Wild Cornwall - Issue No.84

MORE IDEAS FOR ACTION

VOLUNTEER PROFILE

Name: Dave Salmon

Age: 26

Qualifications: BSc in Applied Ecology from Liverpool John Moores University; BTEC Higher National Diplomas in Biology obtained at De Montfort University, Leicester; BTEC Diploma in Science (Biology) at Suffolk College, Ipswich.

Experience: I am a registered leader for the BTCV and have led tasks as part of a Natural Break on the Isles of Scilly.

Reasons for volunteering: I have always loved the great outdoors and have a general interest in nature - I love birdwatching, photography and visiting nature reserves. I always knew I wanted to do conservation work and volunteering for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust gave me an ideal opportunity to gain experience in this field.

Role in the Trust: Assistant Voluntary Ranger.

Length of time with the Trust: Six months.

Main responsibilities: Assisting with practical conservation work - leading groups of other volunteers, arranging tools and transport, ensuring work is done to a high standard, carrying out risk assessments, maintaining tools and equipment.

What sort of practical work do you do on Trust nature reserves?: Construction work such as building fences, boardwalks, simple bridges, steps, footpaths, gates and Cornish hedges. Felling and clearance work such as laurel, rhododendron and gorse bashing, ragwort pulling, clearing trees felled by storms, brush cutting. Surveying and monitoring, such as surveying for water voles, otters, vegetation and butterflies, and monitoring dormice. Carrying out sustainable woodland work such as coppicing and charcoal burning.

What other experience have you gained at the Trust: I have led a guided walk at Nansmellyn Marsh (part of the Barclays Bank SiteSavers scheme), helped in a moth trapping presentation to the children from NABU (our German partners) in the summer and will be giving a mammal

discovery talk at Nansmellyn for the Mammal Group which will include live mammal trapping.

What sort of work have you enjoyed the most?: I have had the experience of using a mini digger for various works, including pond construction, which was excellent, and doing footpath clearance work on Looe Island was bliss - it's a real paradise!

What is your advice to other people wanting to volunteer?: If you think you might like doing practical conservation work then start volunteering now. It's an excellent way to get involved with conservation organisations, meet new people and gain really valuable experience, and above all it can be really good fun!

How can other people get involved?: Contact Gavin Henderson, Volunteer Co-ordinator, on (01872) 240777 ext 209 or on his mobile 07971 542185, and have a look at the reserve volunteering article on page 23.

Interview by Sally Pyner

VOLUNTEER VACANCIES

SPREAD THE WORD

Would you like to help adults or children appreciate the wonders of nature?

We are always looking for people who will speak, or lead outings, on wildlife subjects. We also need enthusiastic individuals (no previous knowledge necessary) to help organise family events and talk to children about our junior clubs.

Talk it over with Jayne Herbert on (01872) 240777 ext 215.

SLIDE LIBRARY SAVIOUR!

The Trust has hundreds of superb slides of Cornwall's wildlife and wild places, but many are unidentified and uncatalogued. Could you spare some time each week to get them into order, categorised with labels and numbers?

We have a Windows slide cataloguing database, so you should be reasonably computer literate, as well as having an interest in flowers, birds and wildlife in general. You will get the satisfaction of setting up a real asset for the Trust so these lovely slides can be used.

Contact Sheila McCann or Sarah McCartney to find out more on (01872) 245512

Volunteer Dave Salmon - getting involved, meeting new people, gaining experience and having really good fun.

Photo: Stuart Hutchings

PRACTICAL CONSERVATION WORKERS

Volunteers are always needed to assist our reserves section with wide-ranging practical tasks on our many nature reserves throughout the county.

Long-term and short-term contracts are offered, or you can simply join our PARC tasks at the weekend (see page 23).

Contact Gavin Henderson, Volunteer Co-ordinator

(01872) 240777 ext 209 or mobile 07971 542185

OTTER SPOTTERS WANTED

The Cornwall Otters and Rivers Project requires members of the public to become "otter spotters". Only those with a sense of humour, an interest in wildlife and an adventurous sense of smell need apply. No previous experience necessary.

If you would like to attend a training day to join our small but invaluable army of otter spotters, or if you would like more information about the project, please contact Beth Simmons on (01872) 245514.

Raise money for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and yourself

SALES ON COMMISSION

We are on the lookout for people to sell a beautiful range of photographic cards, showing scenes of Cornwall, to card and gift shops, newsagencies and individuals.

Excellent rates of commission are offered

Call Sally on (01872) 245516 for details

HAVE AN EVENTFUL TIME RAISING MONEY FOR THE TRUST

Would you enjoy helping to organise an event - big or small - to raise the Trust's profile and our funds? The possibilities are endless - a sponsored walk, garden party, fun run, fashion show, auction, concert or coffee morning - and you probably have ideas of your own.

If you get on well with people, why not use your skills to raise money for wildlife?

