Surrounded by volunteers, and the historic building's very own ghost, general manager Nicola Barker sees herself as something of a 'Mamma Bear' at Landguard Fort.

There has been a fort at Landguard since the mid-16th century and Nicola, along with trusted assistant Donna Duncan, is the current guardian, and as Nicola's own background is steeped in English Heritage history, it is an ideal match.

Answerable to a board of trustees, who in turn run the fort on behalf of English Heritage, Nicola is the only full time employee, with Donna helping out part-time, managing a 40-plus army of volunteers to oversee nearly 30,000 visitors per year, in normal times.

Like many employees nationwide, Nicola and Donna were furloughed in March but took it upon themselves to engage with volunteers, usually through Zoom activities, such as quizzes, contests and chats to keep spirits high.

"It was tough," said Nicola. "The volunteers could not come down and that was hard for them as the Fort is a big part of their life.

"it was about keeping the volunteers engaged. I have realised how important the volunteers welfare during this was. They give their time to come down but it is more than that for them."

Nicola's CV includes being the site manager Grimes Graves and being n secondment at various other English Heritage sites including Framlingham Castle, Audley End, and working on the Festival of History but she has never felt more at home than now.

She said: "This is a very demanding job but it has a lot of rewards. The volunteers make it for me. They are a remarkable bunch of individuals.

"They all have their quirks but all offer amazing dedication and love it here.

"It is a family, a real community feel. I feel like Mamma Bear and lockdown showed me the individual reasons why people come here. The mental health and wellbeing is my priority for them."

Following an enforced hibernation due to the coronavirus lockdown, and a reduced number of opening days now as they need to use more man-power to facilitate visitors on a booking only system, Landguard Fort is facing a new battle to balance the books.

Nicola explained how the Fort's main income is usually through its gift shop and tea room and a share of ticket sales, so the fort needs its visitors to return in numbers, with hope that the fort will eventually open seven days a week once more, before the season ends.

There is every good reason to visit too and Nicola believes the fascination and actuation of Landguard Fort is its diversity, which means wide range of people of all ages will enjoy looking around.

"The fort covers many periods of history where it has made its mark, not just one point in time," said Nicola.

"It goes back generations and has evolved over time. It is also one of the most haunted places in Suffolk.

"All that adds that sense of history, not just the military history but the personal element. What it is was like for people to be here, to live here, to witness history here."

Although initially sceptical, Nicola is now convinced of a ghostly presence in the fort, which other people, including her husband, claim to have seen. Her experience, was when she and Donna hunted high and ow for na invoice. They called out to the spirit to return it, and within minutes the invoice was back in the folder where is should have been in the first place. Spooky.

Although group tours are not possible at the moment, the benefit of individuals booking is that the hugely knowledgable guides can offer more one on one interactions.

Nicola said: "That enhances the visit and makes it a better experience but that comes at a cost of needing more help, so we can open more days. Usually we need three or four volunteers on a day, but now we are needing eight or nine.

"When we are open it is very good. we are getting through the initial teething problems and we will continue to improve as we go with booking system

"It is great to have the doors open as it is an amazing place for Felixstowe."

And with that 'Mamma Bear' is off with her tin of home-made shortbread to make sure her on duty volunteers are alright.

Visit Landguard Fort's website here...