Our Action for Nature project has been running in Ayrshire since 2015 and we were delighted to announce recently that we’ve secured funding for another year.

That means another year of supporting volunteers to plant trees, sow seeds and look after the incredible nature in their local area. We’re proud of the impact Action for Nature has had across Ayrshire, but don’t take our word for it – read on to hear from the volunteers themselves.

We’ve not been able to include everyone’s testimonials, but we’d like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to all our volunteers.

 

Lyn Fraser

Absolutely love the Scottish Wildlife Trust group, so down to earth and very inclusive, having a laugh while helping nature, what could be better? We need more groups like this!

 

 

Lynn Telfer

I always look forward to the Time out Thursday group as I have made such lovely connections with the group attendees, I love spending time in nature and the group walks are in a variety of diverse areas close to me. The group is very important to me.

 

Emma Kendon

It’s always great to find your ‘tribe’, and the Community Conservation volunteers are definitely my tribe. I get a lot from discovering nature in parts of the county I’d not known about, meeting new people and learning how to help look after the various wildlife patches – and I really appreciate having the right equipment available. Looking back on the work we’ve done at the end of a day is always deeply satisfying. Even if it means some extra laundry and scraping gloopy mud off your boots!

Whether we’re planting fruit trees, restoring or creating habitat, or helping children connect with nature, those Sundays are a really welcome way to start the month in fantastic, fun company.

We get a lot done, but extra-special are those moments when we just stop for a second and take in a seasonal change, a flurry of birdsong or Harry points out some helpful plant ID!

I’ve learned some useful tips through volunteering, such as positioning a bird nestbox so it faces between north and east to help protect the front from all weathers. Or the existence of reusable cable ties!

 

Anne Stobbs

The Action for Nature project has added a fresh dimension to our volunteering. Alongside our ongoing tasks on the Scottish Wildlife Trust reserves, we have reached out into the community to help others with their aims to increase biodiversity. It has been rewarding to work with schools, attend public events and help various groups such as allotment societies and those looking after community orchards and woodlands. We have met so many interesting people and made new contacts and shared ideas.

 

Roz Asli

Volunteering with the Scottish Wildlife Trust has taught me so much about our natural environment. I thoroughly enjoy volunteering as the practical aspect is really fun, and being able to plants trees and then re-visit them to see their growth is magical. Harry is super knowledgeable and we are always learning something new. The project has really enabled us to become part of a community that shares the same interest in being outdoors and doing good for nature. There is no doubt being in green spaces and learning new skills contributes to positive mental health.

 

Wendy Wilson

I’ve been volunteering with the Scottish Wildlife Trust for about 18 months and generally join Harry’s gang on a Wednesday. I have learned so much during my time – Harry (and a number of the other volunteers) are so knowledgeable and generous with their knowledge, it’s a joy to be in nature with them.

Harry has a great knack of keeping us motivated and enthusiastic about our tasks- there are no gender-based roles in our squad and everyone lends a hand and works together to get jobs done. I love the curiosity of the group – we always seem to find something new to learn.

My own confidence has grown in my time with this group too. I am much more comfortable to safely use tools I hadn’t used before and my own garden is benefitting!

I can’t emphasise enough how much I have learned about the wildlife and the environment in own our area. Harry keeps us well informed and our weekly outings are varied so that even the most tedious of jobs (Himalayan balsam bashing comes to mind) become an enjoyable and interesting day out.

Harry has created a very cohesive gang who are considerate, helpful and immensely kind.

I am very glad that I am a part of this.

 

Eoin Houston

Volunteering with the Scottish Wildlife Trust provides a rich, wholesome and rewarding experience; it benefits both mind and body.

We engage in practical conservation through fairly gentle work. The participants are friendly, well informed and at ease in sharing opinions about both wildlife and happenings in the world. Working outdoors in most weathers and across the seasons presents the opportunity to engage with nature, and the health and lifestyle benefits are almost un-measurable. I would recommend this volunteering to anyone.

 

The 2025/26 phase of Action for Nature is supported by the National Lottery Community Fund’s Awards for All programme and the Nationwide Colleague Grant Award.

Click here to find out more about the project.

Or here to find out more about volunteering with the Trust.

 

Image credits:

Anne, Roz and header image © Martin Shields

Lyn, Lynn, Emma and Wendy © Harry Wilson