Highlights of 2024 from the Lederman Trainees

Abi and Pip are both trainees as part of the Dr Vera Dalley Lederman Scholarship and Environmental Training Programme. The Trust works in partnership with the Leysdown Conservation Trust to provide an opportunity for two individuals to gain a vast array of valuable experience and skills in the conservation/environmental field.

They tell us a bit about some highlights from 2024

Abi Haidemenos

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Lederman traineeship which (at only halfway through) has already enhanced my life, and my future opportunities massively. I have gained qualifications in Chainsaw Crosscutting and Tree Felling, Forest School, Brush cutting, and many other useful skills for practical land management. The on-the-job learning provided by my Sussex Wildlife Trust colleagues has been equally invaluable; from lambing sheep to surveying reserves, we have been fortunate enough to be involved with a huge range of conservation work, with experienced and knowledgeable staff, which has bolstered my confidence and excitement about continued work in this sector. 

Leysdown Cottage, The Donkey Meadow, and Manny’s Wood have also been great teachers for me. Having the opportunity to spend time on this land every day has helped me to strengthen my identification skills and watch seasonal patterns in action. It has also been really enjoyable to start monitoring populations on the land though moth trapping, trail cams, and the Bioscan project. 

 Pip Newby

I have had the most wonderful experience during my time, so far, as a Trainee Ranger and our year at the cottage is flying by. It has been a fascinating, varied, sometimes challenging few months. Since April I have undertaken a wide variety of training and have hugely developed my skill-set. I have also attended courses on spider, dragonfly and damselfly, and fungi identification, powertool use, field skills and a three day rewilding and species reintroduction seminar. I have also recently been taken on as a trainee bird ringer and it has been an absolute joy to ring some of Leysdown Cottage’s resident birds and to see others already ringed by previous trainees.

Having the daily training and guidance of the incredible team of rangers, ecologists and educators at the Trust has been invaluable as well..