Row at Hawk and Owl Trust over volunteer's sweatshirt

So when a visitor turned up at Sculthorpe Moor nature reserve, staff there quickly spotted some markings on him that piqued their interest.

They objected to the fact that Peter Howell - a former volunteer for the charity which runs the site - had arrived wearing his official, branded jumper and a hat with its logo on.

The incident sparked an extraordinary row which has seen him banned from the reserve by the Hawk and Owl Trust and a furious war of words break out.

The organisation - one of the largest wildlife charities in the county - has accused him of “masquerading” as a volunteer and acting with an “intimidating and harassing attitude” towards staff when challenged.

But Mr Howell claims he only wore the jumper so he could prove he was previously a volunteer, so he could get free entry.

Peter Howell, former volunteer at the Hawk and Owl Trust at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve, with a certificate for his services (Image: Newsquest)

PREVIOUS BAD BLOOD 

The row followed previous bad blood between Mr Howell and the charity, however.

He resigned from the Hawk and Owl Trust in May 2022 following the departure of a long-standing staff member. 

Mr Howell and others have since protested against the charity, holding a demonstration at the reserve, near Fakenham, last summer.

But he says the latest row, over his jumper, was triggered when he went there as a visitor.

He claimed that the trust previously allowed former volunteers - like members - to go in for free and wore his former uniform to prove he had previously served there.

DAY OF THE DISPUTE

"I was wearing my volunteer sweatshirt with a jacket on top, as well as a Hawk and Owl woolly hat with the reserve's logo on it - but you can buy that from the shop," he said.

Peter Howell, a former volunteer at the Hawk and Owl Trust at the Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve, near Fakenham (Image: Newsquest)

"I took the sweatshirt in case staff at the desk did not believe I was an ex-volunteer.
"When I was a volunteer and a former one turned up, you looked after them and they could come in for free.

“I was asked if I was a member. I said 'no, I am an ex-volunteer of 900 days, and I would just like to walk around',” Mr Howell said.

“I was told they did not know if I could do that, because I should pay as the staff had never heard of volunteers being allowed to come in for free. However, they did allow me to come in and not pay.”

On its website, the Sculthorpe Reserve states it grants free entry to Hawk and Owl Trust members. Non-members over 16 pay by donation.

Once in the reserve, Mr Howell said he met up with a warden he had previously worked with, who told him next time he came he would have to pay.

The pair toured the site and then went to the volunteers' restroom where they had a cup of tea.

Peter Howell, a former volunteer said this is how he looked when he arrived at the nature reserve, with his official, branded volunteer jumper, covered and a hat with its logo on it (Image: Supplied)

Mr Howell said he then left the site.

“At no point did I remove my jacket,” said Mr Howell, who volunteered there for 10 years.

EXCHANGE OF LETTERS

However, five days after the visit, on December 2, he received a letter telling him he was banned and that police would be called if he returned to the reserve or posed as a volunteer.

Chief operations director Adrian Blumfield wrote that Mr Howell's conduct had been "unacceptable and inappropriate" and said that he had "masqueraded as a volunteer to a member of my staff".

Mr Blumfield added "whilst presenting yourself you were wearing an item of volunteer clothing" and said he had been heard "making derogatory comments about me".

He continued: "I have a duty of care to all my staff and volunteers, and you're intimidating and harassing attitude is not welcome, and a complaint has been made by a member of my staff against you."

He told Mr Howell that police would be called if he returned to the reserve or if he continued "to present yourself to the public as a volunteer or representing the trust in any way".

Mr Howell wrote back to the trust saying: "I bought the clothing you mentioned, so I feel free to wear it as I please, without asking permission from you or anyone else.”

Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve (Image: Newsquest)

STANDING BY THE SWEATSHIRT

Mr Howell said he has not worn the sweatshirt since the incident but plans to do so when he attends a monthly meet-up with other ex-volunteers at Fakenham's Wetherspoons, the Limes.

“I cannot see a reason why I cannot wear these clothes which I brought,” he added.

He refutes the allegations of intimidation and harassment and said he had since bumped into members of staff he had seen on the day.

“At a chance meeting with some of them, observing Waxwings at the car park of B&Q in Fakenham, it was all very cordial and no mention was made of the letter," he said.

A spokesman for the Hawk and Owl Trust, said: “The wearing of uniforms by non-team members including ex-staff and ex-volunteers is unacceptable as it is confusing for visitors and given that we regularly welcome young people and vulnerable adults to the site this can also create potential safeguarding issues.

“We have worked hard to create a safe, nurturing environment for all staff, volunteers, members and members of the public and we have a zero-tolerance policy concerning harassment and abuse.

"To protect the confidentiality of all parties involved we do not comment on internal investigations and outcomes.”

The Hawk and Owl Trust's Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve opened in 2003

The 81-hectare site includes woodland, waterways, fenland, moorland, and wetlands.

The reserve includes grazing livestock which are reared and kept, and animals, including beavers.

The Hawk and Owl Trust itself is a national charity set up to protect owls and birds of prey, with its headquarters at Sculthorpe.

Among its projets is a nesting platform for peregrines which has been set up on the spire of Norwich Cathedral.