On my first day I was given a tour of the Taunton office and had a day focused on their wildlife garden and even took part in their Nature and Gardening group, this i found very interesting because it explored the feeling of relaxation and still focused on improving the trust’s wildlife garden at the same time. On this day we searched and discovered a big variety of plants and insects who settle in the garden. We drew a map of the office and the gardens around it, jotting down different plants and insects in their homes.

An example of these species are slow worms, which are quite popular I have found out with people in the office. I find slow worms really cute looking, despite the name it shocks me how it is not actually a worm, but a reptile.

On my second day I went to the East Polden nature reserve where we were met with a group of volunteers to help us stop the spread of Himalayan balsam, we walked to through a field to reach ourselves upon a breath-taking forest which all kinds of different trees and plants which spread far and wide, this day was very fun, because I personally enjoy helping nature and restoring reserves to a safe environment for insects and plants where they roam wild and free. Although the task was very tiring, I enjoyed it because I was out with volunteers who share the same common interests and goals with me.

On my third day I went to Highbridge, joined by a minibeast identification group to find out the number of bugs living in a green field with a pond next to it, on this day I discovered many different bugs and learnt how to determine the identity of a bug. An example of a bug I found was the Thick thighed flower beetle which I find is a super cool insect. After we wrapped things up with the identification group, we travelled to Berrow beach and explore through the dunes to find a pond which we would examine for 20 minutes to find out what species live there. When you are looking in a pond you do not realise how many small living creatures live in the pond and it was fascinating discovering creatures I have never seen before.

Today I am in the office working with the comms team and what they do in their field of work, they contribute to the trust massively with their websites, social media and events. An on-going event is the #30dayswild which is an event made be all the wildlife trust across the UK encouraging people to do one “wild” thing each day for 30 days which brings them closer to nature, this event runs through June and is very interesting because I like how it brings people closer to nature.

I am extremely grateful to spend my week at the Somerset Wildlife Trust because they are finding new ways to encourage people to become closer to nature and have now brought this opportunity to me which my week is almost unfortunately over.

I really enjoy doing activities like going on reserves and help nature as much as I can. I have a better chance now, because the trust has launched Wilder Youth which is a project aimed to encourage people my age to explore nature in many ways, whether its exploration or saving the land around us. I highly recommend taking part in these volunteering sessions because you meet such lovely people who can help or learn from you as you help the world around us.