Life On The Hedge

Secrets of The City

Listen on

Episode notes

Listen to Life on the Hedge, a podcast from The Tree Council, and find out what it’s really like to have a career in nature from young people making a difference through jobs they love.


You might be surprised just how biodiverse our urban environments can be. But hedgerows can play a huge part in keeping our towns and cities bursting with wildlife, whilst helping our physical and mental health too.


This time we meet young people working with London Wildlife Trust in the UK’s leafy capital city. Bobbi Benjamin-Wand invites us to Norwood Park in South London, home to 30 types of trees as well as diverse wildlife. Find out about the history of the Great North Wood which once stretched across a vast area and today lives on in the parks, gardens, cemeteries and railway embankments here!


Bobbi’s job is to help young people get out and engage with the wonderful wild spaces that exist in our capital city. She introduces us to Chantelle Lindsay, a Wildlife Project Officer and Max Lawson, the Assistant Project Officer, as they lead a team of volunteers to work on a hedgerow they’ve planted around one of the park’s recreation areas.


We’re also joined by Cheryl Duerden, a forester and arborist, who talks to us about her journey into conservation and the world of trees. 


LlifeOnTheHedge


Find out more

treecouncil.org.uk/lifeonthehedge 


Bobbi, Chantelle and Max work for The London Wildlife Trust and are all Keeping it Wild traineeship alumni. 


If you’re interested in a career in nature conservation, check out this helpful page on the Prospects website. Conservation Careers is another useful resource, providing career advice and listing job and volunteering opportunities. 


Nature conservation is a fulfilling but competitive career choice. Gaining experience is paramount and volunteering is a great way to do this. You can take Max’s advice and join a The Wildlife Trusts volunteer event or have a look to see if there are any suitable paid traineeships in your area. 


Check out Hedgelink for information on the numerous benefits hedgerows provide in urban and rural areas. Want to have a go at planting your own hedge? This handy step-by-step guide is a great place to start. And don’t forget to check out our Top Ten Tips for a healthy hedge! 


 https://hedgelink.org.uk/news/close-the-gap-hedgerows-project/





See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.