In the Field Toads, trees and tea: A winter volunteering tale By Hannah Frame - Assistant Ecologist at Thomson Since starting as an Assistant Ecologist in March last year, I have enjoyed working with a variety of animal groups but still have a soft spot for our UK reptiles and amphibians. During my degree I was able to volunteer with wildlife groups in both Swansea and Surrey, which helped me start my career in consultancy. Over this winter, I have been lucky enough to continue supporting my favourite species by volunteering on Tuesdays with the Surrey branch of ARC. During the winter, the main ARC volunteer tasks involve removal of pine saplings, overgrown gorse, and occasional larger trees from heathland reserves in order to maintain suitable reptile habitat. Without management to remove trees from heathlands, these areas would become woodland; this is less suitable for reptiles and would result in the loss of rare heathland habitats. Scrub clearance often results in the creation of a well-controlled bonfire which helps keep everyone toasty. Burning this cut material prevents nutrient enrichment and shading out effect, both of which are undesirable for heathland management and would occur if material was left in piles to rot. The tea-fuelled volunteer crew puts in an incredible effort every week; even on days of heavy rain the team can be found out on one of the many reserves owned or managed by ARC. We often work in areas such as Hankley Common and the ARC-owned Witley Common, both of which lie within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) as some of the largest remaining heathlands in Surrey. In December, one of the pine-removal tasks offered volunteers the chance to not only pick but cut down their very own Christmas tree! All while supporting vital habitat management for rare reptile species. One week in January this year, we were given a slightly different task – digging a trench along a road boundary to prevent car-based toad fatalities. Across from this road is a locally-important toad breeding pond; this trench boundary allows the local ‘toad patrols’ to easily locate and collect any migrating toads. This proved to be successful last year. As an ecological consultant volunteering for ARC, it has been amazing interacting with wildlife conservation managers to understand how they work towards supporting wildlife. This has provided insights into practical habitat management for reptiles, which will help me to design and implement effective mitigation and enhancement measures for client’s projects in the future. For wildlife charities, it’s always beneficial to have extra volunteers, especially those with existing ecological knowledge.
In the Field
Volunteering has provided me with key experiences to take forward into my career. It also provides the opportunity to engage in additional and more varied fieldwork, which benefits both physical and mental health during the winter. For aspiring ecologists, volunteering with wildlife groups is excellent for improving surveying skills and building a strong understanding of protected species – both of which are vital for pursuing a career in consultancy.
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Photo: Volunteers on a tea break during a task at Woolmer © ARC
