Linda Hammond has been volunteering with us for almost 10 years, from helping with survey work to family events. Now reincarnated as our Administration Assistant, she tells us why she loves it here...
When we came to live in Suffolk more than 10 years ago, one of the first things I did was to find out about volunteering at RSPB Minsmere. I’d read all about this magical place but living in the north of England we’d never quite made it to here. To finally arrive and find so much amazing wildlife was wonderful, with the added bonus that there’s so many different ways in which volunteers can get involved.
My first role was to help the wardens record sightings of birds and other wildlife. We record on a database for analysis later, and so I learnt loads from day one, especially about birds, their behaviours and preferred habitat.
Linda in action!
Minsmere has excellent facilities with ideal accommodation to host events in which visitors can explore various aspects of the local wildlife. Some years ago the Minsmere team expanded their offering of family oriented events such as pond dipping and nest box building. During school holidays there is now something happening almost every weekday. I was soon involved with helping at these events, and my all-time favourite is ‘Owl Pellet Dissection’. To watch visitors of all ages - sometimes reluctantly at first – getting totally absorbed in teasing out rather unprepossessing brown lumps of stuff to reveal entire skeletons of voles and mice, is such a brilliant volunteering experience.
Owl pellet dissection during the school holidays
A very young Thomas Barthorpe trying not to fall in the pond!
Given that my ‘day job’ was administration based, I also enjoy helping out in the office. It’s great to be able to use your work-based skills to help promote issues you really care about such as wildlife and conservation. And where else, when the cry goes up ‘Spoonbills over the pond!’ would it be OK for the entire office to instantly abandon their laptops and rush out for a bit of spontaneous bird-watching?
The staff here are the best. Always a warm welcome when you arrive, and plenty of “thank you’s” for the time we donate. The reserve itself is of course stunning and though I’ve been coming here for nearly 10 years, each time I roll into the car park is a ‘it’s great to be here again!’ moment.
If you're interested in volunteering, please get in touch through our email address: Minsmere@rspb.org.uk - there are lots of roles to choose from
Minsmere from the skies
Love Minsmere as much as Linda? Please sign our petition and ask EDF to protect our wildlife at: loveminsmere.org