Being a volunteer at the Hawk Conservancy Trust is a very important part of my life.  I started going to the Hawk Conservancy with my grandparents in 1994 (I was 8).  Then we began going quite regularly and so became members.  My Grandparents were very involved in the work done by the Trust.  In 2000 I was able to become a volunteer but unfortunately in 2002 my Granddad died.  In 2004 my Nan also passed away and so this made me more determined to carry out the tasks that were asked of me.

Julianne working in an aviary

I used to work in the coffee shop and on the BBQ with my mum.  I also worked in the gift shop for a while, but I now prefer being out on the park.  In a general day I clean water bowls and brass plaques, most of the time I do gardening or weeding and help in the displays.

My favourite display is the 2.00pm, Valley of the Eagles, display, because I go with the Bald Eagles to their release site and watch them being released, which is very cool!  My favourite aspect of volunteering is working with the ferrets and doing the ferret race.  I once sponsored a ferret in 2002, and she was called Flossy.  The polecats are also very cute (even though they smell and bite).  I helped Clive train them when they were just 6 weeks old.  In the evenings Clive and I would go in and feed them; they had to be picked up and hand fed.  This way they would get used to being handled a lot.  A couple of weeks later Clive asked me if I would help name them, so together we came up with the names of Peter, Wendy, Hook, Tinkerbell and Tigerlily.

Julianne with Charlotte

One of the best ferret races I helped with was when I introduced the race and commentated.  It was scary and I was very nervous though, so I only did it the once.  The other was at the start of the race when Clive bent down to put a ferret in a pipe and he split his trousers really badly.  It was very funny and nobody could keep a straight face.

Now I go to the Hawk Conservancy as much as I can because everybody there is my friend.  They have all taught me everything I know about birds of prey, so thank you to all of them.  I know that I am a very lucky 20 year old to be volunteering in a place that is so close to my heart and that my Grandparents will be looking down with a smile in their hearts.