Live with passion and party hard!" (Paul Semmens)

Photo: Mark Nicholson

Name: Paul Semmens

Age: 41

Occupation: Artist, currently exhibiting seascapes at Rogue of the Sea, St Just, and Chase Art Gallery, Wadebridge. Also occasional illustration work and contract survey work.

Qualifications: Although I studied botany and zoology to A-level I am a self-taught naturalist. I find a passion for the subject is more important that the standard degree in environmental studies or whatever. Life has to be enjoyed - my philosophy for life is to live with passion and party hard!

Experience: I have been interested in natural history since a very early age and am self-taught. I am always finding new challenges - it's such a huge topic that it's never boring.

How did you become interested in marine conservation?: I suppose it started with the bottlenose dolphins turning up here. Seeing them regularly encouraged me to look out to sea. Since then, from Cape Cornwall I have also seen fin, minke, killer and humpback whales, and common and Risso's dolphins, as well as porpoises.

What was your most memorable sighting?: With so many it's hard to choose. Amongst them I suppose I would include finding the third scarlet darter dragonfly for Britain or finding a gyr falcon. Also watching a minke whale off Cape Cornwall on a glisteningly calm sea as the sun sets in a blaze of red and orange. Finally watching two fin whales approach the Santander ferry, being bow-ridden by striped dolphins and circled over by great, Cory's and little shearwaters. As the whales came very close, we looked down their blowholes as the water poured off their massive backs and they left footprints on the water. I was so elated by this I could have danced around the boat with childlike enthusiasm.

Reasons for volunteering: Having enjoyed the nature of this area for so long, I love passing on my enthusiasm to others. Also you get to meet interesting people.

Role in the Trust: I am a regular leader of guided walks and rock-pool days, as well as even having a go at "build-a-whale" sand sculpture.

Length of time with the Trust: I have probably being doing the occasional walk or Fox Club event for about 15 years. I led my first walk when I was in my early teens. Since then I have lost count of how many I've done either for various conservation charities or on a freelance basis. It really has become second nature to me: stick me in a car park, give me a bunch of people and I will show them something interesting!

What conservation issues concern you most?: It would be nice to see an end to all the dead cetaceans that are washed up here each winter as a result of by-catch. Also I would like the badger cull to end. When it started in Penwith I can honestly say it was one of the worst times of my life. I was proud to take direct action for a cause I truly believed in and I met such lovely people from all walks of life who were similarly motivated. To march with a few friends through Penzance on Mazey Day with our anti-cull banners and being applauded was a very moving experience I will never forget. With farmers wanting our support during the foot-and-mouth epidemic, I hope they might feel inclined to follow public opinion when the badger cull is due to start again.

What sort of work have you enjoyed the most?: I particularly love surveying for cetaceans or seabirds. Even if you see nothing, it's wonderful just being on the sea. As a painter, it's good just watching the light and reflections change - very inspirational.

What is your advice to other people wanting to volunteer?: The good thing about voluntary work is that it's so varied. One day I'm leading a guided walk, another I'm doing National Vegetation Surveys or leading a moth night. Variety is definitely the spice of life. Give it a go, you've got nothing to lose.

Interview by Tricia Hoskings

PARC - Practical Action on Reserves in Cornwall

If you work during the week but are keen to get our there and do something practical to help look after wildlife in Cornwall, then our programme of Sunday tasks provides you with the opportunity to get involved at the weekend. As well as learning new practical skills, you will discover parts of the

county that you haven't seen before and find out about the ecology of different habitats. The programme of PARC tasks for the summer includes work in all areas of the county, so you won't have to travel too far to get involved - and transport is always available from Five Acres, Truro or en route to the reserve.

Details are given in the diary and there is also a regular PARC leaflet - please call if you would like to be on the mailing list for this.

We may have to cancel some of the dates listed due to the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease. If you intend coming along to a PARC task, please phone me on (01872) 240777 or 07971 542185 (mobile) a few days beforehand to check that it is still going ahead. For tasks at Cabilla and Redrice Woods, please contact Steve Chudleigh on 07767 792427 (mobile) or (01208) 821790.

Gavin Henderson