Volunteer profile

Name: Dave Salmon

Age: 26

Qualifications: BSc in Applied Ecology from Liverpool John Moores University; BTEC Higher National Diploma in Biology obtained at de Montfort University, Leicester; BTEC Diploma in Science (Biology) at Suffolk College, Ipswich.

Experience: I am a registered leader for the BTCV and have led tasks as part of a Natural Break on the Isles of Scilly.

Reasons for volunteering: I have always loved the great outdoors and have a general interest in nature - I love birdwatching, photography and visiting nature reserves. I always knew I wanted to do conservation work and volunteering for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust gave me an ideal opportunity to gain experience in this field.

Role in the Trust: Assistant Voluntary Ranger.

Length of time with the Trust: Eight months.

Main responsibilities: Assisting with practical conservation work - leading groups of other volunteers, arranging tools and transport, ensuring work is done to high standard, carrying out risk assessments, maintaining tools and equipment.

What sort of practical work do you do on Trust nature reserves?: Construction work such as building fences, boardwalks, simple bridges, steps, footpaths, gates and Cornish hedges. Felling and clearance work such as laurel, rhododendron and gorse bashing, ragwort pulling, clearing trees felled by storms, brush cutting. Surveying and monitoring, such as surveying for water voles, otters, vegetation and butterflies, and monitoring dormice. Carrying out sustainable woodland work such as coppicing and charcoal burning.

What other experience have you gained at the Trust?: I have led a guided walk at Nansmellyn Marsh (part of the Barclays Bank SiteSavers scheme), helped in a moth trapping presentation to the children from NABU (our German partners) in the summer and will be giving a mammal discovery talk at Nansmellyn for the Mammal Group which will include live mammal trapping.

What sort of work have you enjoyed the most?: I have had the experience of using a mini digger for various works, including pond construction, which was excellent, and doing footpath clearance work on Looe Island was bliss - it's a real paradise!

What is your advice to other people wanting to volunteer?: If you think you might like doing practical conservation work then start volunteering now. It's an excellent way to get involved with conservation organisations, meet new people and gain really valuable experience, and above all it can be really good fun!

How can other people get involved?: Contact Cornwall Wildlife Trust Head Quarters.