Penny Chatfield has been a volunteer in the Little Owl Café at St Aidan’s since April 2022.
“I have been a member of the RSPB for about 30 years, and have always wanted to be more involved in a practical way. So now that my children are older, I decided to do just that! I first visited St Aidan’s in 2016, and when I saw the Facebook post asking for volunteers this year, I decided to go for it. I am a nurse, and as I work part time have been able to commit to volunteering one day a week with the possibility of more days in the future.
I’m really keen to be involved as I know how important RSPB sites are in ensuring the protection of birds and other animals, by engaging with the public and through education. I started volunteering in the Little Owl Café in April 2022, and from my very first shift I have been made to feel like part of the team. All the staff, volunteers and visitors are wonderful and I feel part of something very special here at St Aidan’s. I choose to volunteer in the café because I love meeting and talking to people and also have a keen interest in birds, nature and cake. So I thought - why not combine it all!!"
The lovely Penny on duty, serving cake and hot chocolate!
"All the shifts I have worked so far have been so enjoyable, and being able to talk to people about nature and birds has been really special. Serving hot drinks and cake to paying customers is not something I am used to, but it's fun and I'm learning new skills such as operating the coffee machine and till. These were both pretty daunting at first, but have gotten easier the more I’ve used them! I am also keen to get involved in other activities that the site offers, such as the community muck in days and litter picking. There is so much to be excited about and I'm so glad I made the decision to volunteer.
One of the best parts of volunteering is meeting all the visitors and staff who share a common interest, and love of nature and birds. Sharing sightings of birds and being able to share my own knowledge has been fabulous, and it’s encouraging to see so many other people enjoying the natural world around us. Being able to look out onto the site from the café windows is wonderful, and it's a pleasure to volunteer here.”