Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

An open day at RSPB Strumpshaw had us hooked. As my husband, Barrie, and I wandered through this nature reserve in the Norfolk Broads two influences made sure we would never escape its spell – the wealth of flowers, insects and birds and an infectiously enthusiastic volunteer.

We had both been interested in nature from childhood but this had not really found a practical expression in our busy lives so far.

As early retirement loomed for Barrie we joined the RSPB and Norfolk Wildlife Trust and were introduced to other nature reserves - wonderfully varied areas of countryside of which we had previously been largely unaware.

Initially we did the important thing – we enjoyed our new experiences, but we also wanted to know more about what we were seeing and hearing, and it was a struggle.

Making friends

Then came the next great discovery; the friendliness of others with a common interest. "Here, look through my 'scope. You'll get a good view of that curlew."

And so we increased our knowledge, we also gained a new understanding and awareness of the impact of man on his environment.ΜύΜύ

NWT director Brendan Joyce with Barrie

Not long afterwards we heard about the possibility of a new members' group of Norfolk Wildlife Trust in our south Norfolk town of Wymondham.

But there was a problem – no one to lead it. I volunteered to get things going, and to hand over as soon as a more suitable candidate came along, and Barrie - who was still working - would act alongside me.

Rising to the challenge

It became our aim to disprove a comment made at the time: "There's no wildlife in Wymondham!"

Although we were still novices, this didn't seem to matter. Little did we realise that I would be in post for 17 years.

We have had the huge satisfaction of being in a position to make things happen. WyNG (Wymondham Nature Group) is an active and flourishing group, a real team effort.

Walks and regular talks have been supplemented by special events and fundraising.

Practical conservation

We get our hands dirty too, and – more than just hands! It's an interesting experience being pulled out of knee-deep mud but it's just one of the possible hazards of looking after a fen meadow.

Taking part in practical conservation has been, in some small way, a response to the damage inflicted on our countryside.

We have had to field phone calls and explain that our task was wildlife conservation, with its emphasis on preserving suitable habitats for native plants and animals, rather than animal welfare, where individual animals are cared for.

Full clothing needed!

We have also had to laugh off the confusion between naturalists and naturists – no, we don't take our clothes off in the great outdoors!

Latterly we have been in discussions with developers and local government about the protection of places of significance to wildlife in a fast-growing town, and I have been pleased to hand over my chairmanship to someone with special abilities in this arena.

Circle of lifeΜύ

My own particular fascination is the connectedness of all life, the intricate relationships between, say, blue butterflies and ants, or fungi and trees.

Barrie loves to go out looking and listening because there most certainly is wildlife in Wymondham.