Joe 

I’ve loved being a Junior Surveyor over the past few months. Watching the farms change with the seasons while carrying out surveys and taking part in training has been a brilliant experience.

One of my favourite activities is the Night Bat Walkover Survey, where we use ultrasonic microphones to monitor bat activity. Experiencing the natural world transform as day turns to night is amazing. The data we collect will help farmers understand how their efforts to create resilient, productive landscapes are supporting nature’s recovery.

I’m passionate about regenerative farming and helping farmers move away from intensive practices towards approaches that work both economically and for nature. Working across our six focus farms has been an eye-opener, showing me the opportunities and rewards this transition can bring.

As our climate changes, creating resilient landscapes is vital for protecting both our food security and the natural world. I hope to build on the experience I’ve gained in this role and pursue a career supporting farmers to make this transition in ways that work for their businesses and for nature.

Abbie 

Being a Junior Landscape Surveyor means spending lots of time outdoors, experiencing the changing seasons and the wildlife they bring. I’ve learned how to survey hazel dormice, hedgehogs and bats, analyse the results, and understand how monitoring these species can help guide conservation work in a changing climate. I’ve also enjoyed learning from the team, from identifying butterflies and birds to developing my skills in bumblebee identification and monitoring, with plans to carry out surveys which will be useful for both the Connecting People and Landscapes Project and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. 

I’ve particularly enjoyed doing the nighttime bat walkover surveys. The bat detectors allow us to pick up the different bat calls, and witnessing the bats flying over our heads is amazing! Other great moments include finding the first hedgehog footprints and dormouse nest at one of the farms. 

I hope that these surveys will give the farms a better idea of what wildlife currently exists on their land and help pave the way for a more diverse environment through regenerative farming. It would be great to see more hedgehogs, bats and dormice on the farms at the end of the project. 

Emma 

I am learning so much, from regenerative farming practices to how bat calls vary and the behaviour of hedgehogs and dormice. I’ve also been encouraged to explore my own interests, and I’ve been researching dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies, putting what I’ve learnt into practice on our six farms. 

I’ve also enjoyed learning more about plants and had the opportunity to attend a grasses and wildflower identification workshop led by one of Devon Wildlife Consultants’ Principal Ecologists, it was a brilliant day! 

My favourite part has been watching the seasons change, how this affects the wildlife on the focus farms and the impacts of the warmer-than-usual weather. It’s been wonderful to see migratory birds, such as swallows and swifts, foraging and nesting, and to watch different butterfly species come and go in coherence with their lifecycles. 

I’m hoping that the survey work we have been conducting will prove how beneficial regenerative farming is for wildlife on a local and national scale. I am also hoping to see more hedgehog footprints and hopefully get some hedgehogs on video too!

Callum 

Our days are very busy - there’s a lot of walking involved, but I always feel very lucky to have an outdoor office! The farmers are so great to work with and are keen to help their farm’s biodiversity thrive just as much as their business.   

In this organisation, there are so many specialists who take time out of their day to help us develop and take on new interests. This job has already taught me so much and given me a lot of confidence - from technical skills to getting out of my comfort zone, like public speaking. 

A very special moment was when we carried out an evening bat walk and came across more than a dozen Serotine bats all at once. They swooped down and we could hear them calling. We managed to record them on our thermal camera too!  

I enjoy getting the chance to meet so many great people who are so passionate about wildlife. When we are at public events, the number of people who turn up is amazing. They’re always so invested in learning more from us and are keen to do their part at home in their spare time. 

Learn more about the project