“It’s only a hop, skip and a jump to the woodland”
Gardener Kay Crawford assists with dormouse surveys and monitoring newly planted trees
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 of 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.