As the days begin to get longer and the weather begins to improve (well, hopefully soon!), many of us at RSK Biocensus are beginning to plan how we will use our next Volunteer Day. Each member of our team has the opportunity to use a paid working day to volunteer in a variety of ways: assisting with ecological projects in the community, giving time to a nationwide charity or pretty much anything else that is for the good of others!
Last year, people from across the business contributed to so many great causes. We’re taking a moment to celebrate their efforts and hopefully inspire others to support these or other similar causes in the year ahead.
At the start of 2025, Rufus Catchpole-Ancliff completed some volunteering at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve in Fakenham, cutting down the willow and burning as it had spread across the lake’s banks. This was done to open the area up for other species of birds to enjoy the flat ground and clear sights.
Catherine Finn carried out a volunteering day with the The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) in Ecos Park Ballymena, Northern Ireland. She was involved in their Corncrake habitat restoration programme – digging up and washing nettle rhizomes to be transported to Rathlin Island to create essential habitats for Corncrakes.
Georgina Judd did some volunteering with Froglife, near Ditchling Common in East Sussex. She joined a toad patrol, helping toads across roads so that they can safely and successfully migrate back to their ancestral breeding ponds. This helps to keep the toads away from traffic and out of danger!
Anna Clark spent a day lending a hand to the dedicated Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape volunteer team at Bennett’s Drift. This involved creating stag beetle pyramids, coppicing to allow light through the canopy layer, making ‘dead’ hedges using the wood cuttings and more.
Alan Yap spent time assisting London Bat Group with checking and installing bat boxes at Addington Hills and Sydenham Hill Woods. There were thriving populations of Leisler’s bats and Soprano Pipistrelle, and interestingly, some were seen roosting within the same boxes.
Matthew Hull took part in a volunteering session with the Somerset Mammal Group in Goblin Combe, just south of Bristol. This involved handling, weighing and sexing dormice, so that they could keep a record of how their population is doing.
Louise Collins spent a fantastic day volunteering at Spirit of the Herd Sanctuary in Frodsham. Together with her daughter, Louise got stuck into a variety of tasks: splitting hay bales, preparing feed bags, moving bales around the site, mucking out the fields, cleaning feeding bowls, and helping to prepare food for the afternoon feed. It was a muddy, hands-on day but incredibly fulfilling. Louise said “It felt great to contribute to the amazing work this charity does in caring for rescued horses and ponies. I can’t recommend Spirit of the Herd enough, and I’m so grateful to work for a company that supports volunteering and giving back to the community”.
Nicola Paul and Catherine Finn used their volunteering allowance last year to support the RSPB‘s vital conservation work on Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland, a key site for protecting the endangered Corncrake. Back in February, they helped dig up nettles, which were later planted on Rathlin to create shelter for this globally threatened bird. Fast forward to summer, they heard the call of a Corncrake on the island for the first time in 20 years. A small but powerful sign of progress. You can read more about Nicola and Catherine’s volunteering here.
Ross Holdgate was volunteering for Citizen Zoo, who work to restore habitats, reintroduce species to their former ranges and connect with local communities to protect nature. The project he helped with is aiming to reintroduce the bog bush-cricket to sites where it has suffered from local extinctions. Understanding the current population is an important step for a responsible reintroduction project and will hopefully help to give a more secure future to this unique species. You can read more about Ross’s efforts here.
Josh Plaister completed a volunteering session in November at the RSPB Otmoor Nature Reserve. The damp chilly wet conditions didn’t provide with excellent viewings conditions, but there was still plenty to see on the Reserve, even in the miserable weather. Josh also attended the end of year Otmoor Volunteers meeting in November, continuing to champion conservation for species such as Lapwing, Curlew, Snipe and Redshank.
Towards the end of the year, Shelby-Jay Rogers completed a volunteer day with Slimbridge Wetland Centre. The volunteer team took her to the New Grounds of Slimbridge where they were focused on habitat management, maintaining the area and site clearance. This consisted of cutting back reed beds and clearing any excess vegetation from this cutting. Shelby-Jay said “The volunteer team were so welcoming, friendly and forthcoming with information. I really did learn a lot whilst I was there and would definitely be keen to use my next volunteer day here as well.”
And last but not least, Robyn Maby and Hadyn Murray spent a day supporting The Trussell Trust Food Bank. The Trussel Trust are a charity that partners with local communities to provide essential food and practical support for people facing hardship and food poverty. Their work plays an important role in helping those who are struggling to afford basic necessities. Robyn and Hadyn took part in a food drive at the Silverburn Shopping Centre in Glasgow. They also spoke with passing shoppers, promoting the charity and encouraging donations.
These are just some of the volunteer days that took place last year. We are delighted that our colleagues are taking this opportunity to give back, and we are looking forward to seeing what great causes we can support in the year to come.