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Brushing up on skills

Matt learning some new brush-cutting skills

Meet Matt, our newest conservation trainee and learn more about what he has been up to in his first month...

Hello! I’m Matt, one of the new conservation trainees.

When I think about how I got to where I am, I can kind of thank the pandemic. It allowed me to really slow down, take a step back and have a good think. Back then I was just finishing my first year of sixth form in 2020. At that time, I had no idea about what my direction would be after college. All I did know was that I wasn’t completely sure about going to university. As I was undecided, I thought I’ll try to find my own way forward and figure out what I wanted to do along the way.

What gave me the idea of environmental conservation? I can follow the beginnings of it to secondary school. I had picked fine art for one of my GCSEs and really enjoyed painting and drawing landscapes. In this I found myself developing a deep appreciation for the environment and all the colours and beauty to be seen in nature. Growing up I’ve been on many family walks in the countryside and explored the UK’s national parks, which I continue to enjoy. I really love getting out into the hills whatever the weather, taking in the atmosphere, the dramatic landscapes and taking photos that I might want to go back and paint. My love for the outdoors and the environment grew and I knew that if I could, I would devote my career to learning more about and caring for the wonder that is our natural world.

After finishing my A-levels, the state the pandemic left things in meant it was difficult for me to find opportunities as soon as I had liked. I decided to take a year to save money and get experience working a part-time job as well as learning to drive. During this period, I had heard of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and knew that you could volunteer with them - I thought that this would be a great way to gain conservation skills. So I got in contact and joined the roving volunteers. One morning in late August, I set off to help pull ragwort and Himalayan balsam at the Upton Warren wetland reserve. Before long, I was getting to know the regular volunteers and all the reserves officers and had already learnt so much.

It was through the volunteers and the reserves officers that I heard about the traineeship. After a conversation with Andy (our trainee team leader), I knew this would be a great first step towards a career in conservation. So in the early spring I applied and I’m so glad I did!

A brush-cutter engine on a table

Looking at the engine of a brush-cutter by Matt Martin

My first month has flown by and I’ve loved it so far. Every day is different and a chance to learn something new. Recently I’ve been trained up on using the brushcutters. My first encounter with a brushcutter was on a trip to the Lake District about five years ago. We were on a walk as a family and I saw someone on an overgrown slope taking back some encroaching bramble. It was a gorgeous day, I just thought what a fantastic job this person had. I’m so excited to have been trained up on one now.

Before we got hands on, we had to be clued up on all the health and safety bits - best to get through that before anything else! Once everyone could be trusted, we ventured into the workshop to learn about the workings and maintenance of the machine. As things don’t always go smoothly, we also ran through problems we may encounter and how to fix them.

The following day, before we jumped straight into things, we had a quick revision on the health and safety. We also looked at the different types of risk assessment and which one is suitable for different situations. Most importantly, we considered wildlife and habitats. Then we got started with the practical work. Our task was to tidy up the overflow car park at Lower Smite Farm, which had started to become overgrown with nettles and bramble.

Matt stood with a brush-cutter with a road to the left

Matt learning some new brush-cutting skills

After some lunch, I set out excitably with our group and trainer Pete to put theory into practice. I wasn’t totally confident at first, using this sort of machinery was completely new to me. I steadily grew more confident with guidance from Pete and soon got into the swing of it. We all had the chance to try both electric and petrol engine machines, as well as the different blades and head attachments. We went over different techniques and efficient ways of cutting so as not to get tired too quickly. Before long the job was finished and we were all happy to find out we had passed our assessment!

I am still at the very start of my conservation journey and I look forward to getting more experience with tools that help to care for our environment, wildlife and habitats. I’m hoping that by the end of my traineeship, I will have acquired a wide range of skills and experience to help me move forward in developing a career in environmental conservation.

Having gained an appreciation for the natural world through painting and countryside walks, Matt was inspired to consider a role in conservation. He is enjoying his traineeship so far and looks forward to learning new skills and gaining more practical experience.

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