From the Peak District to the Solway Coast
Welcome one of our new reserve placements, Madisyn
I’m no stranger to the outdoors, having lived on the edge of the Peak District - I’m constantly reminded that I’m surrounded by natural beauty. However, I think now that I’ve made my way to Caerlaverock, it could be a contender for one of the most beautiful places I’ve visited and am now living at!
But let me introduce myself.
Hi, I’m Madisyn and I’m one of the new placement students at WWT Caerlaverock.
As a keen geographer, the variety the land has to offer has already got me mesmerised - from the rolling hills of Criffel to the view of the saltmarsh and beyond from the Saltcot Merse Observatory. It’s not everyday you get to call a place like this home.
I have previous experience of volunteering in wet environments such as peatland. Working on this type of land and learning about it through my degree, I have developed a fondness towards wetlands so I feel incredibly lucky that I am able to continue my journey and work on one. In my short time here, I have already seen roe deer dancing in the fields, an elephant hawkmoth caterpillar crawling its way across a path and a common sandpiper feeding with its distinctive bobbing movement. Now on my Caerlaverock checklist is to see is the kingfisher that hangs out at the Back Pond Hide that visitors are reporting regularly at the moment. Let's hope I get lucky!
This is the start of a new chapter for me, one that combines two things I’m very passionate about: geography and conservation. I am raring to take on the autumn and winter months ahead and welcome the change in land and wildlife that the seasons have to offer. Although, I’m most excited for when the barnacle geese flock in by the thousands and settle on the reserve after their incredible 2000 mile journey from Svalbard.
Words by Madisyn Pett
