February, the sky is grey and the drizzle relentless. It is cold, damp and dreary. And yet signs of spring can be seen and heard in the wood. Bluebell leaves are emerging under the leafless trees, and birdsong is slowly ramping up.  The chatter of woodland workers drifts through the undergrowth as scrub is cleared and blackthorn hedges are laid.

So let me introduce myself: a district nurse turned conservation worker. Once tending to the chronically ill in the comfort of their own homes, now caring for an ancient woodland and an eclectic group of volunteers. Not dissimilar occupations, the recipients of both require support, encouragement, nurture, cups of tea and maybe even a slice of cake.

I started my volunteering journey with BBOWT in 2010 and loved it so much that I spent a year as a Conservation Trainee, learning the tricks of the trade. I have always been a lover of nature and the outdoors, but my early years spent in Bangladesh and Kenya exposed me to some terrifying experiences: cockroaches flying erratically and becoming entangled in my hair; trembling in a tent, listening to elephants tramping and hyenas yelling outside; a black mamba being banished from the house with a hockey stick; wading through floods on muddy roads to check the depth before my father drove the car through (what about crocodiles?!) ; and I still check my boots for scorpions. I have great respect for and interest in all things natural, but I am done with adrenalin and will always choose the British countryside, which brings calm to my life.

What is my favourite Finemere species? It has to be the wood anemone. One of the earliest spring flowers, it is a beauty. A delicate star-shaped flower with white/pinkish petals, it spreads very slowly via rhizomes and is an indicator of ancient woodland. Large patches can be seen in Finemere - spectacular.

And my favourite Finemere activity? Scything. It is a peaceful, mindful and satisfying activity that has been practised for centuries and still has a prominent place in the management of grass. It beats machines every time.

What are my favourite pastimes? Swimming in rivers, lakes and seas. I love the thrill of the cold water in winter and the gentle swim downstream in the warmer months. The viewpoint from the water is breathtaking, wildlife is seen at another level: a swallow swooping and diving after insects; a kingfisher darting along the river bank; and a grass snake swimming across the width of the river. Alternatively, you can find me curled up with a crime fiction novel.

Something not many people know about me? I was repeatedly cast as Mary in nativity plays. I changed schools several times in my youth and yet was unable to shed that role. Although it may seem this was a special part to play, it really was not: it involved sitting in a corner holding baby Jesus and saying nothing. I yearned to be an angel with lots of tinsel, or a king with a crown and perhaps a line to say, but I was a quiet soul with a serene air and so Mary was who I remained.

And so that is me, the leader of the Finemere Volunteer Work Party. The group was set up in the autumn of 2013 and has gone from strength to strength. I was asked recently whether I ever get bored with the work in the woods, and the answer is never, not once in 12 years. My days in Finemere Wood, with the companionship of my fellow woodland workers, are just the best days.

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