work experience

Work Experience with Tees Valley Wildlife Trust

What is the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust

Tees Valley Wildlife Trust is part of 47 other wildlife trust based within the UK. It has been around for more than 30 years, in doing so this organisation protects wildlife and wild places, it educates, empowers and influences people.

This particular organisation protects 14 wildlife reserves and helps other to protect and manage their countryside's. This is all in aid to help protect and secure a future for many important habitats and species.

My part in working with Tess Valley Wildlife Trust.

This opportunity first came to my attention last year when talking to the university  work advisor Pat Chapman in Folio, i applied for work experience last year but unfortunately was unable to get to the place of work. However Dr Sue Antrobus contacted me and mentioned they were in need of a photographer to photograph a weeklong event that was happing in a place called Roseworth and asked if i would do it. I accepted the opportunity.

14-19 March were the dates.

So the dates arrived and i was extremely excited to have the opportunity to be part of a special project working with nature. Throughout the week we had many people working as part of the staff for example Dr Sue Antrobus, Michael Robinson (placement), Paul Bamber as well as many other staff.

The Aim for the week

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• ·      Monday - Photograph Rosebrook primary school
• ·      Tuesday - Photograph St Gregory's Primary School
• ·      Wednesday - Photograph St Gregory's Primary School & Little Diggers
• ·      Thursday - Photograph Schools - Rosebrook, St Gregory's & Northshore
• ·      Friday - Day off
• ·      Saturday - Fun Day

As you can see above the days and who we had on them days. During them days i was photographing the young children plant trees, as there were more than 2000 trees to be planted in our new woodland area.

Although i was photographing i was also assisting with other jobs such as...

• ·      Dig holes for the trees to be planted (more than 2000)
• ·      assist planting trees when needed
• ·      talking to the young children & adults
• ·      editing the photographs
• ·      photographing the Mayor of Stockton
• ·      Photographing the fun days and everyday

Equipment i used

To create my images throughout the week i consisted of camera equipment and other equipment such as

• ·      Nikon D7100
• ·      2 Battery's
• ·      lenses
• ·      cleaning equipment

I has to be practical when deciding on what to take with me as the majority of the photographs will be free hand, this allowing me to have more free hand and no major difficulty when trying to get the right shot.

The opportunity it has given me

Being contacted by Tees Valley Wildlife Trust at the beginning was a surprise because i had not asked for this experience but Dr Sue Antrobus remembered me from an open day they had been a part of near my house. Being asked if i would like to be a part of this opportunity was amazing and such a pleasure. I felt that this allowed me to expand my knowledge and understanding of not only my photography but also the land and surroundings around me.

Having this section of woodland within a community is such a great experience, not only for the animals that will benefit from the hard work we have all put in but also that the younger generations had the opportunity to  work with us and make something that will hopefully last 100s of years. The sheer joy that those children expressed on their faces was such a pleasure to see. Not only is Tees Valley Wildlife Trust giving to the community but the community is giving back to you.

Publicity

This opportunity working with Tees Valley Wildlife Trust for that week in March 2016 as a student photographer has not only given me opportunities that will allow me to put onto my CV for future references and work opportunities but it has also let my work been know through their websites and other media sites. Also Dr Sue Antrobus has informed me that my work will be displayed in the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust magazine as well as a magazine delivered throughout Roseworth. 

Throughout the week i wanted to capture how the young children, parents and teachers were getting involved with working in an open environment, focusing on the connects between each child and parent and other staff