Aaron's Update

I can’t believe the end of the Wilder Luton traineeship is here, and I hope you enjoy our last blog. The time has flown by, with so much to see, even more to learn, and even more still to do!

Despite my experience with the Youth Forum, public speaking can still be challenging, and there have been two occasions in recent weeks where this skill was required; The first was a presentation to the WTBCN Trustees, alongside the Peatland Progress trainees, and there was a lot to cover. The goal was to summarise our role, project, and why we applied. Preparation helped, but in my experience, public speaking is hardest before you start. The moment I think about what I’m doing, nerves set in, but I’ve found taking a breath to collect myself and being personable is key. 
The trustees see dozens of presentations, so injecting some humour amongst the exposition and being relatable eased our nerves and theirs! We talked after, exchanging experiences and questions. Brian Eversham, our CEO, said “The trainees have grown hugely in confidence; their presentations were powerful and professional. They made a lasting impression on our trustees.”

The second occasion was an interview Talia and I had with our former university, Nottingham Trent, at Strawberry Hill. The interviewers wanted to make a great video and hear our stories and were genuinely interested to find out what we have been doing since finishing university. I haven’t seen the finished video yet, but I’m confident in the final product and can’t wait to see it.

I am filled with pride about what we’ve accomplished during the traineeship, I entered this role nervous about how to operate and fit in, and I’ll leave with a quiet confidence that I can do it. This role has helped me see that community engagement around nature is a field I’d like to work in. I’ve been empowered by the knowledge, experience, and skills I’ve gained in my traineeship. I have enjoyed the successes, the struggles, the laughs, the nerves, even the interview and I’d like to thank everyone at WTBCN for this experience.

For any potential trainees, be bold in applying. The goal of the traineeship is to learn and develop, so you don’t need to be an expert. It’s equally important that you have an interest in both nature conservation and working with people. If you have the time, I would recommend you volunteer in whatever you’re interested in. The experience gained is a great foundation for achieving your goals.

 

As for my goals, I now know what direction to look in. I’ll be continuing my work with community engagement and nature through projects with WTBCN Young People’s Forum and on Inspire FM’s nature show. Other projects I am involved with include the Do You Know, Do You Care? podcast, where I’ll be covering nature among other things, and speaking at the upcoming BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) Youth in Nature Summit on the diversity in conservation panel.
 

Talia’s Update

It feels strange to say that it’s almost been 6 months of working with the Wildlife Trust BCN now, but my traineeship is approaching the end. Since Christmas we’ve packed in as many opportunities as possible...

One of the recent highlights for me has been a Hedge laying session at Bramingham Park. I had very little knowledge of the history or technical skill behind this heritage craft. Getting hands-on with the process and learning about it’s importance for wildlife, landscape heritage and habitat connectivity was very rewarding. Having the opportunity to use new tools such as a billhook and learning the techniques involved in laying and binding the hedge was both challenging and satisfying and was a real reminder of how traditional skills still play an important role in modern conservation.

We have also been able to squeeze in another two sessions with the Bedfordshire Youth Rangers.  One of my favourite sessions was one involving the maintenance of an orchard at Stockingstone Meadow in Luton, which Aaron and I took the lead in running. Being involved in the planning and behind the scenes work (such as carrying out risk assessments, organising the session, and preparing materials) was a valuable learning experience. It gave me a real insight into the preparation that goes into leading practical conservation activities, and it was incredibly rewarding to see the session come together on the day. It felt like I was growing in my role and I enjoyed seeing the Youth Rangers learn and grow in their roles as future conservationists.

Looking back over the whole traineeship, I feel very grateful for this experience. This has been an invaluable gateway into the conservation sector and has helped me to build confidence, practical skills, and knowledge that I simply couldn’t have gained elsewhere. Getting involved in the different types of work within each area of the Wildlife Trust has given me a comprehensive understanding of the conservation sector and allowed me to explore personal areas of interest, that I may wish to take forward into my future career path.

Through this I’ve also met so many knowledgeable people, none with two stories the same. Further showing that there is no ‘right path’ into conservation. The only common denominator I’ve seen so far is a genuine passion for nature and an enthusiastic, encouraging attitude.

Whilst I have loved exploring the amazing nature the UK has to offer, after the traineeship I’ll be travelling around Southeast Asia for a few months to experience different cultures, landscapes, and wildlife. I’m excited to see more of the world and gain further perspectives that I know will continue to shape my future path.

When I return, I’m motivated to pursue a career in this sector, focusing on the practical work and making a tangible difference. I’m aiming to stay open to any opportunities that come my way and hope to stay connected with the incredible people I’ve met through the Wildlife Trust. This traineeship has been an amazing start in the world of conservation, and I’m excited to see where the journey leads next.