I thought I would write a blog that contains a simple but uplifting and positive message that progress within the community to connect them with green spaces is possible and worthwhile. These trainee posts can be very challenging, we all knew that when we first started them, but It is gratifying to see local people within the community start to connect with nature and form bonds – strengthen community spirit and ownership of green spaces. It is uplifting to see progress albeit slow progress (as you can not rush community engagement in my opinion). Progress for me has been as simple as someone recognising the The Conservation Volunteer badge, and asking whether they can come along to the next event advertised on posters in the community centre – this starts to become more and more regular when you put the time in to get to know the community. It is so rewarding to see people genuinely having a good time while volunteering, learning and having fun as the TCV moto says… Join In Feel Good. I think sometimes people are nervous to try new things like conservation volunteering, but It only takes those few people to come along before the word starts spreading.
This blog is about how people from the local community turned up to an event with the North Ayrshire Ranger Service and myself and had a great time. It sounds ridiculously simple and vague but there is a point to it – I hope. I wanted to write about this conservation workday because it is this particular site which seems to struggle with volunteers. In some ways I find Ardeer Quarry LNR in Stevenston to be one of the most interesting places I have visited on this traineeship, probably due to its relationship with the local community. It is a reserve that seems to get mostly cyclists and dog walkers that do not appear interested in conservation. Which absolutely boggles my mind because it is such an inviting reserve – it is not the largest local nature reserve you will ever visit but it is packed full of wildlife. Everytime I am there I learn something new or see something new. However up until recently it has not seemed to attract people to volunteer.
Working away hard on a lovely sunny autumn day
I have had one or two people turn up for the conservation workdays at Ardeer Quarry LNR until over the past month. I ran a Conservation Workday with the North Ayrshire Council District Ranger on October the 17th at Ardeer Quarry LNR and 5 Volunteers turned up for the event. This is a massive breakthrough for us, as the previous workday that was conducted had similar numbers (6 Volunteers). This means that we are gaining momentum with the community of Stevenston and that we are attracting new people to the conservation workdays. Through searching for people in the local community, finding hubs, groups etc… I was making slow progress but it seems that taking the time out of my week to talk to individuals in the community is starting to slowly galvanize people in to conservation action. It is extremely satisfying bringing people together that have never met, helping them have some fun with conservation tasks. One volunteer in particular was completely new, and you could see they were inspired by the skills and knowledge that they had acquired in just one day. This is why I am so passionate about working with people in the conservation sector, as you can start to develop a group of really passionate and driven members who want to take the initiative and ownership of their green space.
Happy volunteers standing over the completed boardwalk
I suppose I should mention what wonderful things we did on the day. The tasks were the completion of the boardwalk and the management of felled trees by way of vandalism in the woodland. We split up in to two teams, because when constructing a boardwalk it can be tricky to have too many volunteers working on it once – too many hammers, nails and saws flying around. The boardwalk was completed and the trees that had been felled where cut in to sections that were small enough to be scattered or used as habitat piles in hidden locations. We had lunch with a slpendid cuppa from the District Rangers newly acquired Storm Kettle/Kelly Kettle – I find coffee brewed old school that much more satisfying.
In the afternoon we had a bramble ramble that was led by the North Ayrshire Council District Ranger and myself – it was a fantastic walk around Ardeer Quarry learning about foraging, tree ID, myths, lichen, you name it. There was a total of ten people that turned up to it, including some children with their buckets ready to start collecting some brambles. The volunteers that came along for the day had such a fantastic time and seemed really eager to join in more often.
I guess this blog is my way of saying that during this trainee post there are ups and downs but progress like this makes it all worth it. I think it is a positive message to future trainees that it can be done, with time and perseverance. It is also a message to those in the local community that you should not be afraid to try something new, you never know you might like it.