Guest blog by Sue Stephenson-Martin, Membership Development Officer
What inspires me as an MDO (Membership Development Officer)?
Is it signing up as many new members as I can ? Yes it is!
Is it seeing childrens faces when they connect with nature ? Yes it is!
Is it trying to inspire another generation so we don't lose our wildlife? Of course it is...
However, what inspires me as a person?
It's seeing the world around me that others miss, totally oblivious to the world beneath their feet.
Hearing the aggressive buzz of the wool carder bee as it flits from plant to plant; the shrill mosquito like buzzing of a stunning green eyed flower bee as it constantly moves rapidly around gathering pollen.
Green eyed flower bee (anthophora bimaculata)
It's finding an unusual species that nobody knows, then finding out what it's called, Shiny-vented sharp-tail aka Pointy-bum bee (coelioxys inermis). The Pointy-bum bee has caused quite a stir at the visitor centre with visitors wanting to see it and learn about it. This is great news as it means people will look at the smaller world around them.
Pointy-bum bee (coelioxys inermis)
The Pointy-bum bee is a nest hunter, parasitising the nest of leaf cutter bees.
If the above doesn't inspire then nothing will.
Nature has a way of inspiring many things!
Sue