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Montage of images featuring Mary Hon. Trainee employed with ERT on a six month contract as part of the Access to Eden project.

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Mary Hon - Trainee placement

We were delighted to welcome Mary to the Access to Eden team earlier this year. Mary joins us as part of our ‘Skills for a greener future’ programme funded via our Access to Eden project which is providing trainee placement opportunities helping four young people to take their first steps into an environmental career. We asked Mary to write a few words for us to let people know about her experience with us in the first two months of a six month trainee placement.

Supporters Day

A close up of a water vole. It's head peeking out of a Pringles crisp tube.

"The traineeship started off with our Supporters Day which gave me a good insight into the Access to Eden project and was a great opportunity to get to know our ERT volunteers and supporters. The INNS week followed, which gave me an opportunity to learn more about Invasive Non-Native species. This got me geared up for the following 6 months of engaging with the community about acting against invasive across the Eden Catchment.

"One of the highlights so far was getting involved in the water vole release. It was a hot and sunny day, and the exciting opportunity to learn more about nature recovery through reintroduction in the Eden Catchment while seeing these lovely little engineers in person.

Balsam Bashing

Mark Hon, trainee on the Access Project standing behind a large pile of Himalayan balsam collected at a balsam bashing session in woods at Engine Lonning.

"Our balsam bashing season kicked off from May, returning to a site that volunteer work party had put their efforts into over the past few years. With work parties returning to different areas around the catchment. 

This is me pictured with the results of just one days balsam bashing piled high! 

It is nice to hear volunteers find it rewarding from seeing their hard work paying off over the years. Volunteers saw the transition from carpets of Himalayan Balsam covering the site, to having to hunt for the hidden ones under vegetations, and seeing varieties of flowers and plants showing. 

Check Clean Dry campaign

Check, Clean, Dry roadshow stand on site at Glencoyne car park. Table displaying Check, Clean, Dry marketing materials with mock up of a full size paddle board in front.

"Coming to the start of the summer holidays, part of my role as the community engagement trainee is to get ready to go out and talk to recreational lake users and the community, to raise awareness on invasive species in and around the lakes, and to encourage best practise of the ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ campaign. I really look forward to it and come chat with me if you see me out and about the lake!"

Mary

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