Case Study: Worcester Wildlife Trust

Event: Worcester wildlife trust (work experience)

Number of pupils attending: 10

Lead staff Joe and Mary

Benchmarks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Aim of the Activity

Our Careers Lead Paula Collins arranged for our pupils to visit:

The visit is planned for students to gain experience within a workplace. Work experience is an important way for young people to gain insight into the working world. Time spent with an employer can be invaluable and can broaden young people’s knowledge of industries and sectors.

Activity

The students spent the day in Bewdley at The Devil’s Spittleful and Blackstone Farm Fields

Volunteering their own skills in helping clear areas of overgrown land. The students had an informal chat at the beginning of the session to ensure they could use the equipment correctly following their health and safety act. When we arrived at the meadow the students had to clear the footpaths of trees, weeds and bushes for members of the public to be able to walk. The large tree poopers were great for the students to be able to pull out the big bushes with long roots, the small tree poppers were ideal for little bushes and weeds. The students enjoyed this activity which led to a competition to see who could get the biggest tree with roots.

Impact of the Activity

The impact of this activity raised awareness for the students in what expectations is needed within a working environment. The students showed willingness to learn and understand the rules they had to follow. The students showed they could work together as a team and built good relationships with themselves, Joe and Mary. Joe and Mary were very impressed with how hard the students worked and they were rewarded with a walk to the side of the Safai Park and could see the Rhinos and other large animals. The students listened well to the staff leading and respected the habitats of other animals around them, they had to stay close to the pathway was it was nesting season for birds, and they didn’t want any nests disturbed. The students found spiders nests within bushes but gently placed them back not to disturb them. The students should concern for the wildlife around them.

We will be booking again to complete more work experience with the wildlife trust.