My Volunteering Story - Trevor Bucknall

An early interest in butterflies during my school years went on the backburner as a young adult. When I was about 30, while working on a building site in Hereford, it was rekindled when I met another brickie with a keen interest. I didn't even know Butterfly Conservation existed but, after reading about their work, I became a member. Shortly afterwards, I received the Comma newsletter and saw how I could get involved locally.

My first work party was at Trench Wood. I met Ken Thomas, who was the warden, along with Neil Mclean and John Tilt among others. When I said I was a member of Butterfly Conservation, they said, 'Oh, you're one of them' – they were all members of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. That said, they made me really welcome and put me to work.

My weapon of choice was a long-handled scythe, as there were no power tools then. It's amazing what you can cut down with one of those when you're young and fit. Later that day, I was clearing up and loading a raging bonfire. I was hooked and was soon getting involved elsewhere; not that much later, I became a member of the West Midlands branch committee.

 Martin Warren (far right), CEO of Butterfly Conservation from 2003 to 2016, visits Grafton Wood in 2014 (Trevor left of noticeboard)

When I first joined Butterfly Conservation, I was sent a welcome pack that included a brilliant production piece, sponsored by Land Rover, called New Life for Old Woods. It highlighted the importance of continual management of woodlands to keep them open to light, stressing the value of wide sunny rides and glades rather than narrow paths. It made me understand the role of coppicing: many uninformed people only see devastation, without realising the following year will bring masses of wild flowers teeming with insects, followed later by nesting habitats for birds.

 Ankerdine Common before management work

 Ankerdine Common after management work

Sadly, I feel that Butterfly Conservation at national level seems to have lost its focus on what happens locally and on the value of volunteers. For this reason, among others, many of us have chosen to set up WM-BAMS to carry on the work that we've been doing. Our aim is purely to deliver on the ground: practical conservation of butterflies and moths in our region. If you donate, this is where your money will go. We have no paid staff – it's what we do voluntarily because we care.

I'm now officially an OAP but my love for volunteering is probably stronger than ever and, for many years, I've been one of the people organising events. Personally, it feels like my reason to be: if a time comes that I can't do it, I think I'll probably die of depression if that's possible.

I encourage everyone who can to have a go.

 Creating a corridor to connect Penny Hill Landfill Site with the adjacent SSSI owned by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

 Leading a work party at Broadway Quarry to sow kidney vetch for Small Blue