Cultureshock

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Video transcript

I first became aware of the Red Kite reintroduction programme on the local news and thought ‘wow, this is going to be great, how exciting is this?’. Then I saw footage on the television, again on the local news, of Keith the project manager unloading the chicks after their journey up form the Chiltons. Now at this point I had no idea that the public could become involved as volunteers.

At this time I was quite vulnerable in my personal life after a marriage break up so it was quite a big step for me to take. So I actually applied to become a volunteer and absolutely loved it straight away. It was a really friendly crowd of both other volunteers and the project staff that you were working with.

The kite watch actually was a public viewpoint of the nest site in the Derwent walk country park where we had binoculars and telescopes available for the public. The beautiful weather actually helped as well. We actually could see the parents, birds bringing food into the nest site. People were fascinated and just loved it really.

People were coming specifically with the purpose of coming to the kite watch but then there was a lot people who were just out walking or cycling and didn’t know anything about it.

It was quite nerve wracking actually because I only had like a little bit of knowledge but it was amazing what you actually picked up from the other volunteers and people talking. At one point I remember clearly answering a question and then suddenly thinking to myself ‘hang on, I didn’t even know I knew that’. And certainly every day I went and did the kite watch duty I never thought ‘I don’t really fancy doing this today’. It was just a total joy.

You built up relationships with people that were sort of regularly walking their dogs. I actually was involved with that for three years on the kite watch. It was like welcoming old friends when you saw them the following year.

2008 I actually had the privilege to be present when the red kite chicks were taken from the nest. Flag and Red Phillip who’ve bred for the three years, we’ve watched their progress, watched their chicks fledge. And this year I actually was there when the Council tree climber climbed up the tree, brought the chicks down in pillow cases and they were examined by the vet, wing tags were fitted. It was just an amazing thing to witness. I got the chance and I was thrilled to actually hold one of the birds and so it was just the icing on the cake really for me.

Another opportunity that was just amazing and I couldn’t have dreamed that it would happen was that there was a student from Lithuania came and joined the project for a month during the summer. We became firm friends and we kept in touch when she went home. I actually had a long weekend in Lithuania which was amazing. I was on the plane going to Lithuania and I didn’t even know where the country was which would never have happened without the project. Its just really brought another aspect to my life. I’ve made lasting friendships that when the projects finished I know that the friendships will carry on. It just really means that if you take a chance and seize the day you never know what can happen.