Volunteering in specialist roles

Many of our volunteers use their professional experience and skills to help the Trust. Here's what they have to say.

Learning from rocks

'After starting as a Volunteer Geologist with the South Peak Estate, my first job was getting to know the local geology, and identify key geological features that can be easily seen by visitors, and to interpret the geology for the Trust wardens. From the start it was envisaged that this geological work could help to support learning activities and provide advice for estate management.

It soon became possible to use this information for learning purposes, by developing short guided walks and talks for visitors and local groups. These are intended to show the evidence of dramatic events in geological history, and their effects on the present-day landscape. The South Peak Estate already had evidence from visitor surveys of interest in the local geology, but we were surprised when 70 people turned up for the first geological walk in Dovedale. During 2004 this type of work included two evening walks during the summer, a talk for a local society, and a further Saturday morning walk in the autumn.'

Mike Allen, Volunteer Geologist, South Peak Estate

Salvage planning that could be worth millions

'I’m doing a salvage plan now for Llanerchaeron and then I'll be going on to Powis Castle, and I’ve just done one for Chirk. If fire broke out at one of the properties, the salvage plan would be used by emergency workers and Trust staff to carry the most important items to safety. I go through every room in the property, describing the most valuable objects and pointing out which should be salvaged first. Then I describe how the objects should be carried and the exact route for taking them out.'

Les Jones, volunteer, Ysbyty Ifan estate near Betws y Coed