I volunteer for The Parks Trust — the independent charity that looks after more than 6,000 acres of green space here in Milton Keynes. If you’d told me years ago that I’d spend my retirement counting butterflies, chatting to walkers, and checking reptile mats in the woods, I’d have laughed. But here I am, and honestly, it’s one of the best decisions I ever made.
I used to work in IT — a proper desk job. When I retired, I was desperate to be outdoors more. I started exploring bits of Milton Keynes I’d never had the chance to visit before, including the Women’s Walking Network. One day, on one of those walks, I got chatting to the volunteer who was back-marking. She told me about her role, what she did, why she loved it. Something clicked. It felt like the perfect mix of being outside, doing something useful, and giving a bit back. I went home, applied, and honestly… the rest really is history.
I’ve been volunteering for over seven years now, and I’ve tried all sorts: Outdoor Learning Volunteer, Park Ranger, Events Volunteer, biodiversity work — butterflies, reptiles, amphibians. Each new role taught me something completely different. I never expected retirement to be this varied.
What keeps me going is simple: I genuinely think The Parks Trust does brilliant work. Knowing I’m doing my little bit to help care for these spaces makes me proud. And I love inspiring others — especially when I’m out with the Outdoor Learning team — to appreciate the parks and the wildlife as much as I do. The Trust keeps offering me new opportunities too. Soon I’ll be leading bat walks. Ten years ago, I couldn’t have told you the difference between a pipistrelle and… well, anything that flies at dusk.
My reasons for volunteering have grown over time. At first it was about getting outdoors and being useful. Now it’s just part of who I am. I’ve met so many people — fellow volunteers, staff, and members of the public — and many have become real friends. After losing my partner five years ago, those friendships mattered more than I can say. The Trust and the volunteers were incredibly supportive, and that has shaped my life as much as the volunteering itself.
I’ve made strong local connections too. As a Park Ranger at Howe Park Wood, I get stopped a lot — sometimes with questions, sometimes just a friendly chat, and sometimes by people who simply want to say thank you. It means a lot. And every now and again something lovely happens, like the day I was back-marking a walk and started talking to a woman who turned out to live a couple of streets from me. We’d never met before, but we hit it off instantly and we’re now very good friends. Without volunteering, our paths probably never would’ve crossed.
Challenges? Very few, to be honest. The main tricky moments happen when I meet someone frustrated about dogs off leads, or something they’re unhappy about in the park. But the training we’re given is excellent, and staying calm usually sorts it out.
The rewards massively outweigh any challenges. I get to volunteer with like-minded people, do things I genuinely enjoy, and feel like I’m contributing to something bigger. It keeps me fit, keeps my mind active, and gives me a sense of purpose. And I’ve picked up more skills in the past seven years than I did in decades of office work — from butterfly ID to hedge laying. Even wood carving! I never saw myself doing that.
But the biggest surprise has been how much I enjoy helping with educational activities. It turns out I get a real buzz from inspiring others to enjoy and care about nature. I don’t think I’d ever have discovered that if I hadn’t volunteered.
As for the future, I’ll keep volunteering for as long as I’m physically able. It enriches my life in so many ways.
And if anyone is thinking about becoming a volunteer, my advice is simple: choose something that connects to your interests. You’ll enjoy it more, you’ll give more, and you’ll get far more back than you expect. Do as much or as little as you’re comfortable with. And if you can, find an organisation that values its volunteers as much as The Parks Trust does — because that makes all the difference.
