Each month, Meet the Forum will introduce you to one of the people behind the scenes or out in the field—those who bring energy, expertise, and enthusiasm to our shared work.
To launch this new feature, we are delighted to introduce Debbie Welham, our brilliant and ever-organised secretary. From answering emails, coordinating meetings and supporting the website, Debbie plays a vital role in keeping the Forum running smoothly. And then we don’t even mention all the survey work Debbie is involved in. We asked her a few questions to get to know the person behind the notes and emails…
- How did you first get involved with the Purbeck Natural History Forum?
I went along with a friend to an open meeting arranged by Footprint Ecology and the NNR partners and was really interested in the new NNR. I have lived in Swanage since 2000 and been coming here since 1995 – so now 30 years – but it made me realise I had spent a lot of time near the beach or walking at Durlston but I didn’t know the heaths at all well. It seemed like the group needed volunteers to get going, at the time I had just gone down to working a 4 day week so I thought I could have a go.
- What sparked your interest in natural history or ecological recording?
I already loved nature to just enjoy it but my background is in business intelligence and data, and also in archival research. At my work, when decisions are being made people and organisations always ask for data to inform the decisions. Gut feel that something is changing (or going wrong) isn’t usually enough of an argument. So I thought that this remit of actually securing solid records for the NNR would be the most useful thing I could help with. I am no good at all at practical habitat management tasks, but I do like a methodology and a task!!
- What kind of surveys or activities are you currently involved in?
So many!! If I say them all out loud I will scare myself about what’s in my calendar!!
Wednesday group – which this year is doing survey squares – I really like them as we are looking for a big mix of species and different habitats. Even though I am very bad at getting a bit muddy and wet (and stuck) in bogs and mires (sorry everyone) I enjoy seeing Large Marsh Grasshoppers and raft spiders and doing water vole surveys.
I do farmland bird and butterfly surveys. Glow Worm transect. Southern Damselfly counts. I have done pond surveys with our Wednesday group – back on our agenda next year. Some ad hoc counts of things like Purbeck mason wasp.
And I joined the Lichen and waxcaps groups and have loved seeing life in miniature – it might take another 30 years before I remember them all!
My personal favourite is seabirds. I help with the Purbeck Sea Bird count and, with our colleagues at Durlston, I point out birds to people on the Friday night Ranger-led bird boats. I am a Birds of Poole Harbour volunteer and a volunteer European Seabirds at Sea (ESAS) survey instructor for the JNCC. Whenever I get the chance I do offshore bird surveys. I don’t think I will ever stop being surprised how small storm petrels are and how much I enjoy seeing seabirds in flight in the middle of nowhere – I have a soft spot for Great Skuas and beautiful adult gannets.
- Are there any species, habitats, or locations you’re especially passionate about and why?
I’m really torn between coast and heath now! Birds of all kinds make me very happy. Ospreys are amazing. Hen harriers are breathtaking. Everything about the habitats we have in our care that create enough food and safe space for birds to thrive in are top of my list.
- Why do you think the work of the Forum is important—for Purbeck and beyond?
Anything we can do to help the Partners in the NNR manage what was the first Super NNR, at such a scale, with so many precious species already here to protect, is important. Also we share our experiences as a Forum with other groups setting up on other NNRs, so if there is anything we are getting right they can see it and also do it. And it’s important to bring local experts and beginners together, knowledge sharing and memory about a place is essential (I wasn’t involved, but the Cyril Diver Project and Back From the Brink show how important it is to know and remember and document.)
- What advice would you give to someone new to biological recording or conservation volunteering?
Give it a go. Have a look at the website, pick a species that looks like you’ll be interested in it and come along. If you are already an expert on a species please record your data and ideally check that it somehow gets back to DERC – Dorset Environmental Records Centre.
Also get a pair of close focus binoculars and just take a minute and have a good look at something really small. You’ll be hooked!
4 years ago I had never done any of the things I do now. I had no idea how much I would enjoy it or what I would become good at (and what I am terrible at – I probably should be named as a specific risk on any risk assessment for surveys near a mire). All the other people are also lovely, you will meet fascinating, amazing people.
- If you could spend a day surveying anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Tricky! Anywhere in the world I would probably go for South East Alaska and some offshore bird surveying with added humpbacks. Because the big wildness is special and I love being on a boat. Here, Hartland, Middlebere and Slepe. Some wet heath survey squares and a packed lunch with hobbies hunting dragonflies over my head is quite hard to beat anywhere in the world. And extending my perfect day into evening with a glow worm transect and some nightjar churring would be great.
