Thursday 23 November was wet this year. It was also windy. However, as they have done almost every Thursday for many years now, a hardy troop of volunteers made their way to RSPB Scotland’s Baron’s Haugh nature reserve. I was fortunate enough to join them for the day.
For anyone unfamiliar with the site, picture a winding, mixed woodland, home to Nuthatches, Tawny Owls and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Then sitting amongst it is the Haugh itself, a large wetland that is perfect for Kingfishers, Otters and a whole host of wildfowl. All this sits less than a mile from Motherwell town centre, providing the local community with an invaluable greenspace.
Our task for the day was to remove several patches of snowberry, an invasive non-native plant that can overrun and outcompete native species. It was introduced into Scotland in the 19th century – no doubt because of its attractive pink flowers and white berries – however left unchecked it can prove disastrous for our woodlands.
We split up into groups to tackle different parts of the nature reserve and I joined with Charlie and John, two long-term volunteers who instantly made me feel welcome. Loppers, spade and mattock (a heavy tool that’s almost a cross between a pickaxe and a crowbar) in hand, we set to work.
We soon fell into a comfortable rhythm where one of us would cut away the tentacle-like branches, a second would lever the heavy roots out with the mattock and the third would sweep up any leftovers with the spade. Despite the physical nature of the work, it felt almost therapeutic, especially whenever we looked back at the once-overwhelming, now ever-shrinking line of snowberry.
However, even more enjoyable was getting to know my colleagues for the day. John is a retired minister while Charlie is a former telecoms worker who seems to have volunteered at almost every organisation in Scotland. Chatting about the work they’ve done at Baron’s Haugh over the years, I could sense how proud they are of the nature reserve. And no wonder, given it acts as a haven for hundreds of species and thousands of people every year.
After taking in views over the Haugh during our lunch break (thanks to Assistant Warden Sam for the delicious cookies), the groups banded together to tackle one last patch of snowberry. As we settled back into that familiar pattern (chop, lever, dig), I got chatting to another of the volunteers, Scott.
Whereas Charlie and John began volunteering at Baron’s Haugh towards the end of their careers, Scott is building experience with which to start his. On this occasion the group were removing an invasive non-native species, but we could just as easily have been surveying birds on the wetlands, picking litter around the hides or repairing fences to protect a wildflower meadow. Add to this the opportunity to pick the brains of staff and fellow volunteers, and it’s easy to see why Scott would choose to spend his Thursdays at Baron’s Haugh.
I’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone at Baron’s Haugh, both for making me feel welcome and for the incredible work they do every week. Volunteers like Charlie, John, Scott and the rest of the team are essential to everything we do at RSPB Scotland. And it’s not all getting your hands dirty on nature reserves (although there is plenty of that); we have volunteers who help with running youth groups, planning events, social media and so much more.
If you’d like to learn more or see what opportunities are available, pop over to the volunteering section of our website.
Header image shows the wetland at Baron's Haugh, with grasses and rushes in foreground and a line of trees in the background.