The weather must be exceptionally bad for the regular team of volunteers to skip their monthly Saturday in the dunes of Schiermonnikoog. "The first time they were able to go to work after the lockdown, for example, the weather was really poor," recalls Enny Beverdam. Nevertheless, they set to work fanatically. "It is nice to be able to roll up your sleeves for a while. We noticed that we really missed it."
About fifteen years ago, Enny Beverdam and her husband were able to buy a small house on Schiermonnikoog. In a newspaper, they read a call from Natuurmonumenten for volunteers. They decided to sign up. "We really like it here on the island. We wanted to help keep it that way." Once a month, the volunteers clear the dunes of vegetation that overgrow rare species. It's real outdoor work where you can "get a breath of fresh air".
It's not very hard, according to Enny Beverdam. "You do need to be able to put a spade in the ground, but anyone can do it. The age of the permanent team of eight volunteers ranges from 55 to 80+. Visitors are welcome to come and help. The interest varies. Sometimes there are only four guests and sometimes ten. That is the maximum. "Occasionally children also join in. That combination of young and old is always nice."
The presence of the forester also gives the work something extra for Enny Beverdam. "The explanation of what you are doing and for which red list species, makes you look at nature even better. And if you then see that the plants you are doing it for are actually coming back in certain areas, then that is really great. That makes the work special.
“ We really like it here on the island. We wanted to help keep it that way ”
