18 December 2008

Ryan Ings completes placement with Wildlife Trust

By Ryan Ings, Antrim, FdSc Rural & Countryside Management Student, Greenmount Campus

As part of my Foundation degree (FdSc) course in Rural & Countryside Management (RCM) I had to complete a work placement module. I chose to complete my placement with the Ulster Wildlife Trust (UWT) as I’m interested in habitat management and species identification. My work placement was mainly based at the Ecos centre in Ballymena, working with Cliff Henry the UWT Reserve Manager. Cliff was extremely helpful in feeding my appetite for identifying the different species of wildflowers, butterflies and birds found at Ecos. I was given the opportunity to work with volunteers and other students with a common goal to improve the habitats around the Ecos and learn more about the environment, by undertaking surveys of butterflies, birds, and vegetation and undertaking practical conservation duties.

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Ryan spent his work placement with the Ulster Wildlife Trust at the Ecos Centre

Kiwi Experiences for Greenmount Campus Student on Work Placement

Paul Wallwin, from Bangor describes his work placement in New Zealand as part of his Foundation degree (FdSc) in Rural and Countryside Management (RCM) course at Greenmount Campus

Greetings from New Zealand! I am currently working in Boundary Stream Conservation Reserve, Napier, North Island as a Department of Conservation international volunteer. At Boundary Stream my work is based on the conservation of endangered species, including forest geckos, kiwis and Kakabeak (Clianthus) - all of which are native. Within this 800 hectare conservation site, the staff are restoring the ecosystem to what it was like before humans arrived. This involves culling pests such as rodents, weasels and deer on a regular basis, along with monitoring and tagging endangered birds, reptiles and invertebrates.

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Paul Wallwin undertakes bird ringing on a Kiwi, an endangered species in New Zealand

Work placement in the land of the Vikings

Jonathan Kearney, from Limavady describes his work placement as part of his Foundation degree (FdSc) Rural & Countryside Management (RCM) at Greenmount campus.

Hallaoch Välkommen! Just writing a short note to let you all know about my work placement as part of my FdSc RCM in Sweden over the summer months. As I want to pursue a career in forestry or woodland management, Sweden was a top choice as it has billions of hectares of woodland and, for personal reasons, my fiancé lives there!

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Jonathan Kearney outside the Djurgarden National City Park, Sweden.

Squaring up to Squirrels to Busy Bog Butterflies - A tale of two placements

By Lisa O’Grady, Thurles, Co.Tipperary, FdSc Rural and Countryside Management student at Greenmount Campus.

As part of my studies on the Foundation degree (FdSc) Rural and Countryside Management (RCM) course at Greenmount Campus, I undertook two work placements this summer. The first was an Environmental Education / Gardening Children’s Project with Dublin City Council which aimed at getting city children in tune with nature. The second was field surveying with an environmental consultant on two projects, one in Donegal and the other in Fermanagh.

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Lisa O’Grady and local residents celebrate the completion of the Wildlife Garden project.