My life with ecology: Additional work in my second year

During my second year I have been helping out with both the College Green Team and SINNG. For the jubilee the Green Team organised a tree planting day at college with local Scout Groups (http://www.newquayvoice.co.uk/photos.asp?catID=14249) which I got to help teach the children how to plant the trees. We were lucky and it only rained a little that day.

With SINNG I have had the chance to survey Zebra Mussels and Alpine Newts, pull Himalayan balsam with the National Trust and take part in public awareness days. My course finished at the end of May so I spent my June going to events and schools educating people about invasive species in the UK. With SINNG I was able to become a STEM Ambassador and so was CRB checked so I could work with children. I am also planning to visit another school this month. Work with SINNG has included explaining to children the difference between invasive and native species, showing the invasive pond plants and the older children get to identify them and getting them to identify invertebrates from our college pond and explaining how they are being effected by invasive species. We have also been explaining the importance of biosecurity around ponds.

I have enjoyed my work with SINNG and although I am moving colleges to do my final year I am planning to carry on helping them out with events. Also I am currently planning my dissertation which is going to be on Alpine Newts, this project will be for SINNG as these newts are one of their target species so I will be working with them to collect my data and continuing surveying the sites.

Events and Schools I have attended with SINNG;