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17
Nov 2024
The volunteers at Harrogate district’s nature reserves working through winter
It’s a grey, autumnal Friday at Staveley Nature Reserve, with low-lying mist cloaking the woodland and lagoons. It’s the kind of day that would have most cranking the heating up and settling down on the sofa.
For Roger Hales and the other Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) volunteers however, they’ve worked through much worse – and it’s rare they’ve admitted defeat in the face of inclement weather.
As he cheerfully explains:
I mean if it’s a complete wash out, we’d have to call it off, or find something to do that’s less exposed to the elements.
But it rarely gets to that stage, and most of us are happy to crack on, come rain or shine. And if you don’t feel up to it, you can just give it a miss. That’s the beauty of volunteering.
'There’s always something to do – but we love it'
According to YWT, it currently has over 1000 registered volunteers, all helping to maintain its nature reserves, in a variety of different ways.
While some may only help out occasionally, seasonally or when it suits, amongst the group there are those who are committed to showing up every week, all year round.
Roger counts himself amongst this cohort, as do many of his fellow volunteers at Staveley Nature Reserve. Every Tuesday or Thursday they’re ready to roll up their sleeves and muck in, more often than not, literally.
Working alongside an employed member of YWT, field officer Matthew Cross, the group tackle a vast array of manual jobs. It can be labour-intensive too - digging trenches, clearing swathes of land, planting and pulling up in equal measure.
Entering the nature reserve by the small car park, Roger points out the orchard, roughly three acres of land that’s largely bare in the colder months.
Roger says:
All of this was cut back by a hand-held machine, and then hand raked. Then all of this straw and spoil, as far as the eye can see was put there by us.
So, we do work hard! But it’s one of the delights, being outdoors in such a beautiful place – it’s a real privilege.
YWT, currently has over 1000 registered volunteers (Image: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust)
A long-term resident of the area, Roger is now in his sixth year as a volunteer for YWT. Staveley Nature Reserve is right on his doorstep, and he feels a responsibility to give back, so he and others can keep enjoying the space for years to come.
The affinity he has with area is evident; walking the perimeter of the first lagoon, he can pinpoint his handiwork, be it the maintained grass verges, or hawthorne fencing.
After a while it doesn’t even feel like volunteering. You’re supporting an area that will thrive through your actions.
Each time you come it's different, which might sound strange. There’s always something to do – but we love it.
Flora and fauna isn’t the only living thing that needs to be looked after. YWT owns livestock, which it periodically moves from site to site, to help maintain the ecosystem too.
First passing Highland cattle, and later Hebridean sheep, Roger recalls one of his fondest memories; a group of volunteers, many with little experience of working with animals, attempting to herd the flock into a corner of a field.
His least favourite job?
That's hard to say - clearing something like Himalayan balsam can be repetitive, but then being able to see your progress is incredibly satisfying.
Mutually beneficial
Volunteering is a mutual beneficial scheme for both the charity and the individuals that get involved; without consistent human intervention, the reserve would become wild to the point of inaccessibility.
According to Roger, the benefits he experiences are ‘innumerable’, both physically and mentally. One aspect he cites is forming a camaraderie with other regulars in the group.
They really come from all different walks of life – we’ve got people from all types of professions. Some of them have got backgrounds, certainly hobbies or interests in conservation.
Some might love studying insects, or have an incredible knowledge of trees, plants or fungi. By working with a different group of people you really do pick up on things.
We chat about all sorts as well – we can really put the world to right, and although people can hold different views, it’s always friendly.
A grey day at Staveley Nature Reserve
While volunteer numbers do wane in the winter months, there's still a core group of regulars that show up nearly every week at Staveley Nature Reserve.
As if to prove Roger's point, nearing the end of the hour-long loop around the site, another man stops to briefly chat.
It’s another off-duty group member, choosing to spend his free time back at the reserve - a testament, perhaps to how passionately the volunteers feel about working in nature, come rain or shine.
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