It has been a wee while since we last posted from Forsinard, but we have been extremely busy over the last few months and now that the spring is here (mm...tempting fate!?) we will be bringing you more stories from the far north. We have been seeing lots of our breeding birds arriving back including; greenshank, golden plover, curlew, pied wagtails, lapwings, meadow pipits, skylarks and today I noticed our first pair of reed bunting. Another new arrival is our new Information & Education Assistant for 2014 Anna Jemmett. I have asked her to introduce herself, so here she is....
My name is Anna and I am the new Information and Education Assistant here at Forsinard. I have been asked to introduce myself so that you will know a little bit about me, in case you see me this summer at Forsinard or at any of the events we are hoping to run in Sutherland and Caithness.
I was brought up in Ross-shire on my family farm outside Alness. Growing up, I spent most of my time gudling about outside and from a young age I was interested in the nature around me. I am lucky to have a family that love nature and my passion was always encouraged. I hope that this is something that I will be able to do for other people in the future!
I studied a BSc Hons in Zoology at the University of Aberdeen, starting my degree in 2007 and graduating in 2011. During my second year, I was lucky enough to be able to start a summer placement at the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre. After falling in love with the area and the animals, this six week placement turned into eight weeks and then into a reoccurring trip made every holiday from University (and after).
Conservation as a career is competitive, so since graduating, I have tried to gain as much experience as possible; through conservation work both in the UK and abroad. I travelled to China to take part in a course entitled ‘New trends and methodologies in animal ecology and conservation’ before travelling to Mongolia to work at the Wild Camel captive breeding centre with the Wild Camel Protection Foundation (WCPF). Then in Canada, I worked with Meriscope marine research station with marine mammal surveys and with Parks Canada in Jasper National Park. I volunteered with the RSPB at the Loch Gruinart Reserve on Islay and at Tollie in the Black Isle with the beautiful red kites Milvus milvus. I have seen many wonderful things in my travels, the Wild Camel Camelus ferus in Mongolia, the blue whale Balaenoptera musculus in Canada and the Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus in Glenmore Forest, to name but a few. All of this has made me realise just how important conservation efforts are. And how important it is to protect and conserve the wonderful species and habitats that we have at home. To be working in conservation in the Highlands, for me, is a dream come true.
I am thrilled to be spending the summer here in Forsinard. Already I have seen black throated diver Gavia arctica and golden plover Pluvialis fulva, both of which are a first for me! To be working in the world’s largest area of blanket bog and to be able to learn about its importance in both climate change and to the species it contains is really exciting, I’m going to learn a lot! I am looking forward to starting the guided walks in May and helping with the 4x4 safaris at the end of each month. I’m also hoping to hold a number of events throughout the summer, such as National Insect Week, bat and amphibian walks and the Wild North Festival. So I hope to meet as many of you as possible at these events or just around the area over the summer!
Please get in touch if you have any questions, or come see me at the visitor centre at Forsinard,
Hopefully I’ll meet you soon!
Anna J