide range of invertebrates, hedgehogs and even a grass snake.

Denise Chamings has been volunteering for us for 28 years in a wide variety of roles, and as Leader of the South Somerset Local Group since 1994 – which she treats more like a full time job. She doesn’t so much lead the group as guide, motivate, encourage and inspire everyone to get involved, readily supporting suggestions from members and always among the first to put the group forward for pilot projects. She even took our Local Group Manual on holiday recently to review it for headquarters staff!

Denise also leads a successful team of fundraisers who have raised thousands of £s to support the work of our Somerset reserves and the Great Crane Project. It’s not uncommon to find her at local events extolling the virtues of the RSPB and passing on her love of nature to children and parents alike.

Colin Hawkins has undertaken no fewer than 19 different roles since he started volunteering with us in 2008, regularly donating 86 hours of his time every month at our headquarters in Sandy. There’s just no stopping him - he’s the one you go to when you want something done. He brings enthusiasm and vigour to everything he does, drawing on his wealth of project management experience to complete tasks both efficiently and effectively. One of his current roles is administering the Donated Binocular Scheme run by our international team, in which second-hand binoculars and telescopes are sent to BirdLife Partners across the globe. I’m told he does this with a minimum of fuss and a creative lack of bureaucracy. He also assists with fundraising initiatives and has helped to expand the popular pin badge scheme by monitoring stock levels and servicing orders. In addition, he can regularly be found applying his practical skills on our nature reserves, helping out at reserve events, or active on the committee of his Local Group.

Quietly beavering away in the east of England is a real unsung - and unseen - hero, Andrew Wilkinson. He’s regularly out at the crack of dawn monitoring elusive farmland birds, or tucked away in the corner of our regional office in Norwich, quietly engrossed in a book on ecological statistics.

Andy bravely gave up a 30-year career in biochemistry to focus on his passion – birds! He spent a year volunteering at our Titchwell reserve, sharing his passion and knowledge with visitors, and then jumped at an opportunity to undertake farmland bird surveys. Since then, he has designed new methods to monitor farmland bird populations and is continually trialling new ways to support farmers, to demonstrate that wildlife friendly farming measures deployed at the right scale and in the right places can work for a wide range of species. Andy’s warm and approachable manner endear him to all, particularly the farmers and landowners with whom he works. His knowledge and expertise are well respected and he fulfils a key role in underpinning the work of our farmland team in Eastern England.

Date with Nature assistants, Love Nature collectors, Pin Badge minders, Local Group events organisers, Web Stock counters and Bird Friendly Schools volunteers are all roles that Margaret Winwood and Patrick Jones have undertaken since they started volunteering with us just over four years ago. Both are keen birders and their passion shines through infectiously when engaging with people of all ages. They are hugely committed, adaptable and hard working individuals and their enthusiasm and flair for recruiting new members and supporters is second to none. They have personally recruited several hundred new members over the past four years - an outstanding achievement in its own right – and were our best local group recruiters last year. With a “can do“ attitude, both will turn their hands to whatever needs doing, simply rolling their sleeves up and getting stuck in.

Ron Price volunteers in Northern Ireland’s Conservation Office where he started with data entry & has diversified in many directions to the widely appreciated, multi-faceted role he holds today. His many roles now include data entry, mapping on GIS, filing and administration, research and field surveys.

Ron’s attention to detail has meant that he has become increasingly involved in mapping across several species including breeding waders, yellowhammer & lapwing. He is reliable and shows great commitment & willingness to take on anything from very mundane filing to fieldwork & research. He’s completely at home on reserves & will undertake anything required. He has good identification skills & sound ecological knowledge such that he’s been able to help with hen harrier surveys, V&FA surveys, and a local project in the Lagan Valley. Over time he has expanded his skills and gone on to benefit the BTO, for whom he does BBS, WEBS and Atlas work, being one of the team that really helped cover the gaps in NI Atlas coverage. This is enormously important in the struggle to ensure sufficient data to evidence trends in support of RSPB policy and advisory work.

Having taken on a piece of research to support a theory about the past presence of Red Kites in Northern Ireland, the resulting work was published in the Irish Naturalists’Journal 2008 (Price R & Robinson J - The persecution of Kites and other species in 18th century co.Antrim.). This work was a key piece in the jigsaw that enabled Red Kite reintroduction in Northern Ireland and Ron became part of the small team helping with their collection from Wales, subsequent care, release and monitoring.

Blog post: Buckets of Love!

Rhoda Ludford — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:46:00 GMT

Many thanks to all of you who helped make Love Nature Week a great success this year. Over 600 of you stepped up and donated almost 2,200 hours of your time to take part in our street bucket collection. You collected over £35,600 in total!

That’s fantastic news for wildlife. All the money raised is being spent in the region it was collected, helping the nature near you that needs it most.

Anyone can take part in a bucket collection – all you need is a big smile, just like the smile that comes naturally to one of our amazing volunteers, Philippa Pickworth.

Philippa has been helping nature for many years. She believes in living and working in an environmentally friendly way – read here about the steps she has taken that have earned her self-catering cottages a Green Tourism Award. She is also a dedicated RSPB Pin Badge box volunteer. This year she went a step further, and helped out with a Love Nature Week bucket collection in Aberystwyth.

Nice weather for ducks?

Like many collectors, Philippa found that boots and raincoat were essential parts of the kit this year, as the weather on the day was truly atrocious. But it didn’t spoil the fun, or the fundraising!

She told us: 'The wind blew and rain came down — the perfect June summer day! Despite this and a week of flooding to dampen even the liveliest of spirits, the people of Aberystwyth gave generously and asked questions and shared stories.

Kids gave their coppers in exchange for a sticker, some gave their silver to empty their pocket, many dropped a golden nugget or two in my bucket.

The lovely ladies of Pets At Home made a hot cup of coffee to warm my fingers. It seems the people of Aberystwyth really do LOVE NATURE!'

That’s the spirit!

This captures the spirit of our bucket collections — putting the fun into fundraising, and helping save nature together.

The next step

We’re looking for even more volunteers this month to take part in our Together for Trees bucket collections on 21 and 22 September. All money raised will go towards protecting rainforests around the world. Register to save a forest today here!