A volunteering double act

By Alice Oakley 

Volunteer Coordinator

Husband and wife, Janet and Peter Mann, have been volunteering at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve for seven years. In that time, they've worn lots of different hats; welcoming visitors from the Information Desk, taking part in conservation work, getting stuck in on beach cleans and helping to conduct wildlife surveys. Volunteering is a shared passion, but they're quick to point out that they don’t always come as a pair! 

Tell us a bit about your background

Janet: I worked in administration and education, including teaching adults basic skills and working in a primary school. I’ve always been a volunteer in one form or another; from children’s sports clubs to reading in schools.

Peter: Since 1968 I worked in construction, estimating and surveying. We both had desk-bound jobs, so volunteering on the nature reserve is quite a change!

What do you enjoy most about volunteering here?

Janet: I get more satisfaction from the roles I'm involved in here, than any other volunteering I’ve done. I think that's because I'm a keen birder, so it just grew from there. I love that you get to meet a diverse range of people, from a variety of different backgrounds. To sum it up, I'm in great company, being part of something special - I get a huge sense of satisfaction. It can be exhausting, but a good kind of exhausting.

Peter: For me, it's about the vast amounts of knowledge I've acquired working across such diverse roles. 

What makes Rye Harbour Nature Reserve special for you? 

Janet: The reserve has a magical quality about it and as a volunteer you get to access the bits that the public can’t see. We’ve been to many reserves over the years and this is just great.

Peter: For birding, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is one of the best. The number of different habitats means you get a huge variety of birds. 

Why would you recommend volunteering? 

Janet: It’s a friendly bunch of people, you’ll learn a lot and you’ll get satisfaction from it. You can do as little or as much as you want.

Peter: I love the shared interests and meeting people that are happy to share their knowledge. When you're confident in what you do, you're happy to share it. 

Tell us something about yourself that we might not already know.

Janet: My claim to fame is going on a flight on an RAF C17 plane with the squadron our daughter is currently attached to. We flew for about an hour across southern England and over the Bristol Channel during the RAF Squadron day for families at RAF Brize Norton. The weather was terrible but it was one of the most privileged and thrilling experiences I have ever had. (Peter stayed firmly on the ground though!). 

If you'd like to get involved with volunteering at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, email [email protected]