THE warden at South Walney Nature Reserve has been making video diaries of the wildlife at the reserve during lockdown.

Sarah Dalrymple has been working hard without an assistant and no volunteers.

But she has made sure to keep wildlife lovers up-to-date with what she has been doing.

In the latest video diary, published on the reserve's Facebook page, Sarah heads out to count gulls' eggs on the nature reserve and also to check the amount of plastic gulls use when building their nests.

“I have made the diaries so that those who can’t get out can see what is going on the reserve," said Sarah.

"My aim was to bring it to them.

“At the reserve it is one of our busiest times of year and we do not have a s many volunteers due to the coronavirus outbreak.

"So it has been hard work for me as I have had to do everything myself.

“The fencing I have been putting up to protect the seagulls is usually a one day job with volunteers.

"But by myself it was a three day job.

“Over on Foulney Island there is no longer a warden to protect the Terns.

"So I have been trying to get the birds to come over to South Walney so I can protect them whilst they are nesting, which has managed to be successful.

“I have not been lonely out here though.

"South Walney is great and we have a close community who look out for one another, especially during lockdown.

“We have a new member of the team.

"Eve joined around the start of lockdown and she will be organising a project that volunteers that could get involved with.

"But when that is I am not sure.

“To be honest, lockdown has not affected us that much really, as the animals are protected by the restricted sections of the reserve, and those who visit are very considerate and stick to the paths that we set.

“We need nature here preserved on Walney for people to come and see.”

The Wildlife Trusts’ 30 Days Wild challenge begins today.

30 Days Wild encourages everyone to do something that connects them to nature every single day during the month of June.

Follow the campaign on social media #30DaysWild and tell Cumbria Wildlife Trust about your ‘random acts of wildness’ by going to their website.