To mark the start of this year's Volunteers' Week, Steven Neish, who has volunteered for seven years at our Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve, explains the quid pro quo of helping nature.
Every week, at NatureScot National Nature Reserves the length and breadth of the country, volunteers offer their time and energy for the betterment of natural habitats, their animal denizens and human visitors. This week is the 39th annual Volunteers' Week, the theme is Celebrate And Inspire and it's a chance to give back to those already giving back - and to perhaps encourage others to do the same.
Hide and seek: NatureScot volunteer Steven Neish says it's far from all work and no play, with lots of opportunities for socialising and befriending.
There is always something to be done on a dynamic and ever-evolving nature reserve, and only so much that can be attended to without some help - despite the best efforts of dedicated teams of permanent and seasonal staff. Every new tide, strong wind and mating seal makes its mark on the landscape and has the potential to do untold damage to beaches, forests and infrastructure in the process - not to mention the impact of people on the environment, too.
Feeding stations need replenishing, litter needs picked and paths need maintained, but tasks differ by day and by location. The reserves are as distant as they are diverse, and a shift at Forvie NNR is going to be very different to a season on the Isle of May. At almost every location, however, there is going to be something for everyone to contribute; some way to improve access and accessibility to nature. The great thing about volunteering is that it's voluntary - you can only do what you can do, and it's all appreciated.
As invaluable as these altruistic contributions might be, though, the truth is that volunteering is very much quid pro quo. Whether it's the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a team or the purpose and accomplishment derived from having tasks and completing them, the rewards are great. Volunteers learn new skills, master unfamiliar equipment and open themselves up to novel experiences. These might inform other roles or help with employability, but they may just as importantly ignite new passions or simply build confidence.
Bee kind: There's always maintenance and management tasks to be carried out on nature reserves, as they are evolving natural spaces.
Then there is the boon to physical and mental health. Sweeping out hides, replacing fence posts and wading into water all use vastly different muscle groups - encouraging exercise and building strength. Being outdoors can also work wonders for mental health, not just immersing oneself in natural beauty but also in a supportive, inclusive and appreciative environment. It's little wonder the NHS prescribes volunteering as a therapeutic, noting its positive impact on wellbeing - linked in part to increases in socialisation.
Arguably the greatest bonus of all is meeting people and making friends with shared interests and a common goal. Especially in times of remote work, social isolation and lonesomeness. Not only can loneliness lead to anxiety and depression, but it can also increase a person's susceptibility to everything from heart disease to dementia - a risk to health comparable with smoking and obesity. Conversely, befriending boosts mood, builds self-esteem and improves quality of life.
After all, volunteering is far from all work and no play. On occasion, it can involve hosting events or school excursion, visiting sister sites and meeting other teams, as well as Christmas gatherings and other celebrations. Not to mention the simple pleasure of sitting down for a well-earned tea break, a slice of homemade cake and a bit of a chat after a satisfying morning's work. If you're lucky, there might even be a barbecue - the perfect encouragement and recompense on a cold winter's day.
Natural talent: The staff and volunteers at Tentsmuir NNR look after a site spanning coastline to woodland.
This has certainly been my experience. Over seven years at Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve, I've counted dragonflies and cleared up after storms; visited St Cyrus, Muir of Dinnet and St Abb's Head and welcomed some of their teams to Tentsmuir; encountered and photographed amazing animals, from red squirrels and kingfishers to common seals and roe deer; and I've both pushed myself and tested my limits, almost always surprising myself in the process.
I've also eaten and talked and laughed. I've made friends, played games and tried a lot of specialty teas. I've fallen in love with the history, geography and character of Tentsmuir Forest, Tentsmuir Beach and Morton Lochs, and even left a mark of my own, in new fences, saplings and bird boxes. I've given my time and energy to support others - plant, animal and human - but nobody has got more out of it than me.
Take a look at what's happening near you for Volunteers' Week, and find out more about the wide range of organisations offering opportunities for volunteering.
Steven Neish's nature and travel blogging can be followed on Twitter.
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