Starting my job as an Entry-Level Officer on the West Pennines More Nature Partnership has felt like the next step in a journey that started during the latter stages of the pandemic. Having completed my degree in biology, I was working in a COVID lab and in my spare time, rediscovering my love of bird-watching. This, along with a wake-up call from a friend, convinced me to start a masters degree in conservation and biodiversity.
Sam on Darwen Moor, Feb 2025
While studying, I filled my free time volunteering, trying to build my skillset and accumulate knowledge (I was frequently accused of trying to cram too much into my head all at once).
I came to the West Pennines More Nature Partnership following a survey season with an ecological consultancy in Bakewell. Here, I carried out habitat, newt, bird and bat surveys. While working in consultancy, I came to realise that surveying habitats and identifying species is basically my happy place.
I was especially excited about the opportunity to work on a project like this for two reasons. Firstly, landscape scale recovery could be one of our greatest tools in the fight against biodiversity loss and climate change and contributing to that is an amazing opportunity. Secondly, I’m hoping that being surrounded by knowledgeable and passionate people might give me more chances to expand my skillset so that I can continue to increase the value of my contribution to cause of nature recovery.
Lee Seymour
Unlike Sam, and many of my new colleagues at the Trust, ecological work is brand new for me. My career and qualifications are within financial services, with much of my time in senior compliance and audit positions. I must admit that it was a little scary leaving behind a successful career, where I had developed expertise to become the entry-level officer and effectively start from scratch, but I’m so happy that I have done so!
Lee Seymour, West Pennine Moors, November 2024
My interest in nature started when I was very young. I was always happiest in woodlands, by a river, out in the countryside etc. However, this has also meant developing a keen awareness of the impact that we have on our environment. Rather than becoming eco-anxious, I became increasingly eco-active, involving myself in petitions, campaigns and awareness raising/ engagement as well as practical volunteer opportunities. The more volunteering I did, the more I have then wanted to do to support transformative action.
So far, when not learning new terminology, systems and different data mapping techniques I’ve also had some amazing practical learning opportunities. It’s also been fantastic to have the chance to work with volunteers in planting sphagnum which can soak up more than 20 times its own weight in water, acting as a remarkable natural flood mitigant AND supporting biodiversity AND helping keep carbon locked up in peatland, rather than being released into the atmosphere.
An orange peat probe, West Pennine Moors
I’ve also been completing peat depth surveys to help shape future restoration activity, started looking at what accessibility issues there are on the moor, understanding the work of farmers across the catchment and gained deeper insights on green finance.
I have lots to learn and experience to gain and I am incredibly thankful to be contributing to such a large-scale restoration project through close collaboration with landowners, farm tenants and local communities, which is right on my doorstep.
West Pennine Moors from the air - Photo by Alex Critchley
Volunteer planting sphagnum moss on Darwen Moor - Credit: A.J.Critch Wildlife
Sphagnum fallax - Credit: A.J.Critch Wildlife
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