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From reindeer keeper to lifting sleepers

Woodland by Nathan Millar

Meet Jack, one of our newest conservation trainees...
A reindeer looking into a camera

Reindeer by Jack Hobday

Ever since I was a child, I have loved animals. Over the years, I have worked alongside all kinds of species, helping at a cattle farm, volunteering at a local zoo and working at an aquatics shop whilst studying animal management at college. More recently, I have been working as a reindeer keeper (yes it is a real job!), which I have really enjoyed. I applied for the position of wildlife conservation trainee with Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, as I saw it as an opportunity to learn more about the natural world and wildlife, whilst also gaining valuable practical conservation skills.

Since starting the traineeship in April, I have been so busy that time has flown by. I have learnt to drive Land Rovers, dug out tracks for vehicles to get through the woods, built steps, explored the different nature reserves and pulled some thistles. My favourite thing about the traineeship so far is spending time identifying different types of local flora and fauna. Our trainee leader, Andy, has been sharing his expertise and wisdom with us and I have been absorbing as much as I can.

Deer/cattle fencing

Fencing by Jack Hobday

One of the main tasks that we have been cracking on with is fixing cattle fences and building new deer fences. Deer have a tendency to nibble on young hazel in our woodlands, so these fences are installed to allow patches of hazel to establish and grow. However, the spring weather has been rather soggy, so we were unable to use the Land Rover and tracks to carry the heavy equipment we needed. Unfortunately for us, this meant that everything had to be carried through the woods to the coppice plot by hand. With over 40 posts, a petrol post knocker plus tools, this was quite a challenge!

The process of installing fences is very methodical - the main corner posts go in first, we stretch wire from the bottom of each post and every four metres, we put in a smaller deer post. The first row we attempted wasn’t very straight, but we all soon got the hang of it. We still have quite a bit of work to do (and I’m sure, lot’s more things to carry) until this is all finished.

As part of the traineeship, we get to train up in chainsaw and felling and I am looking forward to getting my licences later in the year. I am also very keen to start doing some animal surveys, particularly for reptiles and amphibians, as this is an area that I want to specialise in. At the moment, I am completing an online herpetology course in my own time, so I am hoping I can use some of my newly acquired knowledge.

Jack joined us as a conservation trainee, after developing a love for wildlife through work and studies. 

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