After 14 months on the Natural Talent scheme, it is time to say goodbye – this will be my last ever blog with The Conservation Volunteers. There are so many words I could use to some-up the whole experience, and ‘life-changing’ is definitely one of them. I can honestly say that my time on the Natural Talent scheme has truly been the best 14 months of my life so far! Rarely do you get an opportunity to dedicate an entire year (or more) of your life to doing something you enjoy, while still earning an income!
There is so much that I have done, so many places I have visited, so many people I have met during my traineeship, that it’s impossible to mention everything. As a bit of fun, I’ve created a map showing some the places I’ve visited during my traineeship – it’s quite impressive.
Look where Natural Talent has taken me over the past 14 months!
There are so many people/organisations I would like to thank for making my traineeship possible, but I would particularly like to mention the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, The Conservation Volunteers and National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. Without these 3 organisation, my wonderful traineeship on colliery spoil habitats would not have existed.
I’ll leave you all with a selection of pictures taken throughout the course of my traineeship – I hope you enjoy them. I would like to wish all my 2015 Natural Talent colleagues – Ceri Watkins, Anna Hart, Chris Jones, Frances Stoakley and Susan Miller – all the very best for the future…please keep in touch! I would also like to wish all the current trainees all the very best for their traineeship too, I know you will all LOVE IT! And how could I forget John McFarlane – without you, the Natural Talent scheme just wouldn’t be the same…cheers buddy.
This traineeship is the start of something big in my life. I am looking forward to a long career in the conservation sector, a career that hopefully involves lots of entomology. Thanks to a contract from Rhondda Cynon Taff Country Borough Council, I will be continuing my studies of colliery spoil tips in 2016. If you would like to follow my work, please follow me on Twitter @olds_liam or @collieryspoil.
Thanks all!
Hwyl Fawr
Liam
Behind-the-scenes of Natural History Museum with Lorna (Natural Talent – Pollinators of Created Meadows)
Natural Talent Trainee’s (with museum mentor’s) at Verrall Society of Entomologist’s supper in London
Out with Ben Rowson (National Museum of Wales) and Imogen Cavadino (Natural Talent – Non-marine Molluscs)
John McFarlane on Gelli Tips overlooking Rhondda Valleys
Natural Talent crew in Stirling
Natural Talent entomology trainee’s in Stirling
Exploring lichens on the twin tips with Frances Stoakley (Natural Talent – Lichens as air quality indicator’s) and Juliet Bailey (British Lichen Society)
Going underground at Hopewell Colliery, Forest of Dean
Using a beating tray to find invertebrates in Forest of Dean
At the Linnean Society of London for Invertebrate Link Symposium 2015
At Northern United Colliery, Forest of Dean, the last deep mine to close in the area
My article on colliery spoil tips published in the Welsh wildlife magazine – Natur Cymru
Out in the field with Mike Wilson (National Museum of Wales) and Carys (Nuffield student) collecting Hemiptera at Albion Tip (Cilfynydd).
Out in the field with Mike Wilson and Will (work experience student) at Dare Valley Country Park
Recording bumblebees with County Ecologist Richard Wistow at Dare Valley Country Park.
Fallin Bing, near Stirling
With Anna Hart (Natural Talent – Entomology) at Oxford University Natural History Museum
Natural Talent entomology crew at Oxford University Natural History Museum
Looking for invertebrates with Anna at Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire.