Foundation students have been gaining valuable employability skills by working towards their John Muir environmental award.
The students carried out conservation tasks across three reserves in a work experience programme, delivered by Shropshire Wildlife Trust, which is aimed at giving young people the skills and confidence to enter a career in the countryside industry.
Part of our Foundation Career Development Pathway, this is an important addition to our teaching programme as it enables students to contribute to the local community while developing work based skills in a wider setting.
The students spent 13 weeks on the programme, working one day a week on the Shropshire nature reserves of Wem Moss, Melverley Meadows and Llynclys Common.
They completed a range of conservation activities including clearing overgrown vegetation, coppicing, hurdle making, felling trees, pond clearance, bushcraft and installing way marker posts. Our students told us that they thoroughly enjoyed exploring the many different aspects of the countryside industry and the range of outdoor activities that they carried out.
Said Programme leader Louise Badjie: “This great opportunity provided invaluable work experience with a regional employer. It is just one of the ways Reaseheath helps to prepare young people in their career development.
“Working with the trust has been a fabulous experience for our students. Over the year we have seen them make huge strides in their personal development and confidence.”
