Share

The VIP treatment 

Flower crab spider by Issy Troth

Issy discovers a behind-the-scenes benefits of being a trainee...

The great thing about being a trainee is getting to see some places that are out of bounds to the public. These completely undisturbed plots have a very special charm - some are large and home to a variety of wildlife and some are only an acre or two. Recently, Ruthie and me visited one of these small nature reserves with Harry Green, a lifelong naturalist and trustee of the Trust, and Tony Simpson, the moth recorder for Worcestershire and all-round insect expert.

A lot of the small no access sites are closed off because the area is simply too sensitive to have regular disturbance from people, dog-walkers etc. - being given the opportunity to take a look around these precious places is one of the massive bonuses to being a trainee.

Woman looking at a frog that's sitting in a net, people in the background

The afternoon consisted of setting up a noble chafer trap that uses pheromones to attract the beetles to a beaker. As Harry is chief noble chafer hunter for the Trust he knew where would be the best spot to place the trap, which he decided was over an old rotting oak tree stump. Once the trap was set up we explored the plot, admiring the beautiful wildlife there. A friendly frog hopped over to us, we also spotted a crab spider on an orchid and there were also lots of very cute nymph crickets hopping about.It’s days like this that don’t involve digging and hammering that really stick in my mind. Being given Harry and Tony’s time to ask questions and practice our ID skills encourages me to look more and take time to appreciate the little things that are all around us.

Roesel's bush cricket nymph - long antennae, long hind legs, greenish 'u' behind head by Issy Troth

Roesel's bush cricket nymph by Issy Troth

That’s one of the great things about admin days as a trainee, they give you time in the week in between the big jobs to see sites you may not have otherwise seen and to meet up with people like Harry and Tony to talk to and get experience from. I look forward to spending more sunny afternoons strolling through reserves taking note of all the small things and, of course, soaking up the vast wealth of knowledge held by the Trust's volunteers, members and contacts.

Unfortunately, no noble chafers blessed us with their presence this time but they’ve done a very good job of luring me into looking for them again!

 

Issy Troth is on a placement year from university where she studies Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science. She has previously volunteered with Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre and the Trust and is enjoying putting her learning into practice! 

Related blog posts