Hi Everyone – Sorry for the delay but I have been super busy this past month or so!
Since I last wrote a blog I have completed various training courses and inductions to help us settle in to the role and prepare us for the remaining 8 months of the placement. In the last four weeks we’ve had training in safeguarding, risk assessments, education and Volunteer Shoresearch Leader training to help us plan and run events. We also had a two day Outdoor First Aid course to ensure we are prepared for anything!
In the glorious weather we had time to take an afternoon off to go for a swim in Loughrigg Tarn which was refreshing and one weekend we walked up the Old Man of Coniston.
At the beginning of May we had a team building camping trip over on Piel Island which is a little Island just off Walney which we were able to walk over to at low tide. Our guide for the walk was a man called John who had 60 years worth of experience so filled us with facts and information as we crossed the sand.
When we reached Piel we had a mini tour before being left to enjoy a meal at the pub called the Ship Inn in which the Landlord (aka the King of Piel) is one of only a handful of people who live permanently on the Island. After a chilly night in our tents we returned back to Roa Island on the ‘Ferry’ as a well bonded team!
In mid May we were toured around North Walney which is a National Nature Reserve just north of South Walney where I will staying this winter. It was a beautiful place made up of sand dunes, salt marches and heaths which were covered in wild flowers.
My fox monitoring project was kick started later in May at Hodbarrow and I am pleased to report that the terns are doing well so far and there wasn’t any signs of fox presence! We have also carried out our first survey with North West IFCA which involved a 5am mussel survey which was surprising good fun despite the early start. We were also interviewed and filmed for the local news station to promote our placement which was embarrassing but an experience!
Mum and Dad have also been to visit and we went to Foulshaw Moss to see the Ospreys which hatched a week or so back and can be viewing on the webcam. On my main page I uploaded some links to other webcams and past blogs I have written
Last week we were in Northern Ireland to help out the Ulster Wildlife Trainees at the Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival. On Wednesday we had the day off so we enjoyed a walk along the coast stopping off to swim along the way.
On Thursday we were shown around the Queen’s University laboratory and taken on a boat trip on Strangford Lough and saw lots of birds and seals! We spent Friday and Saturday on Rathlin Island helping with the stall and interacting with the public – we even managed to sneak to look at the puffins at the RSPB centre.
On the ferry trip home on Sunday we were treated to a Minke whale sighting in the Irish Sea just giving me a gentle reminder of why I love my job!
Now things have died down slightly (and the real work starts) I’ll try update this more often and fingers crossed this weather stays beautiful!
Until next time,
Jade
Jades Blog 