“Protect your sandwiches at all costs!”

Today I went out with five volunteers for the Volunteer Work Day at Moss Valley Woodlands. I did not wear appropriate shoes (silly unprepared office worker!) and almost slipped in the mud many times. The volunteers, who were pulling bracken in a clearing perfect for wildflower, luckily had all the gear and got stuck in to clearing the site.

Chris, who is a lifetime member of Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust, has been volunteering with us for eight years, since retirement, and has pulled bracken in this particular sight for the last 3 summers. His advice to the newer volunteers was to “protect your sandwiches at all costs,” referring to the dogs enjoying their walks through the woods.

At the opposite end of the scale was Suzie. Suzie, who moved to Sheffield only 2 weeks ago, studied Biological Sciences at Aberdeen University and is interested in a career in ecology. She is volunteering to get hands on practical experience and to network in the field.

Volunteering with us is a great way to gain skills and experience in conservation or simply contribute to the protection and enhancement of wildlife in your local area. We have numerous volunteer work days throughout the month – see here for more information and to sign up.

Luckily the rain held off so I did not get too wet in my ridiculous shoes.

Tania x