im 14 but.....

[leifus]

im hoping to take up a job in later life doing something related to wildlife...

i was thinking...

nature reserve warden would be quite good

something that involves walking around looking at and recording wildlife all day everyday and helping to protect it etc etc

any other suggestions?

[Darley]

Originally Posted by leifus

im hoping to take up a job in later life doing something related to wildlife...

i was thinking...

nature reserve warden would be quite good

something that involves walking around looking at and recording wildlife all day everyday and helping to protect it etc etc

any other suggestions?

Nature reserves are usually run by local authorities and I would venture to suggest that a job here would be driving around different reserves and involve litter picking, path repair, fence painting, grass cutting etc. There would also be a fair bit of admin work as you rose up the ranks. I would suggest going for a degree in some sort of bioscience, which would then enable you to bypass much of the more mundane work. Of course, you can always do important nature conservancy work on a voluntary basis and you might enjoy this more.

Best to keep your options open by getting as many quals and as much experience as possible - a good start would be to go along to your local council and ask if you can volunteer on a local reserve, and find out more about the work.

[thunder]

Nature reserves often don't have "wardens" nowadays, but "site managers". You can imagine how much useful and valuable paperwork that change in title generates!

henrya

[eeyore]

most nature reserves may be run my local authorities but most of those that have staff are not - the usual suspects are RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Natural England, and National Trust (though of course there are others.

however it is true to say that most wardening work ( i was one for over 5 years) involves rather more than strolling round recording the wildlife - there is some of that but the majority of survey work is done by consultants - wardens principal duties include practical maintenance, running volunteer working parties, patrolling the site and helping visitors, dealing with anti social behaviour (drunks, music in hides, vandalism, off road driving, egg collectors, hare coursers etc etc), and of course the ever popular paperwork.

also (although i dont want to put you off you need to have your eyes open when choosing this career) pay is poor (my first job paid a tad under £9k), hours are long, contracts are often short term, and you will need at least a years voluntary experience before you have a realistic chance of getting paid work.

[KeenTeen17]

I tried getting work experience in my local park when I was in your school year but they only accepted over 16s cos of Health and safety dribble. Don't do anything through school (useless!) have a look on your local park's bulletin board and look for days where conservation volunteers meet. or have a look and see if there are any nature clubs near you. there are 2 near me and I'm in both. most members are over 60 but who cares. I can be myself without trying to please some thug. the preston club near me gives talks every monday. I'm doing one on Dec 15th about the flowers I have seen this year.

[monkey]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

I tried getting work experience in my local park when I was in your school year but they only accepted over 16s cos of Health and safety dribble. Don't do anything through school (useless!) have a look on your local park's bulletin board and look for days where conservation volunteers meet. or have a look and see if there are any nature clubs near you. there are 2 near me and I'm in both. most members are over 60 but who cares. I can be myself without trying to please some thug. the preston club near me gives talks every monday. I'm doing one on Dec 15th about the flowers I have seen this year.

I must say reading your comments KeenTeen was lovely and I had to comment that it is so nice to read that you are not following the 'crowd' and that you are doing your own thing and something worthwhile, I live by a wood that has had a lot of problems with the local youths who use it to 'hide' in, they light huge fires to keep warm and then just leave them still alight and do things like drink in excess and other substances and then in the early hours cause vandalism, excessive noise and a ......... nuisance to everyone in the neighbourhood. Its a beautiful area and has had trees damaged and covered in tags in bright coloured paint etc. What a difference to see someone of your age who can appreciate the beauty and use it as a hobby and show others WELL DONE and your mum must be very proud even though she is wary of you handling the fungi
This also applies to the other younger WAB members and hopefully many more to come

Linda

[leifus]

Originally Posted by monkey

I must say reading your comments KeenTeen was lovely and I had to comment that it is so nice to read that you are not following the 'crowd' and that you are doing your own thing and something worthwhile, I live by a wood that has had a lot of problems with the local youths who use it to 'hide' in, they light huge fires to keep warm and then just leave them still alight and do things like drink in excess and other substances and then in the early hours cause vandalism, excessive noise and a ......... nuisance to everyone in the neighbourhood. Its a beautiful area and has had trees damaged and covered in tags in bright coloured paint etc. What a difference to see someone of your age who can appreciate the beauty and use it as a hobby and show others WELL DONE and your mum must be very proud even though she is wary of you handling the fungi
This also applies to the other younger WAB members and hopefully many more to come

Linda

[KeenTeen17]

hey thanks!