Natural England - Discovering the Dales with Morris the Miner

Discovering the Dales with Morris the Miner

When Robin Bagnall began volunteering in the Derbyshire Dales in 2003 he couldn’t have predicted how his role would evolve.

Robin Bagnall

Employed by the Royal Mail as a GIS mapping specialist he was keen to get experience of a different mapping package in return for offering his technical expertise. As an office based volunteer he began by updating existing maps and producing new maps to capture monitoring data.

A few years later Caroline Thomas, Education Adviser for the Derbyshire Dales, asked Robin if he would like to assist her with outdoor events for children. Morris the Miner is one of several characters from the past that Robin assumes in order to vividly bring alive the history of the Dales. Caroline says “Robin’s expertise and willingness to help the children is invaluable in enhancing their visit to the NNR. By dressing up and adopting the roles of a hunter-gatherer, monk and miner he makes it so much more enjoyable and captures their imagination”.

Robin still spends 70% of his volunteering time producing maps for Natural England. Jo Poll, who supervises him, is grateful for the experience he’s brought to this role “Robin has the knowledge to take things one stage further; often suggesting alternative ways in which the information can be better presented”.

In 2009 Robin was nominated by Caroline and Jo to represent Natural England at an event for environmental volunteers at 10 Downing Street. He spoke briefly with the Prime Minister; describing the day afterwards as ‘brilliant and unforgettable’.

Robin comments “I’m still learning things. I get a lot of satisfaction from producing something that I know someone will use and find useful”. Of his education event volunteering he says “I really value the feedback from the children; it’s great when they thank you and promise they’ll come back”.