Volunteers are the lifeblood of the RSPB, with nearly 17'000 of them contributing over 1 million hours & making up about 20% of the RSPB's entire workforce! As such, some of our Volunteer Line Managers have provided a few words in praise of just a handful of the many volunteers who give up their time in the name of the RSPB, the length and breadth of the country and even abroad.
“Having spent a couple of weeks at a reserve, seeing just how hard the vols work and how committed and enthusiastic they are, I have returned with a new-found appreciation. What an amazing bunch of people.” Suzy Mills, Membership and Fulfilment Manager, UK Headquarters
“Our volunteer has worked extremely hard and has taken on board the task in hand to a very high standard. After initial training, he was able to work with minimal support (which was exactly what we needed from this role). He fitted in very well within the team and I feel sure that he enjoyed his time with us as much as we welcomed having him as a colleague for a time.” Mandy Moran, Infrastructure Engineer, UK Headquarters
“There are a variety of ways volunteers are working with children on school visits, giving their time not only to help and guide the children in their learning but also in supporting the teaching teams in many different ways. Many education schemes could not run properly without the more practical volunteer helpers who maintain the areas in which children work. This could be tidying up, mowing, cutting back brambles and stingers or putting up benches and log circles for children to sit on. With the gift of time from volunteers we can do so much more to connect young people with nature.” Carolyn Maxwell, UK Headquarters
“Our volunteers have made a huge and lasting contribution to the work of RSPB and the Gola Forest Project – they leave a legacy of invaluable data and a team of forest guards much better equipped, in terms of skills and understanding, to help protect this unique and special place. They take with them memories that I am sure will remain with them for years to come and experience that will also help them in their future careers” Juliet Vickery, Head of International Research, UK Headquarters
“Our team of 14 regular volunteers are amazing, without them we couldn’t achieve what we do, they are an absolute asset to our team always going above and beyond, thank you one and all.” Sallie Crawley, Volunteering Development, UK Headquarters
“Once again the successful operation of the Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre has relied on the generosity, in time and effort, of a flow of volunteers taking us, week by week, from April through to September. This year we have been poised to open the lighthouse as part of our attraction, but this has been tantalisingly delayed so far. Nevertheless, our volunteers have enjoyed marvellous moments of matchings, hatchings, and dispatchings among the seabird colony and have shared their amazement and excitement with the many visitors, inspiring them to develop their interest in the wider, natural world of the marine environment surrounding us and the care needed to sustain it safely.” Alison McFaul, Visitor Experience Manager, Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre
"Thanks to Shaun Robson who’s been working on developing the vision for our French’s Farm Reserve in Dorset. He has invested a huge amount of time and expertise gathering feedback and collating complex issues; presenting them back in such a way that we can really start to make long-term decisions about the management of this spectacular site’. Dante Munns, Dorset and Wiltshire Area Manager
“A big thank you to all the Farmland surveyors in County Down who have been setting their alarms for ungodly hours throughout the spring and summer. I know it’s not easy when the alarm goes off at 4:30am to get out of bed and put on your waterproofs and wellies, but the work you have done will help us work with farmers to save some of our most threatened farmland species in the area.” Philip Carson, Conservation Advisor, Northern Ireland Headquarters
“Our volunteer protection team are a God-send! I have been deeply impressed by the hours and hours of dedication to protecting one of Somerset’s rarest (and newest!) breeding birds.” Damon Bridge, Project Manager – Nature Recovery (Damon’s referring to the Great Crane project here)
"A huge thank you to our team of ‘peregrine’ volunteers at Salisbury Cathedral, who again gave their time to show visitors the Cathedral peregrines and their four newly fledged young. We’re all still hugely excited that, after an absence of 61 years these amazing birds have successfully nested for a second year on this magnificent Cathedral – and judging by the reaction of the hundreds of visitors, they are too!’ Philip Sheldrake, Conservation Officer – Wiltshire and Gloucestershire
"I work with a whole bunch of wonderful volunteers engaged with Cirl buntings, they help make my job both easier and more rewarding - I don’t know what I would do without them. Thank you all you cirl bunting enthusiasts you know who you are!" Cath Jeffs, Cirl Bunting Project Manager
"Andrew McNinch has been a wonderful addition to our great team of volunteers on the Exe Estuary. He will always help out at extra events when asked and his kind and enthusiastic nature has given our visitors plenty to smile about"
"David Byrne has been volunteering for us ever since accidentally visiting the hide and agreeing to help! His kindly approach to visitors has been a real boost to the reserve and we like to think he’s now happy he was gently coerced into volunteering with us." Steve Henry, Visitor Experience Manager
"I have been in awe of the commitment, energy and abilities of our volunteers at Chesil Beach Little Tern Project from day one! Well done everyone, you should be very proud of your work! Thanks from Thalassa McMurdo Hamilton and the little terns of Chesil Beach." Thalassa McMurdo, Little Tern Project Officer
"Thank you so much to Loran, Robin, Judy and George for all their help over the last 3 years as part of the membership team in Devon and Cornwall. You’ve helped to raise thousands of pounds for the RSPB’s amazing work and have introduced so many people to nature! Good luck for future seasons." Jennifer Few, Membership Development Officer
“We are so grateful to all our wonderful volunteers who have assisted the Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project over the past two and a half years. This project is about seabirds and people, without volunteers this project would not be possible. We have a fantastic range of volunteers from those at the RSPB Penzance office who make seabird nest boxes and point wildlife out onboard the Scillonian ferry to the passengers; to the 84 residents on St Agnes and Gugh who are keeping the islands rat-free. We look forward to welcoming more volunteers over the next 2 years of the project. www.ios-eabirds.org.uk” Jaclyn Pearson, Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project Manager
Many thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers who give so much to the RSPB, we couldn't do it without you!
For more information on all things volunteering visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RSPBVolunteering?ref=hl
And to find out how you can get involved visit our page at http://www.rspb.org.uk/joinandhelp/volunteering/