Attenborough may have celebrated his 90th birthday this year by abseiling down a building, but last weekend I met another nature-loving nonagenarian who I’m certain could give Sir David a run for his money.
Just before Springwatch wrapped up at RSPB Minsmere, and to honour National Volunteering Week, I paid a visit to the Suffolk reserve to spend a day volunteering. While I was there, I met the remarkable Elizabeth Nelson. She volunteers in the visitor centre every Saturday, and has a lifetime of love for nature. And, at 95, she’s the RSPB’s oldest volunteer.
“I am responsible for organising the pin badges and do little odd jobs around the visitor centre, like folding and preparing leaflets,” says Elizabeth, known as Betty to her colleagues. We take a stroll – she’s roguishly left her cane behind, but doesn’t appear to need it – as she tells me more.
“I used to visit Minsmere with my husband on holidays, probably 20 years ago or more. I love the Bewick's swans.”Elizabeth – named after her two grandmothers – was born in Westcliffe, but grew up in Wembley Park, Middlesex. During the Second World War she worked for the fire service, then as a full-time mum to her daughter, who lives in Sri Lanka. Elizabeth now resides in the pretty coastal town of Aldeburgh, and takes the bus to and from the reserve, just 20 minutes away.Has she always been interested in wildlife?“My parents weren’t interested in nature or wildlife, but I had a great love of animals and kept several pets including dogs, cats, canaries and budgies. I keep a canary now!”Asked whether she has seen the countryside change over the decades, she replies: “Yes it has changed a lot. I didn’t notice how much until recently. I see fewer birds overall, especially in my garden.”What does she enjoy about volunteering?
“Meeting people, and talking to them about all the wildlife they see, which helps me learn more about birds.”
Ian Barthorpe, Visitor Experience Officer at Minsmere, who has worked with Elizabeth for many years, says:
"Betty is a wonderful lady and an inspiration to all of us, remaining so active and enthusiastic. She’s been an integral part of our volunteer team for many years now.
"Regular contact with nature is important for all of us, helping to keep us all fit, healthy and young at heart. Volunteering is also great for our health and wellbeing as it keeps the mind active and maintains contact with other like-minded people."
After hanging out with Elizabeth, it was time to get on with some work myself. I set off past the sand martin colony, over the pond (catching a glimpse of Wesley the water vole) to the heath, to chat to visitors about stone curlews.
These rare, hard-to-spot waders certainly have mastered the art of camouflage: we didn’t see one all day. But I did find out that people once thought that starring into their yellow eye would cure jaundice. And they have some rather disparaging nicknames, like 'Wailing Heath Chicken' and, my favourite: 'Thick Knees'.
Later, we watched bearded tits (pictured above) and sedge warblers flitting and calling through the golden reeds under the pleasant mid-June sun. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
Volunteering is a wonderful way of meeting people, learning new things and getting to know the RSPB’s beautiful reserves from an insider’s perspective. Many visitors remarked how nice it was to see ‘young people’ like myself showing an interest in nature. I’m 30, so was pretty pleased with that comment, but there are plenty younger than me, including Grace, aged eight, who volunteers with her parents at Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire.
So volunteering really is for everyone. Plus, how beautiful that a love of nature can cross a near 90-year divide? There can’t be many things in life with such a broad appeal as that.