An amazing, educational and life-changing year on a Wildlife Trust Voluntary Placement.

I’m 41, and some might say I’ve left it a bit late in the day, but I’ve wanted to work in conservation for a long time. I’m fascinated by the complexity of the natural world, it’s awe-inspiring. I’d been volunteering half a day every couple of weeks with Nottingham Wildlife Trust. That was great, but I realised it wouldn’t give me the experience I needed to change careers. I needed to retrain, and if not now, then when?

Previously to this voluntary placement, I had a regular office job, working 9 to 5, doing emails, and attending Microsoft Teams’ meetings. I had no real idea what to expect when I started. 

What have you been doing on your voluntary placement? 

I’d applied for several Wildlife Trust traineeships and was offered a year’s voluntary placement based at Potteric Carr Nature Reserve. In that time, I’ve done lots of reserves work, learning and practising skills like forestry, UK Habitats Classification surveying, as well as water vole ID. I’ve even learned to fix a hide roof. I’ve done additional training, including breeding bird surveys, butterfly research, and bird ringing. I especially enjoyed supporting the conservation grazing team with feeding cows, ponies, and sheep. Learning hedge laying and scything was brilliant, and very satisfying. Alas, despite wanting to try drystone walling for ages, I quickly realised it’s not for me!

On the communications side, I’ve enjoyed taking part in public events that get people outside, including supporting a visit to Potteric Carr from year 7 students . I must add that my voluntary placement manager has also been brilliant in letting me shadow them.

After a few weeks into the role, I realised the future job I wanted as a reserve officer was a very physical job, and that I no longer have the body I did at 21! I wondered if I’d cope through the cold and wet winter, but I was absolutely fine. I know it’s a cliché, but there’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes.

Green heroes

As a kid, I had a wildlife poster on my wall and that was my gateway into nature. Like many people, I’ve been inspired by David Attenborough. I also admire Chris Packham for the way he engages kids with nature and for his campaigning.

During my voluntary placement, I’ve worked with so many amazing staff and volunteers. I’d now say the people on the ground are my green heroes, the ones on the front line, standing up for nature. It’s a bit like in Spartacus: a small band of incredibly dedicated people.

The Potteric Carr team are wonderfully supportive. They’re always happy to share expertise. There’s no office politics, and I can’t think of a single person who hasn’t been kind to me. Some volunteers have been coming to Potteric for over 20 years, and they’ve made me feel welcome from day one. That includes everyone, those working out on the reserve and the visitor reception team who cheerfully greet visitors.

Do you have a favourite nature spot?

Attenborough Nature Reserve, in my home patch of Nottingham, is my favourite. I’ve been going there for years. It’s an old gravel pit, established as a reserve in 1966 and opened by David Attenborough. Best known for its birds with over 250 species, it’s also home to hundreds of plant and insect species. I think it’s a great example of what Wildlife Trusts do best: caring for wildlife while connecting people with nature. I have a psychology degree, and my first volunteering role was there, leading a health walk.

During my voluntary placement, I’ve had the opportunity to visit some incredible reserves. While none will replace Attenborough in my heart, I’ve grown very fond of Potteric Carr. My most memorable wildlife moments on reserves this year include hearing nightjars, being just a few feet from a badger, and watching a deer leap out of the bushes while I was checking camera traps.

Anticipation vs. reality

I’m fascinated by fungi, mosses, and peat. YWT is doing a lot of work on peatlands and I particularly enjoyed working with the Peat Team on the Humberhead Levels. One standout day was taking peat cores over a metre deep, knowing that peat builds up at only 1mm per year.

I found that being with experts is hugely valuable. The first four months of the voluntary placement were in winter, and while it sometimes felt repetitive, I soon realised I’d been absorbing so much by passive learning. For example, while brush-cutting one day, I heard a blue tit and recognised it by sound, that never would have happened before. The experience has hugely boosted my confidence and made me more open to trying new things. I’m now applying for roles I wouldn’t have considered before.

I’m a parent, so it’s meant juggling the traineeship alongside family life and other volunteering. YWT has been incredibly supportive in doing that and helping me make the most of the year.

What’s next?

It’s been a fantastic year. I now know I want to work in nature conservation, ultimately becoming a reserve warden. I’ve been fortunate to get a temporary, part-time role with YWT’s Fundraising and Engagement Team. At the time of writing Dave was also actively applying for jobs. 

Advice for anyone considering a voluntary placement 

My advice is: go for it! I found the year gave me the freedom to explore what interested me most. It’s been like standing in a hallway with lots of doors, each leading to a room full of new skills: forestry, rewilding, surveying, you name it.

My key takeaways from the year are: you can learn a lot in a two-day course; everyone you meet in YWT is helpful; you don’t need to be an expert, just willing to learn. Three words to sum up my voluntary placement: amazing, educational and life-changing.

If you are interested in finding out more about our voluntary placements or work experience opportunities, please visit our website here