Written by Andrew Clay, Uplands Placement Student
Having grown up on a smallholding further south in the Pennines, as well as having some prior experience grouse beating, I arrived in Teesdale already with a keen interest in upland landscapes. As such, I feel so privileged to be on a placement which actively conducts research into upland management and enables me to expand my own understanding in so many areas.
My first week of working with the Uplands team was highly varied and action-packed, including a very helpful 4x4 training day and getting out into the field almost straight away! This was a highly encouraging start, filling me with anticipation about what the rest of my placement year would include. I was also starting to really enjoy the beautiful landscape of the North Pennines.
In the first few weeks, my main responsibility was to conduct moorland-edge woodland surveys in the picturesque Eden Valley. Measuring variables such as species composition and tree density aids the understanding of the habitat preferences of black grouse. This gave me my first insight into tree identification, as well as the reassuring health and safety protocols that the Trust uses, since fieldwork in the Uplands team can take you to some remote and rugged terrain.
As my placement progressed, new field and lab-based tasks started emerging, alongside relevant, highly valuable training. My involvement in the Trust’s ‘Maternal Grouse’ project has taught me a great deal about the current breeding productivity of red grouse and red grouse population fluctuations more generally. I’ve also received training on identifying moorland vegetation and on how to measure parasite burdens within grouse caeca.
My participation in the Black Grouse Range Expansion Project saw me travel down to the GWCT’s HQ in Hampshire, where I received in-depth invertebrate identification training with the Farmland Ecology Unit. This enabled me to identify and record invertebrates found within sweep net samples from black grouse brood-foraging habitats. Another part of this project has been the translocation of 40 black grouse to the North York Moors where I have enjoyed radio-tracking a sample of the released birds – a particular highlight of the placement so far.
By far, my favourite things about being a part of the Uplands team are the range of tasks I undertake in so many different locations, along with the many locally shot game birds I have taken home to eat, a great sustainable food source. My colleagues receive these from nearby estates as a sign of appreciation for the work they do, and I am glad to say some are passed on to me! Of course, this placement year isn’t just about working - but living in Teesdale as well. To any prospective students looking for a placement opportunity who may think living in Teesdale would be an isolated and uncomfortable experience, just know that the student flat is lovely and located in a village with many amenities and is only 10 minutes’ drive from the office.
When I was searching for a placement year, one that would provide me with experience and training far beyond the scope of what university can provide was top of my list and I am glad to say that this placement has given me just that. That being said, I look forward to what the next seven months hold!