I moved from Oxfordshire to Oulton Broad in March 2009. Two days after moving in I had found Carlton Marshes, a ten minute walk from my new home. From then on it was almost a daily visit for a walk with my two Jack Russells, Molly and Rosie. It was here that I met and got to know Andrew Easton and Rob Wilton who taught me so much about the reserve and the birds found here. They also encouraged me to join the Lounge Lizards who used to meet at the Stanford Arms. One evening while enjoying a drink with the group that Matt Gooch shouted across the table - “Hey Jane, you’re good with kids - email Gemma.”
The next thing I knew I was on my knees peering into a tray of dyke water with a group of seven year olds trying to identify the myriad of creatures we had found. From them on I was hooked and helped firstly with Gemma and then Jo Shackleton with the school groups. It was exhausting with often ninety children per session and three sessions a week but I loved it and volunteered for several years.
A problem with my hip meant that I was no longer mobile enough to help with the children but I was still able to make tea and coffee so I then helped with the “pop up” cafe in the old education block. This was a great opportunity to practice my welcome skills (learnt at Minsmere) and chat to the visitors about the fantastic changes that were coming
