Mel Tuckett
Here at the Natural History Society of Northumbria we are very proud to be celebrating Volunteers’ Week. Nationally, between 2-8 June, the UK highlights the key role that volunteers play in all aspects of our society. At NHSN there are about 200 volunteers carrying out key roles such as running Gosforth Nature Reserve, educating young people, delivering our mailouts and working as trustees. But in this blog we want to turn the spotlight onto the incredible work of our North East Nature Archive volunteers. We just couldn’t do it without them.
Our archive volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds and age groups. We have students, retired people and those with spare time while working, but all are united through their love of history and the natural world. Everyone is encouraged to find a role that suits their interests and skills, and we provide ongoing support and relevant training. The roles carried out are many and varied, ranging from primary research, cataloguing, digitising, proof reading and uploading, to photography, maintaining materials and transcribing. Volunteers are also able to help at events when we put on displays and welcome speakers. They are encouraged to speak to the public about their research and interests.
Volunteers are also able to publish their work as blogs on our website. Our volunteer Maureen’s fascinating research on the ‘Pitman Naturalists’ of the Northumberland coalfield is currently being developed into a new NHSN book.
You can read some of these blogs here:
The Pitman Naturalists, an introduction.
Finding Kathleen Barratt, a volunteer’s experience.
Beyond the bounds of his usual gravity; Gilbert White’s art of nature writing
But it’s not all work and doing things on your own. The team meets regularly at the North East Nature Archive (NENA) Forum to discuss our ongoing work, celebrate achievements and have some fun.
Here are some thoughts from some of our team:
Maureen Flisher
In 2019, a chance conversation with a colleague led me to approaching NHSN about the possibility of becoming one of their archive volunteers. I was welcomed with open arms and after a brief chat we identified that my interests and skills would be best placed working in and with their archive material. I have never looked back! With NHSN encouragement and support I have fulfilled a personal ambition to write blogs based on the society’s transactions and collections and have them published on the NHSN website. The team goes out of their way to help and support any ideas I have and I genuinely feel my work is valued.
Maureen is currently researching individuals who donated items to the NHSN in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and whose stories have yet to be told.
Julia Rand
Following the trail of a local naturalist through the archive gives me the thrill of discovery, and helps the grey matter keep moving. Looking at letters unseen for decades feeds my curiosity. It’s exciting to know that the findings will help to reclaim the hidden history of an early female naturalist. All this is shared in convivial meetings and celebrated with feasts and special events.
Julia is currently investigating the life and work of Evelyn Lobley, North East naturalist and expert on mosses.
Mel Tuckett
I was bitten by the archive bug while an English literature student and so felt really lucky to get the chance at volunteering here at the NENA. I particularly enjoy using the research skills gained from my studies such as when analysing the NHSN Transactions and discovering the work of talented North East naturalist and illustrator David Green. I am now lucky enough to be employed here within the archive on a part time basis where I lead on supporting and empowering the NENA volunteers. As I am part time I still enjoy coming in to volunteer; I really enjoy repackaging the archive materials so they are in the best condition. It is a great pleasure to be part of the NENA team; everyone’s enthusiasm and commitment creates such a buzz and there is always something new to discover.
James Wilkinson
“I have been volunteering with the North East Nature Archive for about two years now. Although I have been involved with the NHSN for most of my life. I have done many things during my time volunteering here, all of which have been interesting – although I think my favourite would be the scanning work I have done as it feels like that has made the biggest difference. The people there are all wonderful to work with which makes this whole experience so enjoyable.”
James is currently digitising the Transactions of NHSN so they can be uploaded onto our website.
John Millican
I started my volunteering back in 2023 when the Nature’s Cure project began. My first piece of work was to transcribe the incredible handwriting of Tom Russell Goddard. He was the curator of the Hancock Museum and wrote a huge collection of notebooks recording his love of nature and the natural world. These really piqued my interest in history and I enjoyed his enthusiasm. Seeing his handwriting made history seem real and exciting. I also transcribed some of John Hancock’s letters and feel good that my work can now be used by others for their research. I am a photographer and have been recently helping to photograph the NHSN Transactions. I also enjoy sending in a lot of nature photos to NHSN and they use them for their publications and E.news. The beauty of volunteering here is that there is flexibility and a variety of roles.
John has also been assisting at many NENA events recently. He has been welcoming visitors and ensuring that all is ready on time.
We are so proud of our volunteers and the work that they do. Our archive is able to thrive through their commitment and enthusiasm, and we want to say a huge thank you to them for all that they do.
If you would like to join our team, please get in touch. We would love to hear from you at nhsn@ncl.ac.uk.
