Every year, Living Coasts hosts a ‘marine heritage ranger’ who carries out important environmental outreach work and boosts our education team allowing us to raise awareness of local species and conservation issues, and organize special conservation events such as beach cleans.

The ranger is a trainee in a project called ‘LEMUR’ – Learning Environments in Marine, Urban and Rural areas. This special project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and run by a partnership between Hereford Nature Trust, Ambios Ltd., and Sheffield Wildlife Trust.

The trainee at Living Coasts from April to December 2007 was Gemma Cave. The placement presented her with a valuable opportunity to gain skills and knowledge to further her career in UK marine heritage interpretation.

During the nine month placement the trainee completes three units of an NVQ3 as well as gaining valuable on-the-job training. When working at Living Coasts no two days are the same. Gemma was involved in delivering talks on site and off site, working with schools, the Coast Club and our summer school, developing and delivering community events, beach cleans and a plastic bag amnesty in partnership with Morsbags. She also received training in subjects like marine mammal observation and completed her three units of NVQ3 Environmental Conservation.

Gemma said: “It has been a varied placement which provided me with practical skills, knowledge and experience that I am looking forward to putting in to practice in my future career. Living Coasts is a fantastic place to work – I have made life-long friends and have been fully supported throughout my training placement.”

There will be another place available for a trainee in 2009.

Click here www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/hereford/lemur for more information