Author Archives: Ellie

We’re delighted to welcome our 2021 summer trainees to Lower Sharpham Farm. Over the next twelve weeks they will gain hands on conservation experience and build their field skills and confidence in understanding the ecology of the countryside and the work required to secure its future. Here, a couple of the trainees reflect on their […]

Moths are wonderful. Massively overlooked and overshadowed by their equally wonderful and beautiful butterfly relatives. Many associate moths with their habit of eating woolly jumpers but it is in fact only six of 2500 UK moth species that is guilty of this crime! Let us forgive this and see them for what they are – […]

Think of the actions of a beaver. They create dams that produce pools in which they can protect themselves from predators. A selfish act that results in a plethora of benefits for a wide variety of other flora and fauna. Last week myself and the other trainees learnt the art of hedge laying; a hedgerow […]

Even though the three of us had to isolate for a week due to Covid secure measures we found ourselves active and time passed quickly.  We were warmly welcomed on arrival and taken care of with the provision of some delicious food kindly prepared by Ella and Phil who are both long term volunteers here […]

I have a new and lasting respect for the humble bramble. A few feet into a bush so tall and thick a modest dwelling could be tunnelled out of it, and I feel as if I’m in The Day of the Triffids. Spiny stems wrap themselves around my legs, flaying my jeans; an overhanging branch […]

The traineeship takes place over 12 weeks and contains a broad programme of conservation training. Within the course is scope to shape your own education in the form of a project to shape your future. It seems the course will quickly become a lifestyle. Being an integral part of a small and diverse organic farm, […]

One good thing about a global pandemic – if you’re joining an Ambios training placement – is being forced to isolate in deepest Devon for a week. Seven of us spent the time eating home-grown food cooked by heroic volunteers, swimming in the River Dart, and getting to know the local wildlife –slow worms, bats, […]

After a period of uncertainty due to Covid-19, we are delighted to welcome our summer trainees to Lower Sharpham Farm. They are here to undertake our 12 week nature conservation traineeship, as well as participate in Sharpham’s Wild for People project, helping to make more space for nature and take action for wildlife. Here is […]

Jazz Austin is an avid conservationist, and seven years ago realised that she wanted to use her career to make a difference for the environment. However, she was midway through an architecture degree at Cambridge University, had little professional experience and no idea how to make it happen. She is now managing an environmental engagement […]

During our recent live Webinar on Conservation Careers – where are the jobs and how do you write a covering letter – we had a number of fantastic questions. We wanted to respond to everybody who took the time to ask a question. In thinking about how to do that, we thought we could cover […]