Max Loraine, aged 14, who lives by Milkhall Pond Wildlife Reserve approached the reserve convenor, Pete Sykes, to undertake work on the reserve for the volunteer module of his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award during the summer of 2023.

The small reserve, 10 miles south of Edinburgh, has been owned by the Trust since 1976 and has been surveyed several times. It has a reservoir and ponds home to mute swans and little grebes as well as numerous dragonflies along with an adjacent mixed woodland for songbirds and mammals with a rich understorey of flowering plants and fungi.

Using the iNaturalist App, Max identified the species he found on the reserve from his regular summer visits. New species recorded are red campion and white ermine moth caterpillar. Whilst neither are particularly rare it was the reports of fungi that were surprising with nine that had not been previously recorded.

Peter Sykes said: “Both the Trust and Max’s family are delighted with the results, and it really shows how using modern technology and youthful enthusiasm can really work together to add to our knowledge of our wildlife and environment.”

Max enjoyed his time visiting Milkhall Pond. He enthused: “It was a great experience being able to have the opportunity to work on the pond and improve my knowledge of nature. Being able to observe the wide variety of animals and plants around the reserve was eye opening, especially as it is all on my doorstep.”