An integral part of the Wilder Luton project is engaging with young people and offering a pathway of training and experience which might lead to a future career in the conservation sector. This includes four paid traineeships, thanks to The National Heritage Lottery Funding, two of which started in early September.

It was pleasing to see these were popular in Luton with thirteen applications and we were able to recruit two really good recent graduates - Talia and Aaron. They will be working across all areas of the Trust for six months, three days a week. Please read on to hear more about their first month.....

We are working with the Community and Education team throughout the 6-month traineeship. During my degree, I realised that on top of being an animal fanatic, I really enjoyed sharing my passion with people. Watching their eyes light up as we talked about the natural world... that’s something I’ve always loved. As well as that, the role is going to give me more experience locally and that’s something I need desperately. 

The opportunity to learn more about the ecology around me was the main reason I applied. The process was quite daunting, and I was nervous applying, despite me having already worked with this team during my placement year. I was definitely leaning heavily on my experience in science communication, and I was just hoping to make it to the interview, because I knew that’s where I could best represent myself.

The actual interview went a lot better than my nerves would suggest, despite there being three people in the room, which was an intense exercise in eye contact! I had prepared for some of the questions specifically and I couldn’t stop myself from smiling when I heard one I had actually prepared for. 

I was told I’d hear back sometime by Thursday, coincidentally a day I had already promised to volunteer with the Trust at the Wardown Park Youth Festival. It was either going to be a really good day or a really awkward one, so it was a nice surprise on Wednesday morning when I got a call to say I had been successful. 

I think my tips for anyone applying for something similar would be: don’t worry so much about what you're going to pick for your A-levels, your degree, or even your GCSE options. If you’re passionate about working in this field, whether it’s nature, the environment, the outdoors, or even the education and engagement side of things your story will unfold to reflect that.

Having spoken to different members of staff at the Trust, no two stories look exactly the same. If you get the chance to meet people, volunteer, network, or do some work experience take it. Though it’s only been my first month on the job, I feel like I’ve explored a lot, learnt a lot, and seen some amazing green spaces. I can’t wait to tell you all about it in the next blog.

Since graduating I have been eager to begin my conservation career so when I saw the traineeship advertised, I was buzzing to say the least! It ticked all my boxes: being local, in a relevant field that I have increasing interest in, and for an organisation that aligns with my own personal morals regarding sustainability and respect for the environment.

Our schedule so far has been packed with lots of exciting opportunities to give us a taste of the different elements of The Wildlife Trust. We have been fortunate enough to visit HQ in Camborne, as well as the Great Fen nature reserve to learn about peatland degradation and the complexities of wetland management! Alongside this, we have been getting hands on with some scrub clearing, as well as habitat monitoring and condition surveys. 

The highlight for me so far has definitely been learning about the Riverfly Monitoring Initiative and using this technique to assess the quality and condition of the River Lea, and I have loved meeting so many members of staff and volunteers that are willing to share their knowledge with me.

I grew up in Luton and enjoyed some of the green spaces it has to offer but I am quickly learning that Luton has so many more green spaces to offer than I realised, and so much nature right on our front doorstep. Over the next 6 months I am hoping to expand my knowledge of local conservation efforts and the ways that I can get involved, as well as promote to others how to help better our community and boost local biodiversity. Alongside this I am excited to learn more about Luton’s history and heritage. 

Moving forward in the traineeship, I am most looking forward to working alongside like-mined people. It has been really motivating and rewarding to feel like I am working towards a collective goal and having a positive impact day-to-day. I am also looking forward to utilising some of the knowledge and skills I have learnt throughout my degree, as well as building on these to further develop my skill set. 

I am still working out specifically where I fit into the sector. The traineeship allows me to explore multiple elements of conservation and hopefully discover which roles I am most passionate about and may want to pursue in the future.

Thank you for taking the time to read our trainees' first impressions of their time with Wildlife Trust! 
Please take a look at our Wilder Luton page to see what we have been up to, and meet Aaron and Talia in our upcoming events!

Until the next time,

Wilder Luton Team