The Nature of Scotland – Autumn 2011 – Issue 13

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Floating homes
Office workers welcome
Loch Leven is one of Scotland’s most visited national nature
reserves and internationally important for the birdlife found
there. Volunteers help staff with a wide variety of tasks,
ranging from visitor surveys to pond clearance.
A couple of years ago the volunteers helped to build and
place some rafts on which the great crested grebes could
nest. The rafts reduce the risk that nesting birds will be
disturbed by predators, people and dogs.
They followed that up this year with a nest raft for the
reserve’s population of black-headed gulls, a species that’s
declined in recent years. The raft has the added benefit that
it will be visible from a new bird viewing hide, which will be
built later in the year.
For retired train driver Alan Reid, volunteering is an
opportunity to do something new and different. “It was really
enjoyable making the gull raft because I’m very practically
minded anyway, so I was able to use my skills, but on an
unusual project.
“It’s great fun, keeps me fit and helps the environment
at the same time. No two days are the same when you
volunteer with SNH, and the variety of work along with the
friendly folk keep me coming back.”
“You don’t have to be hugging a tree or mending a path
to make a difference to the environment,” says David
Stevenson, who volunteers with the John Muir Trust. “I work
in the organisation’s office and I believe you can make just
as important a contribution in this way. I’ve helped out with
the John Muir Trust for a few years since I retired, and there’s
been a wide variety of things to do.”
David has put together a digital photo library to make
it easier to illustrate material effectively; compiled reports
on the achievements of those doing the John Muir Award;
updated databases of members and supporters to improve
communication with them; researched possible sources of
funding; and even undertaken the old volunteer stand-by of
stuffing envelopes.
“It’s back-office stuff, but as many organisations discover,
if you don’t have a back office working well, then the frontline
staff aren’t going to be very effective,” added David.
“So it’s interesting and worthwhile – and you get coffee and
good company as well!”
For more information about the John Muir Trust see
www.jmt.org
28 The Nature of Scotland