Meet The Team: Joanne Newbury - Learning Manager

Join us this month as we sit down with Joanne Newbury, our Learning Manager at WWT Washington. Discover how her childhood adventures exploring nature with her grandparents and her keen eye for wildlife sparked her passion and ultimately led her to a fulfilling career at WWT Washington.

Joanne! We'd love to hear what sparked your interest in becoming Learning Manager at WWT Washington.

What drew you to the role, and how long have you been part of the team?

I first started as a volunteer in early 2007, which means I’ve now been here for 17 years! I’ve always loved the variety of habitats on site, the beautiful collection of birds, and the fantastic school trips offered by the learning team. After a few months, I joined the team as a casual warden. From there, I moved up to Learning Officer, and now I’m in my current role as Learning Manager. Although I've had no formal teaching experience, I've always had a keen interest in nature, thanks to the exciting and local adventures I had with my grandparents in Hartlepool. WWT wise, I suppose you could say it was a bit of being in the right place at the right time!

Can you describe a typical day?

No two days are the same here, but my main role as Learning Manager, is to coordinate a wide variety of school and group trips to the centre and ensure they're safe, fun, engaging and fit the bill! (Pardon the pun!) There’s often quite a bit of paperwork involved to make sure a school trip goes ahead as planned. The learning team here at WWT Washington, is an exceptional, enthusiastic and knowledgeable group. From volunteers and casual wardens, to our lovely learning officer, they all help make the whole process run smoothly. We do a lot of pond dipping, mini-beast hunting and map work. Not to mention our fantastic, fully funded trip offer, Generation Wild following the adventures of Ava, our osprey girl who recruits pupils as future Guardians of the Wild.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?

There are quite a few! The funny, friendly and cheerful team here at WWT Washington, especially the learning gang, is one of the highlights. Seeing the childrens' delight and awe when they spot the tiniest pond insect up close or marvel at the flamingos, is incredibly rewarding. The positive feedback we receive from teachers is always heart-warming.

Sometimes, just watching children become excited and engaged at their first glimpse of the site from the entrance path is enough to make my day. The Generation Wild project has also been fantastic for raising our profile and making a huge difference in how pupils and their families, enjoy natural spaces. It’s truly one of the most rewarding parts of my job.

What kind of training/experience or education is required to become a Learning Manager?

Ideally, a science degree or equivalent and some experience in an education setting or environmental engagement. I get a lot of teachers who say they ‘want my job’ but maybe not in the wintery months! A sense of humour is also a must, being organised and jolly, are pretty key too.

What advice would you give someone aspiring to join the learning team?

Ask and be tenacious! Starting as a volunteer is great to see if the role fits your aims and an in-person chat or walkabout is a very good start. It’s quite an energetic and responsible role and school expectations are understandably high to get the best trip ever and value for money.

Can you tell us about any projects or initiatives you’ve been involved in over the years?

There've been quite a few! Building a strong and welcoming learning team has been crucial to the success of several projects, including Inspiring Generation (funded by HSBC in 2019) and the hugely successful Generation Wild project, which launched in October 2021. In 2012, we extended and upgraded our pond-dipping zone, creating a state-of-the-art accessible facility for schools and families to enjoy - a definite highlights of what we offer at WWT Washington. Another fantastic achievement, was securing our impressive Water Lab learning space, complete with its award-winning RHS Hampton Court working wetland garden.

What are some of the challenges you face in your role?

Once again, there are quite a few! One challenge is maintaining the high standards that schools expect when they visit us for trips, ensuring that our programs are curriculum-relevant, enjoyable, and affordable, especially in a challenging financial climate. It’s also important to keep our website updated with the latest topics and information, making the booking process and pre-visit arrangements as smooth as possible for teachers.

Additionally, we strive to appear calm, capable, enthusiastic, and friendly, even when well-laid plans need to be adapted or changed at the last minute due to weather or unforeseen circumstances. For family events and activities, we face the challenge of keeping successful programs, fresh and exciting, while also designing new experiences that align with our conservation themes and strategy.

Are there any species or habitats you're passionate about protecting?

The short answer is, as many as I can! Realistically, the more children and adults who can dip into a pond or search under logs for bugs, discovering the incredible biodiversity and micro-cities around them, the better chance we have of saving vital blue and green spaces and creating new ones. It’s all about stimulating all the senses and embracing a “scenes rather than screens” approach!

Do you have a favourite animal or mammal on site?

I absolutely adore blackbirds, lapwings, great diving beetles (pictured below) and dragonflies, though I must say, the otters aren’t too bad either!

What’s the best spot-on site to you?

Simply sitting on the picnic lawn offers a stunning vista and a real sense of place. The Spring Gill bridge (pictured below), straddling the ancient stream, is incredibly calming, while Hawthorn Wood Hide showcases a mesmerising array of woodland birds. The joyful sounds of children playing or enjoying their well-earned packed lunches - though not always peaceful - are a delightful reminder of the fun being had, in and around nature.

• Share this article