The Green Connections project aims to engage community groups, small businesses, landowners and statutory organisations to take local action preventing biodiversity loss and climate change. The project aims to create a nature recovery network across Powys by advising on habitat management and nature-based solutions, as well as offering volunteering and upskilling opportunities for members of the community.

I completed my Animal Behaviour and Welfare degree at Plymouth University, with a focus on understanding and using animal behaviour as a way of solving issues within animal conservation. As part of my degree I studied many ways of using animal behaviour within the conservation sector, from understanding reasons behind human-wildlife conflict, to selecting correct individuals for release projects. Within the Industry Training Year of my degree I completed a three month work placement with the North Wales Wildlife Trust. A position that gave me experience in a wide range of Trust activities, from helping on work parties to community engagement. I also took on a self-lead research project studying Grey Seal behaviour on the North Wales coast, a project that consisted of both studying seal behaviour and engaging with the general public on the importance of not disturbing them (especially during the moulting and pupping seasons). During my placement year I also travelled to Java, Indonesia, to a wildlife rescue centre. While there I cared for a wide range of animals rescued from the exotic pet trade, took part in animal releases and aided the vets in minor procedures. During this placement I carried out my undergraduate dissertation research on their resident sun bears (not something you find often in the wilds of Wales!). Having this role gave me a greater understanding of the importance of protecting our own Welsh wildlife and supporting communities to maintain our wonderful wild landscape.

I have also just finished a Masters in Philosophy at Cardiff University, a research masters that studied the prey populations available to birds of prey within the Brecon Beacons National Park. Carrying out this research within my local area meant I gained a greater understanding of the human-wildlife dynamics in the area. This grew my enthusiasm working with the wildlife sector in my local area, helping other people to understand the important for a balance between people and nature.

Since 2021 I have been regularly volunteering for the Brecknock branch of South & West Wales Wildlife Trust on their reserve work parties. This role has already helped me to connect with a wide range of community groups that the Trust supports, something I hope I will continue to do as part of my trainee role within the Trust. Already as part of the role I have started carrying out an eDNA crayfish project within Brecknock and Radnorshire, the aim of which is to determine which rivers contain our native white-clawed crayfish, and whether any contain the detrimental crayfish plague or invasive signal crayfish. I am looking forward to completing this study and to start supporting wildlife conservation within Brecknock by encouraging and assisting others to do their bit for our local wildlife.