100 BBC WILDLIFE December 2021
Kay and her husband James have been
volunteering with the Woodland Trust in
their local woods in the Cotswold Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty.Why do you volunteer?
I’ve always had an interest in nature and
work as a professional gardener locally. I
feel happiest when I’m outdoors, so it was a
natural progression to volunteer, especially
as it’s only a hop, skip and a jump to the
woodland. James is a retired helicopter
engineer. He also loves being outside and is
especially passionate about trees.What does your volunteering involve?
We have both been volunteering for
the past couple of years, helping with
dormouse surveys and tree planting. The
former involves laying out tubes to try
and identify the presence of dormice or
other small mammals within the recently
acquired Avoncliff Wood. Because dormouse
hibernate during winter, it’s seasonal work.
During the summer months, we go into the
woods every two to four weeks to check
for prints and to replace any parts of the
kit. So far we’ve not found any evidence ofMEET THE VOLUNTEER
“It’s only a hop, skip and
a jump to the woodland”
Gardener Kay Crawford assists with dormouse
surveys and monitoring newly planted trees
dormice, but we have seen and found signs
of plenty of other mammmals and birds!
This woodland is literally on our
doorstep and has been untouched for 100
years. Unfortunately, it’s an ash monoculture
woodland, and has been affected by ash
dieback. This allows it to be used as a living
laboratory to see how the disease is affecting
the whole ecosystem. Next to the woodland
is a former pasture field that the Woodland
Trust has been planting up with trees, and
we’ve been monitoring their survival and
removing tree guards when appropriate.What have been your proudest
moments as a volunteer?
High-fiving John Craven after he planted his
first tree at Avoncliff Wood with us whilst
being filmed for BBC’s Countryfile. Also
seeing the enthusiasm of school children
and locals, with the tree planting bringing
energy and a happy vibe to what was a
lacklustre field. It’s so satisfying to see
the improvements in the environment so
quickly, and the positive impact that has on
visitors and locals, who have all praised the
Woodland Trust’s stewardship of the area.
Megan ShersbyID GUIDE
BLACKBIRD
Found in hedges and bushes. Made of
twigs, grass and moss stuck together
with mud and lined with fine grasses.LONG-TAILED TIT
Usually found in bushes between 1-5m
in height. Oval in shape and made up
of a mix of materials.WREN
A male builds a number of nests from
twigs, grasses and moss, then one is
lined with hair and feathers by a female.Empty nests
Discover intricate bird nest
constructions this winter, now that
they’re empty of eggs and chicks, and
exposed by bare branches. It’s best
to leave them in place in case they’re
being used by roosting birds or other
animals. For more ID guides, head
to our website: discoverwildlife.com/
identify-wildlifeKAY:^JAMES^ CRAWFORD;ILLUSTRATIONS:^ FELICITYROSECOLETree-planting
is an uplifting
experience for
Kay and locals