If so, I can tell you that it is an awesome experience. I am currently one quarter of the way through my residential volunteering placement at RSPB Strumpshaw fen, and would definitely recommend it.
Every morning I take my coffee outside and am serenaded by the sound of blue tits, great tits, bullfinches and drumming woodpeckers amongst other glorious sounds. I have seen otters in the river, barn owls over the meadows and Marsh harriers over the reedbed. However, the two highlights have been seeing a male Hen harrier down the river at cantley, and two goosanders which have been seen frequently from tower hide.
Residential volunteering has given me an increased insight into the day to day running of a nature reserve, and shown me the vast amount of work carried out to ensure that the reserves key species thrive. It has also given me an insight into how much work is carried out to ensure that visitors get the most out of their visit.
I have been involved in many tasks including scrub removal, burning the last of the winter reed, marsh harrier roost counts, reedbed restoration and maintaining visitor facilities among many others. Every day I learn something new about habitat management, visitor engagement, species identification or survey techniques.
The signs of spring are appearing thick and fast around the reserve. Skylarks are singing over the marshes, chaffinches are in fine voice in the woodlands and the first reed buntings have begun singing in the fen. The woodland flora is starting to show signs of change, with primrose in flower and the first bluebell leaves appearing. Mallards are mating and blue tits are investigating nest boxes. These are all signs that we are nearing the end of winter and entering my favourite season, spring.