Volunteer Representatives

Representative Area: Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve and Sevenoaks Greensands Common project

Opportunity category: Outdoor Tasks

About Me: 

• I am retired (closed my company in 2021) from paid work, but now seem to have increased time spent in the voluntary sector including sitting on a Regulatory Authority and a Board of Directors. I became a volunteer with Kent Wildlife Trust when the Sevenoaks Greensands Common Project started, but when that fell into the abyss I shifted my allegiance to SWR, which is actually where the initial interest was before being ‘highjacked’ to Greensands!
• With my wife (Team M) we love wildlife, so what better way to give back than to become a volunteer, although Covid has curtailed our involvement at SWR thus far. Following some unfortunate experiences in the voluntary sector, including KWT, and not being one to complain without sticking my head above the parapet, contributing to this group was obvious.
• This initiative of the Volunteer Representatives will give all Kent Wildlife Trust volunteers a ‘voice’ back to senior management and will put in place improvements for all existing and forthcoming volunteers.

Representative Area: Weald

Opportunity category: Outdoor Tasks

Representative Area:  Swale

Opportunity category: Outdoor Tasks

About Me:

• For more than 20 years I have been volunteering for Kent Wildlife Trust on various Reserves in East Kent. However, for the last 12 years, I have generally limited my efforts to the Swale area, and have a special interest in South Swale and Oare Marshes.
• Volunteering for me is all about being outdoors, and as a volunteer, I am able to loiter legally on the marshes or in the countryside!
• Having had a career in ship-building and shipping, I particularly enjoy using my knowledge and practical skills in construction work.
• I have joined this group because for a long time I have recognised the need for a direct communication link between the volunteers and Tyland Barn, and hope this will provide it.

Representative Area: Queendown Warren, Nashenden Down, Roadside Nature Reserves & Bee Roads

Opportunity category: Outdoor Tasks

About me:

• I started volunteering in 2006 after leaving a long career with National Air Traffic Services. Initially it was just to keep myself occupied but I was soon hooked!
• I enjoy being outdoors, keeping fit and helping to conserve the natural environment.
• I work regularly at Queendown Warren and many other reserves in West Kent as well as RNRs and Bee Roads across the county.
• I have been a volunteer group leader for many years.
• I joined the group because I am keen to see high standards of support and recognition offered to all Kent Wildlife Trust volunteers.

Representative Area:  Darland Banks Nature Reserve

Opportunity category: Outdoor Tasks

About me:

• I have been volunteering with Kent Wildlife Trust Darland Banks Team since November 2011.
• I hope to contribute to the improvement of the local environment and community asset in the Medway Towns.
• I think I am a task orientated person.

• This role follows on from my work-life career as an Electrical Engineer in the Electricity Supply Industry in London and South East of England for fifty years. At Darland Banks, I carry out group volunteer labouring tasks and brush cutting.

• Hopefully, by being a part of this group, I will be able to make a positive contribution.

• When speaking to members of the public on-site, I say to enjoy the experience of what is on their doorstep. If you don’t use it you will lose it

• I want to accentuate the positives. You can have all the money in the world but your greatest wealth is your health and doing an outdoor activity is money in the Bank (in my Darland Banks).

Representative Area: Dover 

Opportunity category: Outdoor Tasks and Livestock Checkers

About me:

• Since I was a child I have been very interested in nature, growing up amongst the downs and woods near Dover.
• I spent seven years working on mixed farms but always wanted to work in conservation. I found this difficult 40 years ago but now after taking early retirement I'm finally able to live the dream!
• I started volunteering as a Livestock Checker in August 2018 checking Highland Cattle, Herdwick Sheep and Koniks on the Dover sites as well as standing in for three months at Ham Fen.
• Last summer I began volunteering as a Practical Task volunteer on Tuesdays and Thursdays and I have learnt a lot in a short period of time. 
• This year I have carried out butterfly, bat, bird and botanical surveys for other conservation bodies which has expanded my knowledge massively.
• I joined the group as it seems like a worthwhile role that I can perform to increase my involvement with Kent Wildlife Trust, helping the volunteers on the ground and the volunteer team. 
   

Representative Area: Kent wide

Opportunity category: People and Wildlife

Representative Area: Ashford Area

Opportunity category: Outdoor Tasks

About me: 

• I have been a member of the Kent Wildlife Trust since 2009.
  I have been volunteering within the Ashford Area since 2021. I started volunteering to make a difference at our reserves, but also to get outdoors and help me to stay fit and healthy. 
• The outdoor tasks we carry out are mainly habitat management (coppicing, scrub cutting, removing invasive species) together with fence building and repair, hedging and similar activities at 9 sites. 
• I worked for 35 years in the oil and gas industry. Although my background is in geology, for the last 15 years I enjoyed a career encouraging people to share their experience and knowledge with others. 
• Sharing our knowledge is an area that I feel passionately about for the Kent Wildlife Trust. Our volunteers have a wealth of know-how and experience, so I want to see how we can share and use this best across the whole county.