From landscape-scale projects to pocket-sized nature reserves, an essential part of the wildlife trust’s work is to help people feel connected to wildlife. As part of the community reserves team RHIANNON HARRINGTON explains how.

The green leaves of summer seemed to have vanished overnight as I march along a footpath on a blustery morning. Now swathes of deep russets and burnt oranges signal autumn’s arrival. However, on my journey through Letcombe Valley community nature reserve, near Wantage, it’s not only Mother Nature who seems to be making changes. Just ahead of me, the footpath had been transformed into an expertly-constructed gravel walkway. It may seem odd that in this pocket of woodland alongside a chalk stream, the one thing that struck me was the path, but the reason I was taken aback by it was because it was built entirely by local volunteers.

All shapes and sizes

Community nature reserves play an essential role connecting local people with their natural environment. Often located in densely-populated areas on the urban fringe, they provide a fantastic opportunity for people from all walks of life to get involved in caring for small pockets of important habitat, from woodlands and meadows to ponds and streams. At Wells Farm allotments, organically-grown peas, potatoes and parsnips are harvested beside grass snake hidey-holes, and juicy snails provide a treat for the opportunistic thrush.

What’s more, there’s a role for anyone and everyone, whether you’re keen to get mucky planting hedgerows, want to excite the next generation leading a guided walk or love to socialise and enjoy a cuppa with like-minded people. The only prerequisite for being a volunteer is enthusiasm. If you’re able to turn the bemused faces of young children to toothy grins of excitement as they discover their very own Narnia at our CS Lewis nature reserve in Risinghurst, then perhaps you could turn your skills to a community site.

Challenging work

Sometimes caring for community nature reserves is not without its challenges. Our wildlife oases do not always coexist harmoniously with modern living. Getting young people interested in the wonders of nature rather than its use as a graffiti canvas or rubbish dump is my greatest challenge. Occasionally coming across the smouldering cinders of a tree limb can be disheartening too, particularly for the volunteers who work so tirelessly to care for such lovely wild places.

Community nature reserves are not only home to wildlife, they are places into which the volunteers can pour their passions. I am thankful, that despite the setbacks, the tenacity of volunteers seems to be everlasting. This would be a very lonely job without them.

Pastures new

In truth, my role as a Community Wildlife Officer is still a bit of a novelty. Having changed career, it’s definitely been a steep learning curve. What I’ve learnt is that without volunteers, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust wouldn’t be able to do a third of the practical habitat management it carries out every year.

But perhaps the most important thing I’ve learnt is that chocolate biscuits work wonders when there’s a fence to build on a rainy day!

  • If you would like to visit your nearest community nature reserve or volunteer at a practical work party call 01865 775476 for more information about volunteering opportunities with your local wildlife trust, or visit our website, www.bbowt.org.uk