To start, hello! I am Rachel and I am joining MWT for a year as a part of my undergraduate degree in Ecology and Conservation at Nottingham Trent University. Lucky enough to be born and raised on the Island, I have a real love for nature. However, it was not until recently that I realised it was what I wanted to for the rest of my life, so it has been quite challenging and a real jump in at the deep end! I have been loving my course so far, and my time with MWT so far is making me very excited to finish and begin my career and make a difference in nature.
My first month as an Intern
It has been a whole month now since I began my internship with Manx Wildlife Trust, and what a month it has been!
So, at the start of September, I met the team and I have been very busy since. I have gotten involved with a few different projects including the Ramsey Forest project where I have been assisting with the brand new ‘Logstickle Course’ (which is due to be open to the public in the new year!).
I also met some of our marvellous Midweek Muckers and Ballachurry Bashers. They are such a lovely, smiley group of people and I cannot wait to get out with them on the reserves more often.
I have to say that my favourite day so far has to be my trip to visit the seal volunteers on the Calf. It was certainly a day that I won’t forget, with glorious weather and a minke whale popping up to wave as we travelled there in the morning.
Seal pups spotted whilst out with the Calf Seal volunteers during my visit.
I have also gotten stuck in with some desk-based work, such as learning how data can be inputted, and digitising old maps so that they are more accessible.
Just in case anyone reading this is thinking about jumping in at the deep end like I did, just go for it! I have come so far in the past 2 years since I started my journey into the world of conservation and I am looking forward to seeing how my skills continue to progress over the year, hopefully taking you with me through monthly blogs (saying it here to hold myself accountable!). I also have an Instagram page called @rachels_placement if you would like to be updated more frequently.
If there are any budding ecologists out there who would like to contact me and ask any questions about my time on placement, or experience at university on an environmental science course, please send me an email at rachelsmith@mwt.im.