What it feels like to ... BE A COUNTRYSIDE VOLUNTEER

ISTUART CRAWFORD, VOLUNTEER RANGER

T’S hard to describe the rewards you get from volunteering, I think it’s one of the best things that you can do. There’s so much to gain – it broadens what you get out of life. I love the outdoors and I remember being out walking and seeing groups of volunteers and thought ‘I wonder how I get involved in that?’. I contacted my local volunteer centre in West Dunbartonshire and the National Park seemed like the perfect fit. I thought ‘I’ll give it a try and see how it goes’. Five years later, I’m still here.

I started off as a conservation volunteer doing things like maintenance on the park and the West Highland Way. Then, I think in 2011, I started as a volunteer ranger which includes patrols, helping at events and meeting the public. I still do conservation work too.

Volunteering is a massive part of my life – I’m doing something I really enjoy, in a place that I love.

From a personal point of view, some staff have said they’ve noticed changes in me since I started, it has helped with confidence and new skills. I’ve learned a lot and maybe given a wee bit back to the park as well.

I have a job with Forest Holidays in Argyll and I also volunteer with Citizens Advice which is totally different from what I do at the National Park, but I love it as well. I fancied another challenge and it’s very rewarding. I do one day in Citizens Advice and try and get out as often as I can with the National Park.

The hours I spend volunteering at the park can vary and it also depends on what time of year it is. In January and February the maintenance stuff is a lot busier as the park is getting ready for the new season. During the quieter period it can be once a fortnight, but in summer, I can always be out on my days off.

I was told that I did 347 hours at the park last year and I remember thinking ‘that’s a lot!’.It’s roughly 100 days and was a surprise to me – you’re not thinking about that when you’re doing it. It’s like a hobby.

As a volunteer ranger, you meet your partner at Balloch HQ, sign out your vehicle, and follow a route with designated stops. We’re the welcoming face of the National Park so it can be doing something as simple as saying hello to people, helping with directions or recommending places to visit. You get to know the regular faces and you build up a rapport. You almost become part of the landscape.

I was pretty stunned to win Individual Volunteer of the Year in the recent UK National Parks Volunteer Awards. I’ve been volunteering at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park since 2009 so while it was nice to be nominated, I thought somebody else would win. I had forgotten all about it until I got a phone call from the volunteering manager, Craig, to say I’d won. I’m delighted but feel a wee bit embarrassed with the attention – I’ve taken some ribbing with getting my picture taken, and the rest!

I have no plans to give up volunteering. I like to think in years to come I’ll still be here. I’d recommend volunteering to everyone – see what’s out there. You won’t look back.