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On to the next adventure!

As Anna prepares to move on to the next role in her conservation career, she reflects on her time as a trainee...

Oh how I love this time of year! There's some warmth in the air, the rain has (momentarily) stopped and the natural world is at its lushest. The plants are bursting forth and charging upwards and outwards, in joyous rapture at the life-giving sun shining down on them. The birds are at their busiest; courting, nesting and raising their young and proclaiming their joy through song. Of course, there are also billions of organisms busily getting on with their lives beyond human observation.

Whilst the natural world is busy growing and breeding, there is less to do in terms of habitat management other than trying to keep on top of invasive species such as creeping thistle and broad-leaved docks. These species, although native to the UK, are colloquially known as the ‘thugs’ of the plant world and will happily take over and smother all the others. Creeping thistle in particular provides a good nectar source, however, it only flowers for a relatively short period of time. If allowed to crowd out other species then food can become scarce outside of its flowering season.

Conservation trainees repairing steps at The Devil's Spittleful

The Devil's Spittleful steps by Anna Tindall

Now is also a good time to get infrastructure installed and repaired and to take stock by getting out to survey and record the flora and fauna on our reserves. As a trainee team, we’ve been developing our knowledge and surveying skills of flowers, dormice, reptiles and other protected species, such as bats and great crested newts. I’ve also been out surveying a woodland Local Wildlife Site under the expert tutelage of Jasmine, our farming and wildlife officer, where I saw my (current) favourite little bird the goldcrest, who has a snazzy headdress and a song even I can recognise, although please don't test that statement!

I’ve helped reserve officer Dom with a deer impact survey and I was even let loose to do a hedgerow survey on my own. It’s been great to take the time to have a closer look at what’s growing, flying and crawling all around us. In the last month alone, I've been honoured with getting to see some special creatures out on our reserves and beyond. At Monkwood nature reserve, I've met the rather unfairly named drab looper moths, the infamous wood white butterflies and the super cool aspen leaf-rolling weevils. I've seen dormice at Ribbesford Wood (yes they are as cute as you’d imagine) and striking yellowhammers at Blackstone Farm Fields.

Aspen leaf rolling weevil

Aspen leaf rolling weevil by Anna Tindall

Ragged robin flower

Ragged robin by Anna Tindall

I've been enjoying developing my botanical ID skills alongside my fellow trainees, learning in real time as the plants grow and flower and then finding they start to disappear just as I'm getting comfortable that I know them! I think ragged robin has been a favourite so far. I like its self assured non-conformity of looking slightly dishevelled and pink. It's a pleasing and cheerful addition to a damp meadow.

In amongst all this business there has been another moment of significant change for me; after nine marvellous months with Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, I'm about to embark on the next leg of my grand adventure. The traineeship has been a brilliant step along the way and I've gained so much from it. I think schemes like this are vital stepping stones into the world of nature conservation that many of us would struggle to enter otherwise. Being part of a trainee team, rather than a solo trainee, is also hugely important. The camaraderie and opportunities to share and learn from each other shouldn’t be underestimated.

I won't lie, changing career is tough. Perhaps not in isolation but life is rarely so simple and thus it comes tied up with other challenges, unique to each of us choosing to forge a new path. Commuting each day from mid-Shropshire has been very draining (in money, time and energy) and has made me question the value of the traineeship more than once. But my faith in it, and the belief I am now on the right career path, always won and has been rewarded with my first proper job in nature conservation! I'm county hopping again and off to join the team at Herefordshire Wildlife Trust. I'm incredibly excited for the future and grateful for everything I've gained from the traineeship.

Leaving her previous career as an architect, Anna Tindall joined us as a conservation trainee to gain experience in the sector and to reconnect with the natural world.

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