Andrew Robinson, a final year student from Stranmillis University College, writes about his experiences during his recent placement with RSPB NI.
On a blustery morning in mid January, I met up with fellow student John Hughes and headed to the headquarters of the RSPB in Northern Ireland for a two-week ‘alternative placement’.
The aim was to give us an insight into another employment area with close links to teaching and I chose the RSPB as I have a keen interest in nature and was interested to learn more about how it could relate to my career.
On arrival, we were talked through our itinerary which included experiences of many of the different roles within the organisation - ranging from school visits to scrub clearance! I had limited prior knowledge about the work of the RSPB (apart from the bird protection bit), so it was really interesting to see the scope of the charity’s work.
As part of the placement, we joined the education team on visits to Dromore and Belleek Primary Schools and St Mary's College. This allowed us to see first hand the work that the RSPB does in schools, informing both teachers and young people about the importance of giving nature a home by encouraging and supporting wildlife in their own gardens and school grounds.
We also had the chance to visit the Mournes looking for red kites, got our hands dirty at the RSPB’s Portmore Lough reserve and were involved in planning presentations and events for schools - all of which helped to strengthen our understanding and appreciation of the RSPB’s work.
The placement allowed me to see that the RSPB is about more than protecting birds. The wider conservation, policy and educational aspects show that the RSPB has a multi-dimensional strategy to help save nature.
The experiences and insights I have gained will help me teach children about the natural world around them and what they can do to help protect it for future generations.
Getting close to nature at Portmore Lough!