Hello readers (whoever you are). This is my last ever blog and I’m feeling a bit melancholic. When I started my bog apprenticeship 13 months ago, I felt like I had a very long stretch of time ahead of me, but it’s really flown by and now I find myself venturing out into the job market again (albeit with much better prospects). I have enjoyed myself immensely, overall. I won’t fib, however, as I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs over the past year, as I’m sure the other apprentices have too. To quote the lovely Lesley Gregg (ex-Headwaters apprentice), “You get out what you put in”, and never has this been more apparent to me. Right now I’m trying not to dwell on missed opportunities but to focus on the positive points of my experiences. I’ll run through my best bits to give you a taste of what I mean (in no particular order).
- For me one of my best experiences was finding a rare species of spider at one of my lowland raised bog sites. The Bog sun-jumper spider (Heliophanus dampfi) was previously known from three sites in the UK, and I found it thriving at Wester Moss SSSI during a Bio Blitz in July. I got the pleasure of seeing my find in print (local newspaper) and on the BBC News website. Read more about it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-14215583
- Second on my list of highlights is my trip to Northern Irelandin late August to spend time assisting the fantastic Catherine Bertrand, Senior Regional Officer for Butterfly Conservation in NI. We spent eight days together, surveying for Butterflies and moths and attending events. I have never met someone so full of energy, passion and wisdom. Catherine truly inspired me and helped me to improve my confidence massively.
- Some of my most enjoyable times last year were spent on Field Studies Council training courses. I spent a week in Scotland studying Sphagnum mosses and a week in Yorkshire looking at Bogs andFens. Both times I learnt masses, made friends and enjoyed breathtaking parts of the British countryside. Worth every minute!
- In the summer I attended several large conferences about peatland conservation. I got to “network” with experts and policy-makers and even had a chance to impress some of them during a tour of Wester Moss SSSI inStirling. I felt very proud to have been part of something much bigger than my own work.
- I never thought I’d be any good at public speaking, and actively avoided it in the past. Despite my fears, I managed to deliver several talks to large groups in my own quirky style. I got loads of great feedback and it really boosted my courage. I even got a few laughs (not “at me”, but “with me”).
- I helped to develop a project that aims to restore lowland raised bogs in central Scotland (for now, affectionately named “SpagBog – or Slamannan Plateau Action Group for Bogs”). This is work in progress but it’s really helped me gain skills that will be very useful in my future career. Fingers crossed that the project gets some funding.
- One of the most rewarding (and useful) end-points of my apprenticeship is the dawning on me that I actually know A LOT about bogs. I know that this knowledge is committed to heart and will be a life-long passion of mine. I have even moved next door to one of the largest in-tact bogs in Britain!!!
- A fantastic perk has been acquiring my very own microscope through the scheme. This means that I can continue my invertebrate ID work and really improve my skills and collect many more biological records for years to come.
So what now? Well, I’m still coming into the office in Stirling once a week to help Buglife out and to finish off loose-ends. I’ve also been enjoying some time off and have been sorting out my garden, knitting and going for (very) long walks with my dog. I am just about to start an exciting new job as an ecological consultant with a local consultancy, and will be carrying out bat, mammal, bird and Phase 1 surveys all over Scotland. I can’t wait to start!
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge my colleagues and friends at BTCV, Buglife, Butterfly Conservation Scotland, Plantlife, North Lanarkshire, Stirling and Falkirk Councils and all the volunteers and un-affiliated individuals I have worked with in the past year. You are amazing, inspiring, wonderful, friendly, and passionate and have brought me so much joy as well as support and friendship. I hope to work with as many of you in the future as I can. You fly the flag for conservation in Scotland. In particular, a massive thank you is due to my line manager, John McFarlane, and my two mentors, Craig Macadam and Paul Kirkland. You have changed my life.
Cheers everyone,
Daisy
