I’ve been volunteering with the rangers for about a year now, since I retired. Before this, I hadn’t really done anything quite like it. I’d helped out with badminton clubs — being treasurer, chairman, fixtures secretary, all that sort of thing — so I knew what it was like to volunteer in an organisational sense. But this is different. This is more physical, and I don’t mind that at all. I used to be a postman, so being outside and on my feet feels pretty natural.
If I’m honest, one of the main reasons I started was simply to get out of the house. I’m free and single these days, and like a lot of people, I’m very good at being a couch potato. You sit down thinking you’ll just watch something quickly, and before you know it, you’ve wasted half a day watching rubbishy daytime TV. I didn’t want my retirement to be like that. I needed something to fill my time, to get me out, and this was ideal.
What I love about volunteering here is the flexibility. A lot of volunteer roles I looked at before wanted you to commit to fixed hours — every Monday and Tuesday, 10 till 4, or something like that. Perfectly understandable, but not what I wanted. With the rangers, it’s simple. You just go onto the website, look through the list of events coming up, and book yourself onto the ones you can do. It’s as easy as buying a cinema ticket. If I’ve got a busy week, I don’t book anything. If I’m free, I can do two or three sessions. That kind of freedom makes a huge difference, and it’s one of the main reasons I’ve stuck with it.
The other reason, of course, is the people. Just sitting at home on your own can get deadly dull, but here I get to chat and work alongside others. I’ve had some great conversations out on tasks, and sometimes that’s as valuable as the work itself. I’ve met David through this, and we always have a laugh. You can’t underestimate how important that social side is.
The work itself is varied — cutting back, clearing, raking, general maintenance, all the things that keep the sites in good shape. Some days are harder than others. We’ve had funny moments too — people slipping, falling into ditches, the usual sort of things — nothing too serious, but enough to give everyone a laugh.
Another good thing about this kind of volunteering is how straightforward it is. Some roles are buried in bureaucracy — endless forms before you even start — and that can put people off. With the rangers, it’s simple: turn up, get shown what to do, and get stuck in. They even train you on the equipment when needed. I’ve had the chance to use some of the “big boys’ toys” like brush cutters and the wood chipper. You can’t just hire those from a shop and go for it; you need certification. So they put us through short courses, mostly focused on safety. With the chipper, for example, they showed us what it can do and why you absolutely do not want your hand anywhere near it. Seeing it rip through a thick branch makes the point very clear. It’s serious, but it’s also good to know I’ve learned new skills through volunteering.
Do I see myself continuing? Definitely. No hesitation. I’ve already roped in a couple of friends to come along and try it out. One stuck with it, the other moved away, but I’d happily recommend it to anyone. I even go with new people for their first session, just to ease them in. My advice is always the same: come and give it a try. You don’t know how much you’ll enjoy it until you do.
For me, volunteering has been about more than filling time. It’s about staying active, meeting people, and keeping a bit of purpose in my life after retiring. It gets me out, it keeps me moving, and it gives me something to look forward to each week. That, to me, makes it well worth doing.
