As October draws to a close, so too does my internship as Nature Reserve Ranger with Tewkesbury Nature Reserve. Being part of the Green Lung Project has been an amazing opportunity to learn so much from the TNR staff and volunteers alike. I have been very fortunate to be able to meet many members of the community who are passionate about this little nature reserve situated right in the heart of Tewkesbury.
The variety of tasks I have been up to has been huge! I have been fortunate enough to work closely with many volunteers during our volunteer work parties. Their willingness to get stuck into tasks such as reed cutting is inspiring. Together with a few volunteers known as the Heavy Mob, I have assisted with improving accessibility to the reserve from laying gravel by the bridges and gateways to installing a boardwalk to the dipping pond platform in the Southwest corner of the reserve. Not only has this given me the opportunity to improve my skills with common DIY tools, but I have also had the chance to use heavier machinery including a compaction plate and brush cutter.
Over the past 6-months, the basecamp area used for the Nature Guardians forest school has developed significantly. Led by members of the Heavy Mob, this started with the installation of several posts around the basecamp so that a shelter could be erected using a tarp. This has seen a lot of use in all types of weather, especially making a good sunshade during this year’s exceptionally hot summer! As an added bonus, the willow used to make the posts was sourced from on-site. Most recently, I have worked on designing and building an insect hotel at the basecamp for the Nature Guardians to learn all about invertebrates.
The school summer holidays saw us busy delivering sessions of the Nature Guardians forest school. Whether it was nature-based crafts, pond dipping or mini-beast hunting, the children always had an infectious enthusiasm for all the activities and highlighted the importance for getting children excited about nature from an early age. Not only was it great fun identifying invertebrates with the children, my identification skills have also improved.
Throughout my internship, I had the opportunity to design and lead a project focussed on my own interests. I chose to set up nest boxes across the reserve to help support nesting bird populations. This involved a lot of research into the species of birds that use nest boxes, how to choose the best site for a box and how to maintain and monitor them. In August, I led a workshop for people from the community to have a go at building nest boxes: the results of which are now set up across the reserve and have increased the number of nest boxes on site by 4 times! I eagerly anticipate any birds taking up residence in the 2023 nesting season.
A highlight of my internship has been managing the reserve’s wildlife cameras. This has allowed me to experience the diversity of wildlife in the reserve’s relatively urban setting; from Red Foxes and Muntjac Deer, to many species of passerine and waterbirds. I was even fortunate enough to spot an Otter on the reserve for the first time in a few years, which was quite special! Being able to share this with the public through the Weekly Wildlife Watch series of social media posts has been very fulfilling and I always enjoy reading stories of people’s own wildlife encounters in the comments. This has also given me the opportunity to learn a lot about the ecology of our local wildlife and has given me the desire to explore the subject further. Hence why I will now be studying for a Master’s in Applied Ecology at the University of Gloucestershire.
I give my sincerest thanks to the team at Tewkesbury Nature Reserve for providing this unforgettable opportunity and I look forward to seeing where the reserve goes in the future. Of course, I will still be around to lend a hand during volunteer work parties!
