BTCV Handbooks Online

Book:	Local Action
Chapter:	Conservation - a learning experience
Section:	Learning as you work
Metadata:	Details	Buy this book

Volunteers need to know right from the start why they are being asked to donate their time and energy. The BTCV publication, "Conservation Volunteering - how & why?" , is useful in this respect. Its leaflets cover various conservation activities, and can be copied and passed on to new volunteers. They will want to know what they're going to be asked to do and why it is important for the particular site. You can make sure this message gets across in several ways:

Introductory talk

Give an on-site introductory talk at the beginning of every new project. If the group is doing something new that you don't feel confident to talk about ,arrange for someone else to come along and help you; perhaps the local Biodiversity Officer could come and tell the volunteers why the grassland they are cutting is so important locally. You don't need a talk every time you meet to work on that project, but do remember to make sure that new volunteers are told what you are doing and why; perhaps you could get other group members who have heard the talk before to explain to the new people.

Your group

Tell the volunteers about the work of your group, and how it fits into a wider network within the conservation volunteering movement. Remember to hand out your current programme and general leaflet to new volunteers.

Guided tour

A guided tour of the whole site is also valuable at the start of the project to make sure everyone knows how the site management fits together, and again at intervals for new group members to make sure they become part of the process. On day-long projects it may be best to do this at lunch-time, or it may be that your group runs regular guided walks to keep everyone in the area briefed about how the site is managed. Show and explain any work that has previously been done on the site.

Tools demonstration

Demonstrate the tools that will be used. You may wish to split the volunteers into groups for this. Explain how to use the tools, what they are called and stress the safety precautions. The person doing this should be fully trained in their use. This talk should also pass on information about who is responsible for first aid and where the first aid equipment is kept. Talking to people is only of limited value. People learn a little by listening, rather more by watching and almost entirely by doing.

The pairing of experienced volunteers with newcomers helps pass on skills directly, helps volunteers get to know each other and involves more people in the process. It's also a good way to start delegating responsibility.

Explain how to use the tools.

Working together

Find out if any of your volunteers are particularly knowledgeable about local history, natural history or any other aspect of the worksite, and encourage them to share their knowledge with the others.

St. Giles Conservation Group was formed on a housing estate in Lincoln. The group had no previous experience but work on their own urban wildlife garden - the first in Lincoln - and training from BTCV has meant that they are now being called on to advise and support other projects in the area.