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My placement experience with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales

Megan tells us about her recent work placement and shares her favourite parts of the week spent with the team.

Me and another undergraduate Biology student, Erin, recently spent a week on placement with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. I chose the Wildlife Trust for its focus on protecting local wildlife and connecting people with nature.

Our first day started with a visit to the office at Parc Slip Nature Reserve in Bridgend. We met the team and joined their weekly meeting. It was a great way to learn about the exciting projects and daily life at the Trust. Our first task was to brainstorm ideas for the 30 Days Wild campaign. This campaign inspires people to find ways to connect with nature throughout June. Later in the afternoon, we took a tour of Parc Slip, and I was amazed to see Adders and Slow Worms basking in the sun, and Buzzards flying above the fields.

A group of people fixing a fence along a woodland path

©Megan Amer

Over the next few days, we joined a volunteer group at Castle Woods in Llandeilo. There, we helped fix a wooden fence along a woodland path. We also assisted in litter-picking at Taf Fechan in Merthyr Tydfil. I enjoyed taking part in hands-on conservation work and seeing how volunteers protect local areas.

A large waterfall flowing in a dramatic landscape.

©Megan Amer

We also visited Carmel Nature Reserve, Melincwrt Waterfalls Nature Reserve, and Craig Cilhendre Woods. We took photos of each reserve. This helps visitors know what to expect and makes the reserves more accessible. Melincwrt Waterfalls was my favourite place we visited. There was something really magical about the ancient woodland and the eighty-foot-high waterfall. It was easy to see how places like this offer valuable habitat for woodland birds, ferns, and mosses.

On my final day, we joined a meeting where all the Wildlife Trusts in Wales discussed communications. It was a great insight into how campaigns and messages are developed and shared within a wider network.

Overall, this placement was a fantastic experience. It gave me a much deeper appreciation of the people, skills, and passion involved in protecting wildlife. It also showed me that conservation is not just about managing habitats, but also about inspiring people to value and protect them.

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