As a person passionate about environmental protection and concerned about the damage that human behaviours have caused to nature, the HIWWT's unique contribution toward protecting local wildlife and inspiring people to care about nature attracted me. I always wish to contribute fundamentally to environmental protection and am interested in learning about different species and plants. Hence, I applied for this opportunity with the HIWWT and lucky I got the offer and joined the ecology team at the end of March.  

My time at the HIWWT was amazing! My main task was assisting with fieldwork and surveys, which was entirely new for me, and I was very much looking forward to it.

The first few surveys that I was involved in were newt surveys. The survey was carried out with three types of sampling: torching, netting and egg searching. We first used a torch to look through the ponds searching for newts, then used the net to gently disturb the bottom of the ponds and filter out any material to see if we had caught any newts. The newt surveys were in the evening, so it was a bit challenging, but as I got more familiar with the process, it became much easier, and I could identify some newts and handle them myself (under the supervision of a licenced colleague).  

There were many other surveys I was involved with, for example, invertebrate surveys, vegetation surveys, moth surveys, river fly Surveys, and nightjar surveys. These different surveys taught me a lot about different animals and wildlife, their habitats and species, and how they behave.

One of my favourite surveys must be the invertebrate surveys, where we surveyed butterflies, bumblebees and grasshoppers. We would work across the fields and paths in woodland and note down different types of species that we see. I could see and learn how to identify many species of butterflies, bumblebees and grasshoppers. The invertebrate surveys usually lasted a whole day; it was a meticulous process, requiring patience, precision, and a keen eye. The challenging part was to identify the species within a short amount of time before they flew away. I struggled at first as I wasn't familiar with the patterns and colours of different kinds of species, but as I seemed more, I started to recognise and differentiate between them. My team were very supportive during the surveys; they were keen to answer all of my questions and were very patient when showing me how to complete the tasks.  

Each of these surveys, while challenging, brought a sense of fulfilment. Whether it was the joy of spotting a rare butterfly, the surprise of identifying a new bumblebee species, or the thrill of hearing a chorus of grasshoppers in the tall grass, every discovery held its excitement. These invertebrate surveys became more than a mere counting exercise—they offered a chance to truly connect with and appreciate the subtle intricacies of nature. 

This placement with the HIWWT provided a comprehensive overview of environmental protection efforts, challenging me while enriching my understanding of the intricacies of nature. It also emphasised the value of preserving biodiversity and the balance of ecosystems, lessons I will carry forward as I continue my journey in environmental conservation. 

Malin

Work experience student