A Woods Mill wander for Volunteers Week

Emma Chaplin

Communications Officer

On a beautiful June morning, it was a pleasure to join the first event of several organised for Volunteers Week 2024 by Julia Hoare and the volunteer team at Sussex Wildlife Trust.

This was a wildlife walk at Woods Mill led by Rich Black and Steve Tillman of Wilder Horsham District. Twenty two volunteers came along, from all over Sussex, as well as a good number of Trust staff from different departments.

Sussex Wildlife Trust could not do all it does for wildlife without the amazing efforts put in by our volunteers in many different roles. A few examples are - many support our 32 reserves as members of Hit Squads or as Volunteer Reserve Managers, others help run events, take part in Shoresearch, undertake surveying/recording, do Lookering (keeping an eye out for our conservation grazing stock), or are in 'welcome' roles at the Discovery Centre at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, etc etc.

So it was a pleasure, Julia says, for Sussex Wildlife Trust staff to give back a little something as a way of saying thank you.

As we walked around, Rich and Steve talked about the history of Woods Mill, and how it represents a microcosm of many different habitats you find in Sussex, including ancient woodland, reedbeds, improved and unimproved meadows, water etc. They mentioned the special wildlife you can find there, such as Nightingales and Turtle Doves. They talked about the way it's been managed for wildlife (including introducing Yellow Rattle, creating scrapes, planting Black Poplar, managing the reedbed and the undertaking major projects over the years, with the support of partners and benefactors, such as the one to allow the river to take its natural course).  

After the walk, we retired to the Classroom for refreshments. 

Several more events are planned for volunteers this week, including a talk by CEO Chris Corrigan and another wildlife walk led by President Tony Whitbread and James Duncan.