Hi I’m Rowan and I’ve been on the Working for Nature traineeship at Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust. I initially applied after being in the catering industry for over 5 years. When lockdown happened I had time off for the first time in years and spent it cycling out to the peaks with my pops, who’s an ecologist. I realised I wanted to enter the field of conservation in this time and couldn’t really see a way with volunteering as I needed to work full time to sustain my household. But then I came across the traineeship and thought I’d apply.
The process was hard work as I’d only found out about it a week before deadline, but I ended up with an interview, which I have to say was awesome! I didn’t think I’d be getting interviewed while eating bilberries in beautiful heathland!
"I feel very lucky to of had this opportunity and have really enjoyed this pass year learning everything from surveying techniques to coppicing and dry stone walling but best of all I’ve met awesome people and lifelong friends."
There’s nothing better than scurrying around with a load of other people that love nature like you! One of my highlights this year was definitely doing Nightjar surveys – I got to spend my birthday out at dusk looking for the weird tiny dragon-like birds. This year has been great, and I’m look forward to putting everything I’ve learnt to good use.
