Louisa Pearson: 'Volunteering gives you a warm, fuzzy glow'

Is there anything more depressing than noticing you've slipped up an age bracket in a survey? Delving deep into statistics about volunteering in the UK, I realised that I belong to the age group most likely to "formally volunteer" (as opposed to informal volunteering which we must assume consists of unquantifiable random acts of kindness).

According to a 2008/9 survey, 47 per cent of people aged 35 to 49 are volunteers. So there I am lumped in with those who're pushing 50. Does that mean I'm allowed to have a mid-life crisis? I've always wanted a sports car.

I digress. Volunteers Week is about to descend upon us (1-7 June, www.volunteersweek.org.uk) and for anyone with notions about saving the planet, it provides the perfect opportunity to dip your toe into the world of conservation volunteering.

Bird surveys, beach tidy-ups, tree planting, rhododendron bashing and so much more await your energy and enthusiasm. First let us look at the commonly given excuses for not volunteering.

In the 2007 Helping Out survey, 82 per cent said "not enough spare time", 49 per cent said "put off by bureaucracy" and 47 per cent said "worried about risk/liability".

Let's stop right there. If you've got time to watch Coronation Street, you've got time to volunteer. Bureaucracy? Filling out a simple questionnaire is usually the extent of it. As for risk, if you're volunteering with a reputable organisation you'll get a full briefing on health and safety before you head off over uneven ground after butterflies.

While some start young, monitoring turtles on exotic beaches during their student days, I took up volunteering in my thirties as a shameless means of getting practical experience to help facilitate a career change.

First came volunteering in a National Trust for Scotland garden. The staff were absolutely fantastic and gave me the chance to weed, plant and harvest to my heart's content. And I quickly realised lugging barrels of gravel on rainy winter days wasn't the right career direction for me after all.

Next came the tree hugging, or should I say planting. I had such a lovely time volunteering with Borders Forest Trust that I applied for a part-time job there and they employed me.

Perhaps it was in the knowledge that it would some day lead to a passing mention in this column. Of course, other people don't just volunteer to get ahead in their career; they do it to learn new skills, enjoy healthy exercise, meet new people and support organisations whose aims they share. Did I mention that it also gives you a warm, fuzzy glow?

Organisations with well-established conservation programmes include the RSPB, National Trust for Scotland and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, but consider volunteering with small, local charities too. At a time when charitable organisations are facing funding cutbacks, the hours you give can be as important as money donated.

Having experienced the mud and camaraderie that goes with volunteering, you'll probably end up getting hooked.

According to the Helping Out survey, the highest rated benefits from volunteering included "a sense of satisfaction from seeing the results" and "it gives me a sense of personal achievement".

To find opportunities within walking distance of your postcode, visit www.volunteerscotland.org.uk and prepare to join the wonderful world of conservation volunteering. Just don't forget your packed lunch, boots and waterproofs.

• This article was first published in The Scotland On Sunday, May 30, 2010