Can you tell me how you ended-up as Crayfish Officer with YWT?

I did a degree in biology including ecology and environmental science. Then I worked in conservation in Madagascar for a year, co-ordinating a lemur monitoring programme in the littoral forests in the Southeast of the country. I really enjoyed it and saw some amazing wildlife and the fantastic work the local community were doing. It made me realise I wanted to support wildlife conservation my own country and explore more of the natural environment we can celebrate and protect here.  

Returning to the UK, I took a Masters degree in biodiversity and conservation at the University of Leeds. Then I applied for and got a YWT traineeship post, based at Askham Bog nature reserve and Strensall Common, a lowland heath nature reserve. That lead on to spending 3 years with the Yorkshire Dales Catchment Partnership, helping to reduce pollution and deal with invasive species like giant hogweed in rivers and other aquatic habitats.

When the Crayfish Officer role was advertised on the YWT website, I felt it was just what I was looking for. Our endangered white-clawed crayfish play an important role in ecosystems. In addition, I knew that the Trust had a really good reputation and that York (where its headquarters are) is a great location to be based (it has nearby YWT reserves, National Trust sites and 2 national parks).

What does the average day look like and what your most rewarding work?

It is very seasonal, but over the year I do a half and half mix of office and field work. In summer I’m out crayfish surveying and doing site audits and then as autumn comes, I move to more desk-based work mapping results.

The most rewarding part of my work is having an impact on an endangered species. Our native while-clawed crayfish really need help, and I know I am making a difference – or trying to. A bad day is when I find the invasive non-native signal crayfish, that carry crayfish plague, where they have not been found previously.   

Globally many crayfish species are impacted by the same issues as our white-clawed crayfish. I recently had the amazing opportunity to travel to Croatia for a conference of crayfish enthusiasts from all over the world. I presented a poster on our achievements so far, including ark site creation, setting up a captive rearing facility, ongoing monitoring of populations, as well as public outreach.

What is your favourite YWT nature reserve?

That has got to be Askham Bog in summer, when it has really nice flora. In its mosaic of fen, woodland and meadow, it has magnificent royal ferns, rare gingerbread sedge and displays of water violets. Birds are abundant, including woodcock, buzzard, willow and marsh tits, grasshopper and reed warblers.  On warm summer days you can see dragonflies, including the spectacular Emperor.

There is a boardwalk which allows anyone to visit and walk around the site. My favourite areas are when you step off the boardwalk and explore the wilder areas.

I started my conservation journey by volunteering there and I still love visiting.

Who’s your conservation hero?

I am inspired by Jane Goodall, a zoologist and primatologist. A woman on her own, and starting in her 20s, she undertook pioneering work on chimpanzees and made a really positive impact on their conservation. I was fortunate to meet her at her South African chimpanzee sanctuary, Chimp Eden. She set up the Jane Goodall Institute to continue her life’s work, using the collective power of individuals to save the natural world we all share.

Links:

https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/askham-bog-nature-reserve

https://www.ywt.org.uk/blog/yorkshire-wildlife-trust/crayfish-conference

https://www.chimpeden.com