Features

What's your job title?

"I work for Pond Conservation as the Community Pond Warden Project Officer for Lancashire. "

Where are you based?

"I'm based in Wigan, but cover the whole of the county."

What does your job involve?

"I provide support, advice and encouragement to Community Pond Wardens, and volunteers who are interested in protecting Lancashire's important pond landscape. This covers recording pond locations, surveying ponds, managing and creating ponds and helping others to learn about, use and enjoy ponds. Overall, the aim is to create a landscape full of healthy ponds teeming with wildlife."

Can you describe a typical day?

"Today, I started the day as normal by answering emails and phone messages from Pond Wardens, members of the public, or organisations. This time the enquiries were about an unusual coloured frog, how to use a type of pond liner, how to remove invasive pond plants, where a community group could get funding for an exciting pond creation project, and how a new volunteer could get involved.

"I always have lots of paper work so I then spent a few hours pulling together the next edition of the newsletter, writing some letters, planning a training session, and filing. I then drove out to Blackpool to check how a huge pond creation project is going, and attended a meeting about the project costs. There have been several surprises and obstacles with this project, but the experience means I can pass on the lessons we've learnt to others. Following that meeting, I had another appointment with a community group. Working with volunteers means a lot of work outside office hours, so I didn't get home til gone 9pm."

Is there a part of your job that you find difficult?

"The worst part is knowing there is not enough time or resources to do everything that is needed. A common problem in conservation is that funding is so short-term. This project is funded for two years, and we can achieve a lot in that time, but the issues won't have gone away when the money runs out."

What's the most satisfying part of your job?

"I find passing on my knowledge and experience to others immensely satisfying. I love to read and learn about things, but the information is useless if it is just in my head so I want to share it with others. However, I think the best thing is knowing that I've helped someone achieve something important."

In one sentence, why is conservation important?

"I wish conservation was unnecessary and unimportant, but sadly it is vital for protecting the most beautiful, interesting and crucial parts and processes of our world."

If you could have conservation-related wish, what would it be?

"I'd wish that everyone would feel awe, wonder and passion for nature and therefore would also feel respect and responsibility toward it. Governments and businesses will only change harmful policies and practices when they are deafened by angry voices, and there simply aren't enough people shouting about it yet."

How can people get involved?

"Getting involved can be as simple as filling in a simple survey form about a pond, or if they have the time, people can try to record all the ponds in their parish, or work to improve a local pond. Any individual, community group or organisation can get involved, and advice and support is provided. Just call me on 01942 614013, email rebecca.cleaver@naturalengland.org.uk, or visit www.pondconservation.org.uk."