Fresh from graduating from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, I recently spent four weeks on a work placement with the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust team in Devizes. Coming into the role, I wanted to understand how a modern conservation charity operates across both land and community. What I found was an interesting mix of hands-on habitat restoration, public engagement, and crucial behind-the-scenes climate accounting.

Restoring Flow with the Water Team

A core pillar of the Trust’s mission is landscape recovery. Out in Trowbridge with the water team, we rolled up our sleeves to clear footpaths of fallen branches and build in-stream woody structures. These features do double duty: they create varied habitats for aquatic wildlife and constrict water channels to boost flow, and remove pollutants.

Working side by side with local volunteers brought home the dual value of practical conservation. Improving river health and habitat resilience goes hand in hand with boosting the health and wellbeing of the people giving their time outdoors.

Connecting People of All Ages to Nature

Conservation succeeds only when communities are invested in it. During my placement, I joined students from the Dyson school at the Lower Moor Farm nature reserve. We spent the day clearing pathways, painting a new building, constructing a children’s play area, and carving wooden flutes from local timber, rounding off the session with a stop at the Trust’s Dragonfly Café. For many of the students, stepping away from their desks into the woodland provided a much-needed mental reset.

A few days later, I joined the team at Melksham Forest Community Centre for a family fun day. Watching children build dens from branches and paint with earth pigments showed how simple, tactile outdoor experiences can spark an early appreciation for the natural world.

Crunching the Numbers for Net Zero

Back at the Devizes office, I spent much of my time compiling the Trust’s 2025–26 carbon footprint assessment. Sifting through operational spreadsheets to calculate our total greenhouse gas emissions might feel distant from the riverbank, but carbon accounting only matters when it drives tangible change.

Alongside the data synthesis, energy surveys carried out at the Brockbank Centre provided a clear roadmap of immediate efficiency upgrades to cut electricity usage and lower building emissions.

Looking Ahead

Since arriving in Devizes, I have experienced a range of activities the WWT engages in, and I've been inspired to explore and appreciate nature more. I've also been reminded of the importance of protecting our natural environment as well as adapting to and mitigating climate change.