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Skills for Rewilding is the Trees for Life training programme which is providing fully funded practical skills-based learning opportunities for people who want employment in the environmental sector rewilding the Scottish countryside.
In July of 2019, the second group started their 12 month immersive training experience at Dundreggan. They began their traineeship with an induction period. They visited the spectacular Glen Affric, which contains both remnants of Caledonian Pinewood and well established Trees for Life projects. Through visiting planting sites at Dundreggan, as well as witnessing natural regeneration within the existing woodlands, we aim to give the trainees insight and context to inspire them over the year they are based with Trees for Life.
Within days of starting the trainees were in the thick of it working alongside their mentors and beginning to learn about their chosen area of specialism. The four different areas of our work that they focus on are: tree nursery horticulture; deer management and estate maintenance; people and community engagement; and conservation and landscape planning. All trainees get a taster of the different traineeships, however, and their training plans are altered to lean towards any particular interests they have or discover.
This year the current trainees were all under the age of 26 when they started (younger than Trees for Life). Living in shared accommodation on site has been a new experience for many of them. It has been interesting having a younger group of trainees as we have the opportunity to help them find direction in their careers. They are certainly keen to learn.
The trainees have been recording their practical learning and skills in a portfolio which in most cases contributes towards academic qualifications recognised across the environmental sector. This process is supported by myself, as the project manager, their mentors and in some cases academic tutors. Time out of the working environment is provided for trainees to concentrate on this element. Some of the trainees do practical skills based training and assessment courses. This year these have included tractor driving, all-terrain vehicle use and a woodland activity leader training course. It has been great to see the trainees successfully pass all these courses, as they really boost employability.
When it comes to trainees turning the skills and knowledge that they have learned into jobs or further training opportunities it is important that we help. With all our trainees we have worked alongside them on CVs, cover letters, applications and interview techniques. Three of last year’s trainees quickly found jobs or further training linked to their traineeships.
Many of the trainees have had the opportunity to go on placements with external organisations thereby broadening their experiences whilst also supporting local community projects. Examples from this year include RSPB at Corrimony, The Conservation Volunteers in Inverness, Glengarry Community Woodland and Inverness Botanic Gardens. Feedback from the trainees over the past two years has always been positive about the placements that they go on and we are very grateful to partner organisations for the learning opportunities that they provide.
The restrictions around the coronavirus pandemic have had some impact on our ability to deliver these highly practical traineeships. On the whole we are still on target to achieve most of the training and qualifications. Any outstanding training courses will still be delivered, even if that is beyond the end of the traineeships. The funding that makes this project possible comes from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and they are being very supportive of Trees for Life and the trainees during this challenging time.
When lockdown set in we were mid-recruitment for next years group of trainees and more than 500 people had expressed an interest in applying. We think this interest level is indicative of a growing awareness of the impact we have had on the health of our environment. More and more people want to learn about and to contribute to restoring the landscape to better health. Recruitment has been postponed for the time being, but when the time is right we hope to resume. If you are interested in applying, or if you are just interested in finding out more about the traineeships, please look on the Trees for Life website.
Thank you to Heritage Lottery Fund for funding Skills for Rewilding. Header image © SPP Media