Volunteer Week #1: Karl - Centre volunteer

Hi there!

This week (1-7 June) it is National Volunteers' Week. Through this period we'll be taking a look at some of the hard-working people who help out around Frampton Marsh as part of our dedicated volunteer team. Who are they, what do they do, what makes them give up their time?

We will start with Karl, one of our centre volunteers. Karl's role is to welcome people onto the reserve and make sure they have a nice time visiting us. Let's see what Karl has to say;

"As a boy I always used to pay visits to Frampton Marsh, but not to the RSPB Visitor Centre, as that was not even a thought at the time “coughs” some 40+ years ago!!...it was still however a haven for wildlife on the salt marsh and an area that probably got me more into nature through the exploration of the wildlife in the creeks and the flocks of waders on the mud flats.

However, life moves on, we grow up and children arrive, during which time all of this fun and enjoyment seems to take a back seat unfortunately...priorities and all that!...until such time as the children grow up and then say “Dad I’m bored” ...so living not far away from Frampton I suggest a bike ride to the marsh, after some uncertain moans we agree and off we cycle...to my surprise and embarrassingly so, this was the first time I saw or even knew about the fact the RSPB had set up this amazing reserve and lovely visitor centre. Following what was an amazing day we/I continued to visit as and when and got talking to the volunteers in the visitor centre, and as started to get more  free time I decided one way or another that I wanted to be part of this ongoing project and duly became a volunteer there.

Moving 2+ years forward, I still love the experience of meeting new people who visit the reserve as well as making many new friends along the way in visitors, volunteers and employees of the RSPB, while working in the visitor centre and twice now on the The Big Wild Sleep Out, and of course the challenge in encouraging new visitors to join what is a worthwhile charity. I would encourage anyone who has a day or so a month free to take up the experience of being a volunteer here or at any other RSPB reserve, it really is rewarding in hearing all the excellent reviews from new and regular visitors. On top of all this, there are more social gatherings added to my calendar both from organised events and social gatherings outside of the RSPB...of course the topic almost always turns to birding or something similar.

Well I hope I have given you a small insight into my time as a volunteer, I’m sure others have different and varied experiences to mine but the fact we have so many volunteers wishing to give up their time pretty much speaks volumes of what we have here at RSPB Frampton.

 Karl Royce"

Thank you Karl. If you are interested in becoming a visitor centre volunteer like Karl, please email chris.andrews@rspb.org.uk or give me a call on 01205 724678. No specialist knowledge of birds or wildlife is required, just a friendly approachable manner. It is also great experience for anyone looking to get a job dealing with the public.