Debbie Legge
I have been volunteering with Dorset Wildlife Trust since July 2025, as part of the Wildflower Meadow Making, Habitat Creation and Restoration group within the Wilder Landscapes project. We meet fortnightly on Thursdays, working on farmland sites, often surrounding Dorset Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves, to carry out a variety of practical conservation tasks.
The group mostly works with private landowners, who sometimes provide lovely cake and other goodies, and it has been good to see positive work on farms and other landholdings to improve all aspects of the wild world.
After many years sitting at a desk, I really enjoy getting out into nature and being more active. Being immersed in nature has been a great boost for my physical health, and it’s a great way to reset mentally.
It has been great meeting other volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. We share knowledge and expertise about all aspects of wildlife and biodiversity, especially when working with the wildflowers being grown at Kingcombe Visitor Centre for seed and sale.
I have really enjoyed learning new skills such as making wild hedges and wood piles. We have also acted as human beavers and made dams in rivers which is very satisfying. It has also been great to learn countryside skills such as how to lay a hedge and scything: in fact, I asked my family to get me a scythe for Christmas which I’m really looking forward to using.
Going out as a volunteer is one of the highlights of my week: I really love it! The variety, the camaraderie and just the thought that, whilst we can feel despondent about the lack of biodiversity and wildlife, volunteering has given me a sense of purpose and hope for the future.