To find out more, please ring Alison Vaughan on (01872) 245516

Wild Cornwall - Issue No.84 - Spring 2001

*MORE IDEAS FOR ACTION*
VOLUNTEER PROFILE Name: Dave Salmon Age: 26 Qualifications: BSc in Applied Ecology from Liverpool John Moores University; BTEC Higher National Diplomas in Biology obtained at De Montfort University, Leicester; BTEC Diploma in Science (Biology) at Suffolk College, Ipswich. Experience: I am a registered leader for the BTCV and have led tasks as part of a Natural Break on the Isles of Scilly. Reasons for volunteering: I have always loved the great outdoors and have a general interest in nature - I love birdwatching, photography and visiting nature reserves. I always knew I wanted to do conservation work and volunteering for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust gave me an ideal opportunity to gain experience in this field. Role in the Trust: Assistant Voluntary Ranger. Length of time with the Trust: Six months.	Main responsibilities: Assisting with practical conservation work - leading groups of other volunteers, arranging tools and transport, ensuring work is done to a high standard, carrying out risk assessments, maintaining tools and equipment. What sort of practical work do you do on Trust nature reserves?: Construction work such as building fences, boardwalks, simple bridges, steps, footpaths, gates and Cornish hedges. Felling and clearance work such as laurel, rhododendron and gorse bashing, ragwort pulling, clearing trees felled by storms, brush cutting. Surveying and monitoring, such as surveying for water voles, otters, vegetation and butterflies, and monitoring dormice. Carrying out sustainable woodland work such as coppicing and charcoal burning. What other experience have you gained at the Trust: I have led a guided walk at Nansmellyn Marsh (part of the Barclays Bank SiteSavers scheme), helped in a moth trapping presentation to the children from NABU (our German partners) in the summer and will be giving a mammal	discovery talk at Nansmellyn for the Mammal Group which will include live mammal trapping. What sort of work have you enjoyed the most?: I have had the experience of using a mini digger for various works, including pond construction, which was excellent, and doing footpath clearance work on Looe Island was bliss - it's a real paradise! What is your advice to other people wanting to volunteer?: If you think you might like doing practical conservation work then start volunteering now. It's an excellent way to get involved with conservation organisations, meet new people and gain really valuable experience, and above all it can be really good fun! How can other people get involved?: Contact Gavin Henderson, Volunteer Co-ordinator, on (01872) 240777 ext 209 or on his mobile 07971 542185, and have a look at the reserve volunteering article on page 23. Interview by Sally Pyner
VOLUNTEER VACANCIES
SPREAD THE WORD Would you like to help adults or children appreciate the wonders of nature? We are always looking for people who will speak, or lead outings, on wildlife subjects. We also need enthusiastic individuals (no previous knowledge necessary) to help organise family events and talk to children about our junior clubs. Talk it over with Jayne Herbert on (01872) 240777 ext 215.	SLIDE LIBRARY SAVIOUR! The Trust has hundreds of superb slides of Cornwall's wildlife and wild places, but many are unidentified and uncatalogued. Could you spare some time each week to get them into order, categorised with labels and numbers? We have a Windows slide cataloguing database, so you should be reasonably computer literate, as well as having an interest in flowers, birds and wildlife in general. You will get the satisfaction of setting up a real asset for the Trust so these lovely slides can be used. Contact Sheila McCann or Sarah McCartney to find out more on (01872) 245512	Volunteer Dave Salmon - getting involved, meeting new people, gaining experience and having really good fun. Photo: Stuart Hutchings
PRACTICAL CONSERVATION WORKERS Volunteers are always needed to assist our reserves section with wide-ranging practical tasks on our many nature reserves throughout the county. Long-term and short-term contracts are offered, or you can simply join our PARC tasks at the weekend (see page 23). Contact Gavin Henderson, Volunteer Co-ordinator (01872) 240777 ext 209 or mobile 07971 542185	OTTER SPOTTERS WANTED The Cornwall Otters and Rivers Project requires members of the public to become "otter spotters". Only those with a sense of humour, an interest in wildlife and an adventurous sense of smell need apply. No previous experience necessary. If you would like to attend a training day to join our small but invaluable army of otter spotters, or if you would like more information about the project, please contact Beth Simmons on (01872) 245514.
Raise money for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and yourself SALES ON COMMISSION We are on the lookout for people to sell a beautiful range of photographic cards, showing scenes of Cornwall, to card and gift shops, newsagencies and individuals. Excellent rates of commission are offered Call Sally on (01872) 245516 for details		HAVE AN EVENTFUL TIME RAISING MONEY FOR THE TRUST Would you enjoy helping to organise an event - big or small - to raise the Trust's profile and our funds? The possibilities are endless - a sponsored walk, garden party, fun run, fashion show, auction, concert or coffee morning - and you probably have ideas of your own. If you get on well with people, why not use your skills to raise money for wildlife? To find out more, please ring Alison Vaughan on (01872) 245516
Wild Cornwall - Issue No.84 - Spring 2001