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Volunteer focus What’s been the most Photo: Interacting with
enjoyable/rewarding thing
the public
you’ve done so far?
This is a tough one! I’ve enjoyed
Darcey Gillie volunteers
Photo: Darcey Gillie with our Pollinating the with the Pollinating the Peak staff and
everything. Getting to know and work
other volunteers has been an absolute
Peak project and chatted
delight. Learning about scything, not
to the project’s Community
just how to do it, but how it interacts with
& Engagement Officer,
Rhodri Green, about what it
scything as an agricultural practice was
means to be a volunteer, the environments. The history and culture of
benefits and why she would extremely enjoyable. Most rewarding What would you say to
are conversations with members of
encourage people to help the public. Helping them tap into their anyone who’s thinking about
the UK’s bumblebees. own capabilities and confidence to do volunteering with the Trust?
good things for the bumblebees. I love Do it! I’ve been impressed with the
listening to their stories and experiences warm, welcoming inclusive culture of
What drew you into organisation, partnership working, and of their encounters with nature. If we the Trust, the team, and the wonderful
volunteering with the Trust? so much more. I attend events and reflect on our daily conversations, people I’ve volunteered with. There
talk to the public about bumblebees,
Whilst convalescing from a cold on a and specifically what we’re trying to bumblebees and the environment are are opportunities to get involved with
miserable winter’s day, I came across do through the Pollinating the Peak not normally a part of it. My hope is a range of activities (depending on
the Trust’s website and was immediately project. More recently, I’ve been helping the conversations and the positive your preferences) that make a real
captivated by the philosophy, approach, to organise events. It’s a very inclusive experiences we give people will change difference for bumblebees, people
and the practical work the Trust does. culture, and we, the volunteers, are that. and communities. Bumblebees were
When I discovered they were launching routinely asked for ideas and input not something I was ever specifically
a project locally, I knew I wanted to give to benefit the project, and ultimately What are you planning to do interested in, and in fact something I
it my support. I’ve been volunteering in bumblebees. I’ve also appreciated with the Trust in the next year? was a little afraid of - if you’re interested
various social care and environmental opportunities to engage in and learn Find some Bilberry bumblebees and in learning, and transforming your
settings since primary school, so it’s a bit more about the practical side of more scything. I love Meadows Day at perspective, volunteering with the
of habit for me. Although I’ve not been conservation for bumblebees. Longshaw, especially the bee safari, Trust will certainly help you do this. It’s
able to find the right words to describe and it’s become the highlight of my wonderful now, being able to see the
it, I’ve felt there was something a bit social calendar. I’m keen to support world through the eyes of a bumblebee!
different and special about the Trust work with the Trust in Glossop this
since the beginning. year, and take advantage of its unique If you would like to find out more, email

What kind of activities do you characteristics as a community to make volunteering@bumblebeeconservation.org
it the ‘bumblebee-friendliest place in
Photo: Josh Gazzard, Plantlife
do as a volunteer? the UK’. The Trust provides excellent or visit bumblebeeconservation.org
Learn! It’s been a fantastic opportunity training opportunities, and I’m hoping
to learn more about bumblebees, other Photo: Darcey with volunteers and staff to take advantage of some of these.
pollinators, plants and the environment. Pollinating the Peak is quite dynamic,
The team is so experienced and have and I like how there are always new
been great role models, and I’ve learned opportunities arising, so I’m looking
a lot about public engagement, event forward to getting involved in things I
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