Skills for the Future

Four new eager, experienced and environmentally friendly conservation trainees have fledged and flown the coop at Dorset Wildlife Trust, ready to face the world of employment with a list of qualifications and skills they could have only dreamed of. These fresh faced trainees are among the first in the UK to complete their training under the Heritage Lottery Fund initiative.

An amazing experience

Megan Beckett, John Clode. Becky Hewins and Jess Tilley joined Dorset Wildlife Trust for a year as trainees to learn a variety of conservation skills from surveying rare reptiles, getting a chainsaw licence, and even helping with lambing on an organic farm. All four trainees had always dreamed of working in nature conservation. Now, with the Heritage Lottery fund’s ‘Skills for the Future’ project, Dorset Wildlife Trust has been able to help make their dreams come true.

Megan Beckett said: “It has been amazing, I’ve done lots of volunteering work before, but never with a Wildlife Trust.  It has been so interesting to see how things are done, and to learn such a broad spectrum of skills. It has been a real positive experience for me and I definitely suggest it for people in the future.”

Get involved with conservation

Steve Davis, Volunteering Programme Manager at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “The aim of this project is to enable more young people to gain the skills required for a career in conservation.  It is particularly satisfying to have worked with these guys for the year and to see them progress.  It’s only been a few days since they finished and two of them are already in paid employment in the conservation sector.”

-ENDS-
Notes to Editor

About Dorset Wildlife Trust  www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk 
Working for a secure future for Dorset’s wildlife enriching the quality of life
Dorset Wildlife Trust works to champion wildlife and natural places, to engage and inspire people and to promote sustainable living.  Founded in 1961, DWT is now the largest voluntary nature conservation organisation in Dorset, with over 25,000 members and over 40 nature reserves.  Most are open daily and there are visitor centres providing a wealth of wildlife information at Brooklands Farm, Lorton Meadows, Kingcombe Meadows and Brownsea Island Nature Reserves, The Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and the Urban Wildlife Centre at Upton Heath Nature Reserve.  DWT plays a key role in dealing with local environmental issues and leads the way in establishing the practices of sustainable development and engaging new audiences in conservation, particularly in the urban areas.
Blog  /wildlife-matters-blog.html

From left to right ­ Steve Davis Dorset Wildlife Trust Volunteering Programme Manager, John Clode, Jess Tilley, Megan Beckett, Becky Hewins and Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Chairman Nigel Webb ­ Dorset Wildlife Trust

Jess sends sparks flying building a bridge at Tadnoll and Winfrith ­ John Clode