Gail Jones - a retired teacher from Machen near Caerphilly - has been honoured in the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) annual awards for volunteering more 400 days to help connect more families with nature and the environment. Gail won the Green Category for her volunteering at RSPB Newport Wetlands Visitor and Education Centre where she volunteers as a community and education assistant.
Having started volunteering in July 2009, Gail has since clocked up over 3,000 hours, this equates to 400 days of her time to field teaching sessions and inspiring families about wildlife at the reserve, by employing teaching skills built over a long career. Alongside staff and other volunteers she uncovers the magic of nature through a variety of hands-on activities, including sensory walks, mini-beast hunting and pond dipping, and is ‘incredibly’ supportive of her colleagues.
To visit the centre and reserve go to the website www.rspb.org.uk/newportwetlands or call 01633 636363. If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering with RSPB please visit www.rspb.org/volunteeering
Image - Gail with her award