I first started visiting Minsmere a few years ago as a way to unwind from the week of desk-bound calls, emails and meetings that make up my job. It was a peaceful place to stretch the legs, chat to like-minded people and full of interesting things to take photographs of. My wife Davene and I were in hides and around the reserve showing people the wildlife so regularly, it eventually became ridiculous not becoming official and putting on the blue T-shirt.
So first Davene, then I joined the large group of volunteers that help keep the reserve ticking over. There are a range of things volunteers can get involved in at such a large reserve, but for us it’s about being out helping people to see the birds, reptiles, insects and animals that can be found. Sometimes we’ll be together, sometimes at opposite ends of the site depending on the time of year and the number of other guides on duty. The role involves talking to people, helping them to find what they’re looking for, pointing out the easily missed and trying to ignite people’s passion for the natural world all around. Meeting and helping people from all around the country (and the world) who have come to Minsmere specifically to see birds like Marsh Harriers or Bitterns means my own enjoyment of them never wanes – it’s difficult to get blasé about a species when someone in the hide has tears in their eyes after finally seeing their first Bittern in a lifetime’s birding.
One of the things we both love to do is man the species hot-spots. These are areas that are often really busy for a few short weeks and then vanish again. Early in the year it will be Adders. Then over the summer it will be Bee-Wolves (digger wasps), Wasp Spiders or the amazing variety of life in the pond
Being part of the team able to make a visitor’s day by spotting these secretive creatures is always rewarding, especially when they come back again and again because they’ve become hooked.
In the Autumn, I drive some of the Deer Rut safaris, taking visitors out in a 4x4 to the back end of the reserve to see the Red Deer. It’s a different role, but great being able to show people parts of the reserve often out of bounds due to protected ground nesting birds and talk about the history and ways we’re managing the land to benefit biodiversity.
As you can tell from the images in this blog, I do take a lot of photographs around the reserve and I’ve even been able to use that experience to help people, running photography “Hire a Guide” sessions, teaching general use of a camera or more specialised macro work. It allows me to set free my inner photography geek and encourage others to look more closely at the world around them and to record their memories visually.
The only question about volunteering that remains unanswered for me is “What next?”. With so many opportunities to get involved in different things, I’ll have to wait and see….