Ecology placements at Wendling Beck: Laura’s experience

As part of our commitment to raising awareness about the significance of nature recovery and conservation, we regularly host student placements that offer hands-on experience in ecological restoration.

In this piece, Laura Vogel reflects on her time at Wendling Beck:

Laura assists at an Earth Day event alongside our Project Manager Elliott.

Laura’s Experience

Hello, my name is Laura and I am studying BSc Conservation Biology and Ecology at the University of Exeter. As part of my course, I had the opportunity to complete a 35-hour placement at Wendling Beck, where I gained first-hand experience of working in the ecology sector and applied my theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting.

Growing up in Norfolk, I developed a passion for the natural world from a young age, which through my studies has grown into a keen interest in nature restoration and finding ways to incorporate nature into human-modified landscapes. For this reason, completing my placement at Wendling Beck felt like the perfect opportunity to learn more about restoring natural processes and habitats within a familiar landscape.

Community engagement

During my placement, I got involved in a range of activities. A personal highlight was assisting with the Wendling Beck stand at Gressenhall Museum’s Earth Day event, where I enjoyed talking to visiting families about local river wildlife and the restoration of Spring Beck. It was also great to engage with representatives from local organisations such as the Norfolk Rivers Trust and learn more about their conservation work in the Wensum.

Biodiversity monitoring

Later in the week, I helped to check the network of camera traps and acoustic monitors across the project site, before reviewing a selection of the footage. It was fantastic to use the species monitoring techniques I’ve learnt during my course, as well as gain insight into the data collection and processing involved in monitoring bird and mammal populations.

Practical insights into ecology

Overall, I’ve found my placement at Wendling Beck really rewarding, especially in how it’s helped me understand the theoretical concepts from my lectures in a practical context. It’s also given me a deeper insight into the challenges of long-term habitat management that I hadn’t previously considered, such as the difficulty of removing excess nutrients from former agricultural land when trying to establish species-rich meadow and heathland habitats.

My time at Wendling Beck has been invaluable, strengthening my interest in conservation while deepening my connection to the local landscape.

Gain ecology experience at Wendling Beck

Welcoming the local community, volunteers and students to Wendling Beck is integral to our nature recovery efforts. To learn how you can get involved and find out more about ecology placements, visit our volunteering page and get in touch.