Hello, I’m Gill, one of the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Trainee's and I live in the wonderful Peak District.
Before the Traineeship I had a career in teaching adults and after that a few office and retail jobs which fit around my personal circumstances and other responsibilities at the time. All the working days I would be longing to get outside either to follow pursuits and get active or just give the garden a bash and be in the elements!
In February 2021 I was made COVID redundant and simultaneously my personal circumstances changed. Once over the shock I realised I had a perfect opportunity to reshape my life and make it look and feel how I wanted.
This would be outside, physically active, working with and for people and nature and supporting the local environment. This would be the conservation sector then - and I would have to start at the beginning. My transferable skills are around facilitation, skills tutoring and engaging with people but I knew nobody and had no experience in the environmental sector.
I did all the free training, reading and job applying I possibly could. Having gathered a lot of information about long and infeasible environmental science/conservation courses and after 7 months of job applications leading nowhere, I was becoming despondent and a sinking feeling crept in.
Then I found the Working for Nature Traineeship and applied whilst trying to push away thoughts that I would never get on it. The John Muir Award was part of the application process and I loved doing it. It showcased that everything I do in my day to day life and even on holiday is about the environment, caring for it, enjoying it and learning about it.
Four months later I had been offered a place on the Traineeship and hadn’t felt that good about my working life for a long time. I knew it was going to be brilliant because I love being in rain and hail (we started in January), using big tools and doing something positive in habitat creation and restoration.
"A lot has happened in a short time and it has probably been one of my best ever years."
I gained skills in coppicing, stonewalling, hedge-laying and fencing. Got introduced to cattle management and handling, was bowled over by GCN and dormice surveying, got confused and then some clarity on ID skills for trees and wildflowers. It’s been great fun working with volunteer task parties, driving big vehicles and feeling like you are part of a team of like-minded people.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust staff have been welcoming and supportive and very pleased to let me investigate my areas of interest which have been many! I had a Supervisor and a Mentor so there is always support or guidance when needed. The Working for Nature Traineeship is a fabulous way to get into the sector. You get a qualification and lots of practical experience for your CV.
Completion of the Diploma and the year is a first step on a new journey and I’m looking forward to the rest of my newfound career. Like a new shoot in spring, I’m looking forward to continuing my growth, development and enjoyment from such a fulfilling and worthwhile sector which brings people and nature together - to nurture, flourish and hopefully sustain in a healthy progressive way. I’m so pleased to be a part of it and would encourage anyone interested to keep going and keep trying even when it seems impossible. Everybody’s journey will look different, but you definitely can do it!
