Laura Ross
Communications Officer, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I’ve always been really into nature - as a kid I’d say I was obsessed with it! At the age of 12, I was the youngest member of my local Natural History Society – the second youngest member was in their 30s! I ended up studying Art and went into a career drawing pictures, but when I moved to Hastings about 13 years ago, it felt like something that had been missing in my life, had returned. That was spending time outdoors in nature.
You volunteer with goats and moths. Tell us more..
I’m a goat lookerer, which means I check the 12 goats who graze at Castle Water to make sure they’re all healthy and none of them are missing. They’re used for conservation grazing to reduce the scrub of brambles, which could prevent birds from inhabiting the space. The goats are all boys and are very affectionate – we’ve given them names like Elvis and Largo.
I also help monitor the moth trap. The variety and beauty in the world of moths is dazzling. Every time I open the lid, it’s like finding treasure. One of the things that’s amazing about monitoring them is the use of AI. I can upload a photo of a moth, and a clever app called ObsIdentify, will tell me what it is. It means people like me, who aren’t experts, can still get involved.
What is it that brings you back each week?
Volunteering gives me a kick up the bum to get outdoors and spend quality time in nature. You get to see so many amazing things, that you don’t see or hear everywhere, like a Cuckoo calling. The best I can do to play my part in all that, is to volunteer and give something back.
For anyone considering volunteering, what would you say?
There’s something for everyone. You can do a remote role, like I’m doing, or if you want to meet people, you could do a beach clean, moth trapping or work on the Information Desk or in the café at the Discovery Centre. You don’t have to be an expert in nature, but it’s all helping to protect this really precious habitat.
Do you have a standout moment?
Earlier this year, I saw a large dark object on an island, and as it took off, I realised it was a White-tailed Eagle. I’d seen them before in Japan years ago, but I had to pinch myself – it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!
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To find out more about volunteering opportunities at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, please visit Volunteer with us | Sussex Wildlife Trust
This post is also available on Sussex Wildlife Trust website
