There are 62 different breeding species of butterfly in the UK. Only 32 of these are to be found in North Wales and half of this number are threatened, with eight declining rapidly. That's one of the reasons why I think it's so important to volunteer my time to help to conserve them.

My role with the local branch of Butterfly Conservation is to recruit and organise volunteers. There are many different ways for people to get involved. We need people to help at our reserve at Eyarth Rocks near Ruthin maintaining the butterflies' habitat. This is North Wales' first butterfly reserve. Helping there can be hard work physically, but it's also a chance to get out into the fresh air and get some exercise. Less strenuously, we're always on the look out for people who are willing to record sightings of butterflies so that we have an accurate picture of their numbers.

Local branch members can learn a lot from our guided walks, moth-trapping nights and lectures on topics like gardening for butterflies. One of the reasons why butterflies are becoming scarcer is because many of the plants which caterpillars feed on are considered weeds and are destroyed. I grow plants which can attract butterflies and sell them at events, where volunteers can enjoy talking to the public and doing butterfly-activities with children.

We also go into schools to teach children about butterflies and conservation. I believe it's particularly important to tell young people about what we do and why we do it. Many younger people today don't see a need for the work that we do because they think there are plenty of butterflies around. They don't remember how many more there used to be just a few decades ago. We need to convey to them the urgency of what we're doing.

The voluntary work we offer is particularly suitable for students on courses such as Environmental Studies, or Duke of Edinburgh Award. The conservation field work they can take part in provides them with valuable work experience and is of great benefit to their academic work. Butterfly Conservation also offers courses which are free for volunteers, and holds symposia and other national events, so there are many learning opportunities to be had by volunteering.

Personally, I get a great deal of satisfaction out of volunteering. The work is very rewarding and I get to meet a lot of people with a positive interest in the field. I have also learnt an enormous amount about butterflies, moths and conservation in general through contacts the work has brought me with local councils, country parks, local wildlife groups and other environmental agencies; I could probably get a job with any of them now! I feel it's a tragedy that butterflies seem doomed to extinction and want to do all I can to prevent that.

Website: www.northwalesbutterflies.org.uk
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