My first day mainly consisted of meeting everyone at the Trust and filling out paper work so I didn’t really need waterproof trousers and hiking boots. I'd got them with me, though, because you never know! From that one false start, I have realised that what you take with you for a day of conservation work really depends on what you are doing and what the weather is like. For example, it may seem obvious but if it’s raining and you’re working on a wetland site, you’ll need waterproofs and potentially a change of clothes if it’s really bad (something I learnt the hard way).

At the opposite end of the spectrum, I have realised the importance of taking lots of water with you on hot days. Apparently the normal amount of water you should consume is about two litres but on really hot days where you are working and sweating - and all the lovely things that come with warm weather - it is about double that! I also learnt another obvious lesson during summer - balancing the necessity of 'protective' clothing (eg against brambles) against the  wearing of too many layers in 30 degree heat.  Sun cream is a must, I even wore it through autumn and winter just as a precaution.

I am still on a personal journey when it comes to knowing what to take and what not to take and it has all been a serious learning curve. I’ve had fun, worked hard and learnt lots of new things and although being organised is one of my strengths, I have learnt that sometimes there is such thing as being too prepared - like taking waterproofs with me when I am obviously not going to need them!

Something that has helped me a lot is having a car. I had been really struggling with not having a car in order to get to some of our nature reserves during the restrictions that Covid placed on us so I was delighted to pass my driving test about a month ago. My car is a moving storage unit where I keep all my boots and extra clothes so I don’t have to worry about fitting everything into my bag or carrying it around with me. It's helpful because when you are going to a reserve that has limited access, you have to carry all your tools and materials with you as well as all your own belongings.

I am trying to apply everything I’ve learnt in my year's traineeship into my everyday life, like something as simple as going away on holiday for a week. Questioning myself on whether I actually need to take loads of ‘stuff’ with me or whether I just need to pack the essentials. I’m getting there slowly!  

An original member of our Outdoor Origins youth volunteer group, Amy Fleming loves everything wild. She is hoping that her traineeship will lead to a career in conservation where she'll be able to make a difference for our wildlife and environment.