I am an undergraduate student studying Ecology and Conservation Biology at the University of Sheffield and I have taken a year out of my studies to gain practical experience. With my placement year due to start in September 2020, I had placements all lined up and ready to go - then COVID hit. With all my carefully laid out plans thrown into the air and my placements being cancelled I had to make a different plan for the year.

I took a leap of faith and moved to Herefordshire (dragging my partner with me who was also looking for experience in conservation) with the hope of gaining enough volunteering to make up for the loss of my placement - and it was the best decision I have ever made. Before I moved, I had done my research and was aware that Herefordshire Wildlife Trust were recruiting volunteer reserve wardens - due to the lone working this could still take place through the various lockdowns and restrictions - just what I was looking for!

I signed up to be a voluntary reserves warden for the Lugg Meadows which entailed working with volunteer groups, recording wildlife, reporting any maintenance issues, litter picking (which sadly takes up a large part of my time) and checking on the general health of the reserve. When I saw the Ice Age Pond (IAP) Traineeship advertised, I jumped at this opportunity and contacted David (the Project Manager) to express my interest in getting involved with this project too. I was very pleased with the broad range of different opportunities that I could get stuck into with this project.

I have only been a project trainee since February, but I have already learnt so much and developed numerous skills in all aspects of the project. Learning about the specific ecology and geology of IAPs has been fascinating. Since joining the team, I have already received training in water sampling and the use of QGIS; skills which I have been able to apply to the work I am doing for the project. I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the project's ecologists, who are providing training on survey methods for protected species such as great crested newts and bats. My field skills are being strengthened further through the opportunity species specific training courses. For example, in June I am going on a CIEEM Barn Owl Ecology and Surveying course. Following this I hope to be equipped with the skills to carry out surveys for this species as many of our IAP are found on farmland and open fields - perfect barn owl habitat. I might then even have the confidence by that point to lead and teach a group of volunteers myself…!

Whilst learning about different surveying techniques and developing my practical skills has been very enjoyable, I think the most valuable part of this project so far has been the tasks that push me out of my comfort zone. Being in the field collecting data is what I enjoy the most, but this is only a small part of conservation and being a trainee has opened my eyes to all the other cogs that need to turn to carry out a project. Before we can send volunteers out to survey ponds, we must of course gain permissions from the landowners - and work out who the landowners are! Working with landowners is such a critical part of conservation and this is the first opportunity I have had to get involved with this side of conservation work. Despite finding this side of the project stressful, being put in a position where I am responsible for contacting landowners has helped build my confidence and develop my interpersonal skills.

Another aspect of the traineeship has been my involvement with the engagement team - another leap out of my safe place in the field to outside my comfort zone! An essential part of the project is to educate the public on IAP: why they are so important and why they need conserving. To achieve this, one thing the engagement team has been doing in going into primary schools and providing IAP themed activities, such as mammoth games and pond dipping. So far this has been both my most exhausting and rewarding experience. It’s been uplifting to teach children about pond life and see their excitement at all the critters they find but the show stopping newt always renders some excited screams!

There has been an abundance of skills I have developed further since becoming a trainee, both practical and personal. Blog writing, organisational skills (I class myself as a very organised person, but this has become next level in to keep track of the thousands of parts of the project!) and working with volunteers to name a few more!

In a nutshell, becoming an IAP Trainee has been amazing so far and I am only three months in! It has provided me with so many opportunities and allowed me to develop skills in almost every aspect I could ever want! It has allowed me to take part in a broad set of activities across the project but also provided the flexibility for me to tailor my personal training in areas which will benefit my desired future career. Currently I am hoping to go into ecological consultancy in my early career, before following my deep-rooted passion for tropical forest conservation. The species surveying skills I am learning now will stand me in good stead to hopefully get a job as a consultant, with all the other skills such as liaising with landowners and working with volunteers being transferable across any conservation project.

I honestly cannot recommend a traineeship with the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust enough, not only do you learn countless skills and gain in depth knowledge of the work, but you are surrounded by a wonderful, supportive team. I cannot wait for the new challenges the following months as a project trainee will bring and I am so thankful for this opportunity! I am confident I will return to my studies in September with a more developed and rounded skill set in both my professional and personal life and a better understanding of what it takes to make a conservation project successful!