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RSPCA seeks nature nurturers to become Wildlife Friends volunteers
The RSPCA wants nature lovers to embrace the call of the Autumn and sign up to be a Wildlife Friend.
As the days shorten with the clocks going back, the weather becoming chillier and the trees around us filling with stunning shades of red and yellow and purple and gold, there can’t be a more satisfying time to be spending outdoors.
The season of “mists and mellow fruitfulness” throws up familiar sights and sounds like conkers dropping from Horse Chestnut trees and skeins of migrating geese taking over the skies - you might even glimpse the sight of a Harvest Moon rising above the evening horizon.
So why not don your boots and gardening gloves and have a go at some of the fantastic tasks the RSPCA’s volunteering department have devised so people can play their part in a one million strong movement to change the lives of animals for the better?
Last year around 2,000 people signed up for the charity’s Wildlife Friends scheme as part of the Big Help Out, a nationwide volunteering initiative which marked the King’s Coronation. This year 1,950 volunteers have already taken part since Wildlife Friends was relaunched again in the Spring.
Among the tasks they have been working on include spring cleaning bird feeders, leaving food out for hedgehogs and even larger projects such as building bug hotels and planting wildlife-friendly plants to support local ecosystems.
There are 24 self-service tasks for Wildlife Friends volunteers to complete in 2024 with different tasks set for each of the four seasons. Points are earned when completing tasks and those volunteers who earn a set number or more during a season are awarded a seasonal certificate.
RSPCA head of volunteering Brian Reeves said: “We all share our neighbourhoods with wonderful wildlife and we need to protect them. By becoming an RSPCA Wildlife Friend, animal lovers can join with their community to make a safe space for the animals who share our world.
“The RSPCA’s Wildlife Friends volunteering scheme is great for anyone who can spare a few minutes, or a couple of hours, to create a better and kinder world for every animal.
“We’ve got seven great tasks to inspire everyone into action this Autumn. It is a great time of the year to get out and enjoy gardens, open spaces and woodlands and the tasks can all be completed close to home.
“By getting involved, people can help make their communities safer for wildlife. Small tasks like these all make a huge difference for wild animals and their welfare. We had a great response last year and we want more people to pitch in again as we aim to create a one million strong movement for animal welfare, during our 200th year.”
The Autumn tasks that volunteers can access by registering online are:
Cleaning bird feeders ready for the winter
Creating a mini compost heap
Cleaning out nest boxes
Discarding pumpkin leftovers carefully
Taking part in Hallowclean
Helping hedgehogs get ready for hibernation
Keeping wildlife safe from bonfires
Wildlife Friends make a difference for the nation's wildlife by helping to create habitats and environments where wildlife can thrive and be safe from harm, and promote ways people can help the animals in their neighbourhood. Everyone can play their part in creating a better world for every animal. Whether you have five minutes or five hours spare each week, whether you live in a flat, narrowboat or house with a garden - there are tasks suited to you.
By getting involved in volunteering to support wildlife, people can also free up time for RSPCA officers to tackle cruelty and neglect cases.
Staff at RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre played their part in Wildlife Friends this month by hosting workshops and events focused on nocturnal animals.
The centre’s education staff hosted bat walks and tours at the centre near Nantwich as well as a bat walk at Birkenhead Park on the Wirral. Those taking part enjoyed spotting several species of bats and experiencing the echolocation sounds they make to navigate by using bat detectors.
Evie Astbury-Field, Stapeley Grange Community Engagement Manager said: “Our bat walk was a fantastic event that not only celebrated these remarkable animals, but also highlighted the vital role they play in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
“At Stapeley we hosted a number of bat talks and walks and our education officers Ali, Carolyn, Holly and Charlie were all involved in welcoming a local wildlife and conservation group, a scout group and hosting a public talk and walk. These experiences were a fantastic opportunity to involve our community in learning about these beautiful animals and their welfare at Stapeley Grange, and for us to talk about the work we do.”