Ellen joined as one of our residential Long Term Volunteers (LTV) in November 2023, working with the ranger team at Berry Head National Nature Reserve, and more recently also the ranger team at Occombe Farm. Now her 9 months volunteering have come to an end, she has shared her experience.
“I had a desire to work in the environmental sector for some time, specifically in wildlife conservation and rangering. After two years sat behind a screen at an accountancy firm, the opportunity to gain ranger experience at Berry Head became available. To give up a respected job where I was progressing in exchange for a volunteer role away from home was scary, but I had to go for it! I’d found similar opportunities excluded people who didn’t drive or have recent relevant experience, which made getting a foot in the door more challenging, so to find that Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust not only accepted but worked around this was a massive incentive. As I’d regularly visited Berry Head I knew this was a dream environment for me to gain the knowledge, skills and experience I required in order to build a new career within this sector.
Prior to joining, I’d never picked up a strimmer and have since been taught how to strim and also attained my brushcutter ticket. This was put to good use in maintaining the coast path for our many visitors, and also the removal of vegetation in order to conserve the rare plants which grow on the limestone grassland. I also worked on replacing the retaining wall in the car park, in conjunction with the Occombe team, fencing repairs, step work, filling potholes/using a whacker plate, learning the process/assisting with building a bench from scratch, installing kissing-gate’s and also completed regular site patrols, which I really enjoyed! As the seasons changed, I was able to develop new skills in surveying via butterfly transects, botanical monitoring, Cirl Bunting monitoring, bat emergence surveys and taking part in the National Whale and Dolphin Watch 2024.
Some of my most memorable experiences during my time at Berry Head include moth trapping on the headland with Devon Moth Group, where I was able to hold two Privet Hawk moths and one Small Elephant Hawk moth! Assisting with the maternity roost survey of Greater Horseshoe bats within the quarry caves, one of the best bat encounters I’ve experienced. I was able to use some of my training budget to attend a three-day bat course at Killerton House, which was invaluable in learning about harp traps, processing data and experiencing the full survey process from trapping, weighing, measuring and releasing, whilst seeing the bats up close! I’ve enjoyed meeting and working with our devout group of colourful Thursday volunteers, each with a zest for life and a wealth of stories and experiences.
Working full days outside has been great for my well being, particularly during the darker winter months. The unique opportunity to live within the reserve meant I could sit on the headland late in the evening spotting dolphins and porpoises, or go hunting for new plants which had emerged, with few people about and no long walk home! During the winter, opening the bird hide and completing early morning Guillemot counts was a lovely way to start the day, as the sun rose over the sea. I have enjoyed the wildlife visitors to our bungalow garden, including a very inquisitive fox cub and formed some great friendships which I’ll really miss, and I’ll take away many amazing memories of our time together.
As I finish my volunteer placement here at Berry Head, I feel more confident and hopeful in obtaining and developing a career within the environmental sector and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have spent the last 9 months here.”
