My wild life – Trust member Catherine Downes tells us how volunteering keeps her sharp23 October, 2019 25 June, 2024 How long have you been a member of the Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust? Why did you become a member? My eldest Grandchild is 13 so I think it must have been around 10 years ago as I wanted to sign up for the children’s part of the magazine. I have always taken the grandchildren to various nature reserves and to children’s activities in their early years. I’ve always had a keen interest in nature and ecology. I can remember work being done to Sunnybank and the early development of other nature reserves. Becoming a member had always been something at the back of my mind that I’d not gotten around to but when someone stopped me in Tesco one day and asked if I’d thought about membership I said, ‘Yes, for decades, but I’ve not got round to it!’. I joined up then. Why do you volunteer with the Data for Nature project? How did you get involved in it? I have previously volunteered with the Trust, dipping in and out of the Wild at Heart project over the years. It was there I came across Julie (Riley, Ecologist). I assisted Julie on some Phase 1 surveys and really enjoyed it. When the Data for Nature project came up I think Julie got in touch with me and I was happy to get involved. For me, volunteering on this project helps my brain and I’m taking on new learning throughout. Tell me more about your volunteer role. I volunteered for any survey I could manage. I co-ordinated the Skylark surveys and attended a Nightjar survey. I’ve done a Winter Tree and early Spring Tree survey, a meadow survey, dragonflies and damselflies, and a Wildflower indicator survey at Moss Valley. I did the Harvest Mouse survey although I was convinced beforehand that we were surveying for Dormice! I would like to have done the newt survey as I have newts at home in my pond but unfortunately I couldn’t make it. Before most of the surveys we had some training with Julie or another member of staff. Julie is a very good trainer and her delivery was great. She was organised and I thought she gave us just the right amount of information. What has been your favourite survey? I think it has to be the Ancient Woodland Wildflower survey at Moss Valley. It was early evening and I carried out the survey with a friend who also volunteered on the project. The bluebells were out and we were the only people around. It was such a nice environment. What do you love about your