Work off that festive excess

Fancy a bit of New Year exercise but do not really like the idea of going to a gym?

The Hawk and Owl Trust has just the thing for you to help work off all that Christmas pudding, with fresh air and the chance to

watch wildlife thrown into the bargain.

The trust, based at Sculthorpe Moor, is calling for volunteers for three of its schemes: Work out with Wildlife, Wander with Wildlife and Warm up with Wildlife.

All of them bring people closer to the birds and animals at the reserve as well as providing some gentle exercise to work off the festive flab.

Work out with Wildlife offers the chance to get out on the trust's nature reserve to help with

everything from repairing boardwalks, clearing scrub and lopping tree branches to installing nestboxes and cutting reed.

There is always plenty of wildlife to watch, plus bonfires, hot coffee and good company, say the organisers.

For those who just want some fresh air and the chance to watch wildlife with gentle exercise, the trust also needs wardens for its Wander with Wildlife scheme, helping to show people where to find the best sightings of the day.

And, for those not so keen on being outside, there is also the Warm up with Wildlife scheme at the education and visitor centre.

Volunteers are needed to offer advice on where to go to get the best sightings and on good routes for short and longer walks

from inside the centre.

The Hawk and Owl Trust stressed that volunteers were only asked to go along when they wanted, for as long as they wanted and just to do as much as they wanted.

No previous skills or knowledge of the reserve are necessary.

For more information on helping outside on the reserve and to arrange a come-and-try session, call Geoff Clark on 01328 853153.

To find out more about being a visitor centre host or warden, call the centre on 01328 856788.