Meet The Team: Matthew Gilbert - Reserve Placement Student
At WWT Washington, our dedicated team works tirelessly to protect and enhance the reserve for wildlife and visitors alike. Behind the scenes, our Reserve Placement Students play a crucial role in conservation efforts, gaining valuable hands-on experience in the field. Meet Matthew Gilbert, one of our current Reserve Placement Students. Originally from London, Matt studied Ecology and Wildlife Conservation and has gained hands-on experience across various conservation organisations in the UK. Now, he’s bringing his skills to WWT Washington, where no two days are the same!
In this Q&A, Matt shares insights into his journey, the skills needed for a reserve placement, and what it’s like to work on a wetland reserve. Whether you're interested in pursuing a career in conservation or just curious about what happens behind the scenes at WWT Washington, read on to find out more about Matt’s experiences and advice!
Hi Matt, how long have you been at WWT Washington?
Hello! I joined WWT Washington in September last year (2024). This is my first time working for WWT, having moved down from Scotland’s central belt after completing a seasonal reserve officer contract.
What did you study as a student?
I studied Ecology and Wildlife Conservation at the University of Reading, graduating in 2020. Since then, I’ve been building experience across the UK through volunteering and seasonal contracts with organisations like TCV, the National Trust, RSPB, and NatureScot.
Graduating during a pandemic made breaking into the conservation sector tricky, but after a six-month volunteer role with TCV (The Conservation Volunteers) in London, I landed my first paid contract as an assistant ranger on the Farne Islands with the National Trust - an absolute dream come true! I first visited in 2019 and knew then I wanted to be a ranger, so stepping onto the island in uniform just three years later was surreal. Plus, working alongside puffins? Not a bad way to start!
Since then, I’ve held roles with RSPB and NatureScot at Loch Leven, focusing on breeding lapwing surveys, visitor engagement, and practical reserve management.
What skills or education do you need to apply for a placement at WWT Washington?
A background in biology, wildlife conservation, or strong wildlife ID skills is definitely a plus. Practical experience with habitat management, tools, or machinery is helpful too - but don’t worry if you’re not an expert! These placements are designed to help you build those skills, giving you hands-on experience that will set you up for future conservation jobs.
What is a day in the life of a placement student like on the reserve?
My day kicks off at 8:30 with morning tasks to get the site ready for visitors. This could be litter picking, checking play area safety, or doing a fence check - especially the anti-predator fence, which takes a couple of hours. Along the way, I top up bird feeders, open hides and gates, and note any interesting wildlife sightings.
The rest of the day is all about hands-on conservation work, supporting other wardens and the reserve manager. Tasks vary with the seasons - winter usually means clearing vegetation, brush-cutting meadows, or coppicing woodland to create better habitats for species like willow tits.
Before heading home, I often help lock up the site, making sure visitors know it’s closing time and guiding them back to the visitor centre.
What do you hope to learn and gain experience in while you’re here?
I’m looking to bring together all the skills I’ve picked up so far and build on them in one place - whether that’s improving my wildlife ID, learning new habitat management techniques, or mastering new tools. I want to integrate these skills to eventually land a permanent ranger or warden role.
Since starting, I’ve already had the chance to gain experience I didn’t have before, like getting certified in tractor operation and outdoor first aid. It’s been a great way to add to my skill set!
What challenges do you face?
The biggest challenges are exactly what you’d expect when working outdoors - dealing with the weather! From scorching summer heat to freezing winter storms, being exposed to the elements all year round can be tough. Staying motivated when you’re battling wind, rain, or biting cold isn’t always easy.
I’d also say that driving the tractors can be a bit of an adventure, especially when trying to reverse down some of the narrower footpaths, like the ones near Close Encounters. It definitely keeps things interesting!
What’s the most rewarding part of being on the WWT Washington team?
For me, it’s seeing the progress we make in looking after the site. When you’re in the thick of it - coppicing and pollarding along the Wader Lake footpath, for example - you don’t always notice the impact of your work. But when you come back after a few days off, you can really see how much you’ve achieved, and that’s a great feeling.
I also love being part of such a tight-knit team. Everyone chips in where they can, so you naturally pick up new skills and knowledge along the way - sometimes in ways you wouldn’t expect! One day you might be learning how to maintain tractors and their attachments, and the next, you’re being taught how to catch and handle collection birds to support the team. It keeps things interesting and makes the job even more rewarding.
What advice would you give to someone looking to secure a placement at WWT Washington and work on a wild reserve?
Gaining some hands-on experience beforehand is really important. A great way to start is by volunteering with a local wildlife group or nature reserve. It’ll help you build essential skills—like wildlife identification, using different tools, and habitat management - while also getting you used to working outdoors in all kinds of weather (which is a must in this job!). Plus, having that experience shows hiring managers that you’re genuinely passionate about the sector.
Being open-minded and flexible is just as important. It means you’ll be able to pick up extra skills beyond reserve work and support other areas of the team when needed. For example, the reserve and grounds teams often help with collection catches, assisting the collection staff with handling birds for vet and welfare checks. The more adaptable you are, the more valuable you’ll be to the team!
What’s your favourite animal on site?
That’s a tough one! On the living collection side, it’s a toss-up between the Asian short-clawed otters - especially Buster, who’s such a cheeky character - and the red-breasted geese. Their plumage is absolutely stunning, with that bold contrast of red, black, and white.
On the reserve side, I’d have to go with the lapwing (pictured below). They’re my favourite wader species, with their quirky displays and distinctive calls. But I also love those fleeting moments when a weasel, with its rust-red coat, darts across the path in front of me - it’s always a thrill to spot one!
What’s something new visitors would find especially interesting about WWT Washington?
WWT Washington is such a diverse site that changes with the seasons, so there’s always something new to see - it’s hard to pick just one thing! But one of the coolest surprises has to be the fungi in Hollowood. There are so many different species to spot, and it’s not just an autumn thing either! Every time I get shown a new one, I’m amazed at how much there is to discover.
Where’s your favourite spot on site?
It’s a close call, but I’d have to go with Diageo Hide on Wader Lake. The variety of wildfowl and wader species that gather there is incredible. You’ve got lapwings putting on aerial displays with their unmistakable ‘pee-wit’ calls, avocets making an appearance in spring and summer, and the occasional rare sighting like a spotted redshank.
Fancy meeting more of our team?
We're introducing you to the team here at WWT Washington who are from a variety of roles within the trust, and who have a plethora of career and education backgrounds.
Meet the team
