guest blog by RSPB Cymru Volunteer, John Lamb
My name is John, I've been volunteering for the RSPB since I took early retirement in 2001. However, months before retiring I decided to study the environment through the Open University and to gain practical experience as a residential volunteer on a reserve, that reserve being RSPB Lake Vyrnwy in Powys. It was there I got the bug for volunteering and over the years I've worked as a volunteer on several reserves in North Wales, including RSPB Cors Ddyga (formally known as RSPB Malltraeth Marsh) on Anglesey.
RSPB Cors Ddyga covers 600 acres of managed wetland and reed bed habitat to encourage lapwings and bitterns to nest, but it’s also utilised by many other species of birds such as ducks, swans, little egrets, golden plover and many more, with the odd marsh harrier being spotted on occasion. Mammals can also be seen on the reserve and if you’re lucky you may find signs of otters - or if you're really lucky you may spot one!
As I mentioned earlier, RSPB Cors Ddyga is a managed reserve and I, along with other volunteers, assist the RSPB Reserve Managers and Wardens in a variety of projects to maintain and improve the quality of the habitats - at RSPB Cors Ddyga and at other reserves on Anglesey. The majority of the reverse maintenance work takes place from the end of summer until early spring when we repair or replace fences, gates, clear paths and do the general maintenance jobs that need to be completed before the nesting season begins. However, our biggest enemy at this time of the year is the weather. The cold is not too bad but wet weather and very muddy conditions can be a bit of a problem. Having said this, we’re a hardy bunch and only really harsh conditions can stop us. When we can't work outside we are in the workshop constructing nesting boxes for barn owls which requires a constant supply of tea, coffee and biscuits of course! In the spring and summer one of our main tasks is tackling the problem of evasive plants such as Himalayan balsam and Japanese hog-weed.
One of the joyful things about volunteering at RSPB Cors Ddyga is the people and we all get along together, volunteers and the permanent staff alike. A joke or a merry quip and that plentiful supply of tea and biscuits goes a long way! I would encourage anyone who would like to experience working on an RSPB reserve to come to RSPB Cors Ddyga as a volunteer and have a go – plenty of opportunities await!