Charity | Posted on May 6th, 2026 | return to news

Could you volunteer as a cat guardian?

Dorset’s homeless cats will soon need new guardians as three core volunteers with over 70 years of experience between them are stepping down.

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The trio of volunteers Kate Bevan, Deb Wheeler and Nicki Salmond, who are Cats Protection Mid-Dorset’s Branch team leader, treasurer and cat welfare team leader respectively, will all step down at the end of the summer. New volunteers will be needed to fill their roles otherwise the future of the branch, which has rehomed and helped needy cats since 1994, will be uncertain.

Kate says: “It all started after I saw a poster asking for volunteers, nobody was using social media then so about 10 of us turned up to a meeting and I liked the sound of everything the group did. I didn’t become the team leader until 2003 but since then whenever a role becomes vacant I temporarily step in.

Without the three of us the branch cannot function and there won’t be any cover for the cats of mid-Dorset, but if we can find the right people to take on these core roles, we have great existing volunteers in the other roles who are happy to continue and the branch could go from strength to strength.”

Kate has experienced highs and lows in her years with the branch, which currently homes over 80-90 cats a year across the DT10, DT11, SP7, SP8 and BH21 postcodes, but she says it is cats’ transformations that make it all worthwhile.

“We have a huge responsibility to do all we can to ensure the health and vitality of these incredible national assets.”

As well as preventing vehicles from parking near the tree and causing compaction, the Queen Oak will benefit from careful pruning of neighbouring competing trees, with bracing applied to support its ancient branches – reducing future vulnerability to storm damage.

James Palmer, the NPA’s tree officer, said: “Ancient and veteran trees are a feature not only of the ancient woodlands of the open Forest, but of the villages and other settlements that have developed over time as an integral part of the Forest landscape.

“The bracing works to stabilise the branch and stem framework, in combination with stopping vehicle access to the tree’s rooting environment, will both reduce the likelihood of future structural risks while seeing a reduction in soil compaction.”

Will Jones, from The Tree Management Company, said: “Having lived in the Forest my whole life, it means so much to have had the opportunity to help protect this special tree, using our collective skills to make a positive difference for its future and supporting an important asset in our ecosystem.”

Rhys Williams, associate EIA consultant at Savills, said: “We’re pleased to have supported this collaborative project, which demonstrates how relatively simple, well-considered interventions can make a meaningful difference to the long-term survival of ancient trees.

“Protecting treasured natural assets like this relies on partnership, local commitment and shared responsibility, and we’re delighted to have helped secure the future of such an important tree.”

Jon Stokes, The Tree Council’s director of trees, science and research, said: “This sort of collective action is exactly what is needed to protect these astonishing trees.

“It needn’t be expensive or time-consuming, and sometimes very simple actions can deliver significant results.

“In 2025, in consultation with more than 50 tree sector partners, The Tree Council published a report making ten recommendations to Defra for the future protection of the UK’s most important trees – with soil compaction among the most common issues.

“A key recommendation is that financial support, from both public and private sources, should be available to the custodians of important trees. This project has put into practice exactly what The Tree Council report suggested, safeguarding the Queen Oak with volunteer goodwill, community effort and financial support from this group of partners.

“We hope this sets a model that can be replicated in future, not only with those trees still in need all over the New Forest, but also all over the country.”