Cows and conservation

Friday 26 July 2024

Conservation trainees

https://www.facebook.com/worcestershirewildlifetrust

Follow our four Conservation Trainees as they learn the ropes and develop skills for a future career in conservation...

Ipsley Alders Marsh nature reserve by Eleanor Reast

Meet Derren, one of our newest conservation trainees...

Hi, I’m Derren, one of the latest batch of conservation trainees here at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. I’ve always had an abiding love for the outdoors, spending what feels like large chunks of my school summer holidays at a local pond, entranced by the newts, frogs and dragonflies. This led to me choosing to study an environmental degree, with the hope to do my bit for wildlife. After graduating, I spent four years in various voluntary roles, trying to break through into the world of conservation but there were a lot less paid jobs back then and eventually the pressures of my overdraft led me to seek employment elsewhere. I had done some IT work in one of my volunteer positions, so I somehow wandered into the world of computers and spent 25 years as a computer programmer.

Despite spending most of my days behind a desk, I still spent a lot of my spare time out in nature. Eager for a change, I eventually decided it was a “now or never” moment if I was to get back to my original passion. I took the leap of faith, left my job and started to look for ways to refresh my previous experience. Fortuitously, I came upon the advert for the conservation trainee programme. Reading previous trainees' blogs made me think I’d have a chance and here I am!

I’m now three months into the traineeship and I’m pleased to say it has been all I hoped for and more. Everyone at the Trust has been hugely welcoming and supportive and with the help of Andy, our team leader, and the existing trainees, I soon felt like part of the team.

Conservation trainees repairing boardwalk at Ipsley Marsh — Repairing boardwalk at Ipsley Marsh by Derren Ball

We’ve worked on a bewildering array of nature reserves already as well as undertaking some fantastic courses and site visits. I have had some rewarding days out working with our incredibly hard-working roving volunteer group, who are doing fabulous work at reserves come rain or shine. The trainee team have undertaken tasks ranging from access improvements (digging culverts and ditches in the spring rain – very muddy) through to boardwalk and gate repairs.

Conservation trainees digging a hole by Andy Bucklitch

One task that has featured quite heavily is fencing repairs, which we have done at a number of sites. Initially it’s hard to understand why you need such good fencing at a site, such as a wildflower meadow, until you understand a very important part of their management – conservation grazing. This is important for a number of habitats including grassland, heathland, wood pasture and woodland.

The use of animals (which can include cattle, sheep, ponies or pigs) provides a natural alternative to mechanical mowing and the selective nature of grazing produces a varied structure and helps reduce the prevalence of vigorous plants that can out-compete the more “fragile” species. The physical disturbance of the ground is also useful, creating microclimates and areas of bare ground, which leads to greater diversity. One final bonus is the dung, which is a valuable resource for invertebrates. On a site like a wildflower meadow, traditionally the meadow will be allowed to grow until the flowers have set seed then a hay cut will be taken. Livestock will be introduced to the site in the latter part of the year. A good stock-proof fence is, therefore. important and the period when the grasses and flowers are growing is a great time to repair and improve them.

Jack getting to know the cattle at Ipsley Marsh by Derren Ball

On some of our sites, a slightly different approach is required; grazing may need to be more selective and on specific patches within a reserve. This can be labour intensive if you need to erect temporary fencing but we learnt of a hi-tech approach to this on a trip with the Wyre Community Land Trust. The cattle wear special collars, which look a bit like a large cowbell, that contain GPS and communication technology. These communicate with an app on which you can define virtual “fenced” areas. When the cattle get close to the defined boundary the collars emit an audible warning that increases in tone, which discourages the cattle from crossing the boundary. It does require some training of the cattle but once they are used to the system, you can adjust the “fenced” area on the app, exclude sensitive areas of the site and even monitor where the cattle are in real time. It is an amazing use of cutting-edge technology to allow the continuation of ancient land management methods in the modern day. Obviously, the use of conservation grazing on our reserves does mean it is important to be aware of the presence of stock on the site and follow the advice of any signage you may see, especially regarding dogs and livestock.

We will very shortly be moving into the next phase of the year - hay cutting season. This will take up a lot of our next quarter of the traineeship, with a whole new raft of skills and techniques to learn. Beyond that, we will get into woodland management in the autumn. I think it is fair to say there will never be a dull moment over the next year as a trainee!

After spending 25 years working in IT, Derren wanted to return to his original passion of conservation. He hopes that the traineeship will aid his pivot in career.