Diary of an Intern

by Huw Williams

Hi I am Huw, a Zoology with Entomology undergraduate student that has just completed a forty-six-week internship with Nattergal.

My fascination with Nature and conservation started as a child loving the outdoors and taking an interest in insects, initially ants and then later butterflies, which was what then led me on to studying Entomology at Harper Adams University.

As part of my degree I had to undertake a placement year in a relevant industry, which has been has been an amazing opportunity. During the placement, and thanks to the support of Nattergal Staff - especially the Boothby Wildland team and my line manager Lloyd - I have learnt a huge variety of skills. These have included wildlife surveying, community engagement and practical skills such as using a strimmer, building public footbridges, and winch training. I have also learnt valuable workplace skills such as time management, team working and organising myself.

Some of my proudest achievements were leading a community butterfly walk, helping to build the log shed for the campsite, creating hibernaculum’s with volunteers, and sowing wildflower seeds.

I have had many amazing wildlife experiences when at Boothby wildland including watching a female Hen Harrier hunt over the field at the back of the lodge for many weeks during winter. Another wonderful experience were the barn owls that have been on the site with several individuals flying past the lodge farmhouse in the early morning and evening. The staff at Boothby wildland were very excited when we had a polecat on a camera trail. These experience have shown that the recovery of the land is working and that species are returning to the landscape.