I moved to Cambridge about 30 years ago and hadn’t been here long before I was persuaded, during the course of a short break to the Norfolk coast with a group of birdwatchers, to join the Local Group of the Wildlife Trust. At that time several nature reserve wardens belonged to the Local Group, and so along with our various scrub-managing activities, counting of orchids, and guided walks, I had a fantastic introduction to the local nature reserves around Cambridge, and found that the Wildlife Trust in particular suited my varied interests, as I am definitely a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to enthusiasm for nature!

Over the years I’ve been involved in a range of conservation projects, led by various reserves officers. When the Ecology Groups started up I helped with an early project on longhorn beetles in Gamlingay Wood: not only was it a pleasure to carry out surveys in such a lovely ancient wood, it was a great opportunity to learn something about longhorn beetles.

Although the project finished long ago I still keep an eye out for these spectacular beetles. Other projects include monitoring for beetles and hoverflies in Old Sulehay, checking for dormice in Brampton Wood near Huntingdon, botanical surveys at Grafham Water, Brampton Wood and Fulbourn NR, and even a photography project in our chosen reserve, which ran for several years.

Volunteering with the Wildlife Trust in this way has enabled me to spend valuable time outside (whatever the weather!) learning about different animals and plants in the company of other nature lovers. It's nice to think that as volunteers we are contributing even a tiny bit to improving our knowledge of the local fauna and flora.

I’m involved in the Trust’s Breeding Bird Surveys, both in the field and in the office. From March to June, I carry out six bird surveys at Fulbourn Fen nature reserve, as do many other surveyors in different reserves. The early morning starts are not my favourite part, but there’s always a treat in store – a tawny owl hooting in the woods, hares in the field, perhaps even a willow warbler or grey partridge calling.

Fulbourn Fen is well-known for its orchid species, and as spring progresses sometimes it’s difficult to keep my mind on birdsong and not be side-tracked by all the beautiful orchids in flower. Back in the conservation office, a small team of us transfer data from all the surveyors to summary maps so that we can try and assess how many breeding territories are represented in each reserve.

Training workshops run by the Wildlife Trust are a superb way of getting to know different groups of organisms; some of my favourites include ground beetles, hoverflies, bumble bees, willow species - the list is inexhaustible!

I look forward to many more years of volunteering, but who knows which direction the path will take next?

All photos by Christine Newell