Apprentice’s May Blog

Apprentice update, from river surveys to woodland skills and heritage projects

This month has seen our apprentices getting hands-on with a wide range of practical conservation, countryside and heritage activities. From monitoring freshwater pearl mussels in the River Ehen and carrying out woodland management work, to helping prepare a historic mining tub display and building a picnic bench from reclaimed materials, each project has provided valuable opportunities to develop new skills and gain real-world experience. Along the way, apprentices have worked alongside experienced staff and contractors, learning through doing and contributing to projects that benefit both people and nature.

Georgia on her surveying day

Georgia

This month I finally had the chance to dust off the electrofishing kit for the first time since last September. It was one of the highlights of my apprenticeship so far, and I had been looking forward to getting back into the rivers, nets in hand, once again.

I was lucky enough to head out with Phil and Ruthie to monitor freshwater pearl mussel reproduction in the River Ehen. Learning about the mussels’ unique life cycle was fascinating. Adult females release microscopic larvae, known as glochidia, into the water, which attach themselves to the gills of passing juvenile salmonids when they are inhaled. They remain there, feeding and developing, until they are ready to drop into the riverbed the following year.

Our day involved sampling salmonids and checking their gills for different levels of glochidia, helping us build a clearer picture of how the mussel population is doing.

I was also fortunate to observe a quadrat survey to count and measure both adult and juvenile mussels. This survey takes place only around once every ten years, so it was a real privilege to be involved and to handle mussels ranging from one to 100 years old.

Tree felling for the new forest school

Rowan

This month, I carried out tree felling and clearing work to help create a new area for the forest school. We also thinned some trees to open up the space, making it safer and more accessible for children to play and learn outdoors.

I really enjoyed working alongside the contractor and learning more about woodland management throughout the project. It was rewarding to help improve the area and see the difference the work made. I’m really looking forward to being involved in similar projects again in the future.

Brooke helping to find a permanent home for the restored mining tub

Brooke

I helped make the concrete shuttering for a restored mining tub that’s going on display at Walkmill. Before we started, the contractors on site had prepared the area by making a path and getting the ground ready where the tub is going to be placed.

Once the shuttering was built, we started mixing concrete using a mixer. It took a lot more concrete than I expected, so we ended up doing lots of mixes throughout the day. After pouring the concrete, we used a float to smooth the top surface. This took quite a while as we wanted to get it as level and smooth as possible. It was really satisfying to see the finished result once it had all been smoothed out.

It was good to be involved in this project because the restored mining tub is an important part of the site's heritage and history. Knowing that it will be on display for visitors to see made the work feel worthwhile. I really enjoyed being part of the process and seeing the base go from a wooden frame to a finished concrete pad ready for the mining tub to be installed.

Daniel constructing the bench

Daniel

On the last college day we had to improvise building a picnic bench using old scrap wood. We were split into two teams and although it wasn’t a ‘who can build the better bench challenge’ it sure felt like it!

Firstly, we had to get rid of all the old nails and screws in the wood, then give all the pieces a good clean. We did this by using a grinder. All of this was great experience because a lot of us hadn’t used these tools before. We all got assigned to our little jobs in our groups and helped each other along the way. Teamwork was a big part of this. We all communicated well and helped when we struggled.

The hardest part about this was probably not having a sufficient plan at the start. But honestly by the end it turned out great and somehow managed to hold all six of us (just about).