A bit about me
 

Hello, my name is Jessica Halpin, and I am the trainee Nature Reserves Assistant on the Our People Our Places project based at Bog Meadows Nature Reserve, in west Belfast.

I started the traineeship in April 2023, so I’ve been at Bog Meadows for almost a year now. Before this, I was a Nature Reserves Assistant as part of the JobStart Scheme, and before that, I undertook a student placement with Ulster Wildlife while I was studying at Belfast Met, so it’s safe to say I enjoy what I do!

The traineeship has given me the opportunity to develop my own way of engaging groups in nature, as I am usually the type of person who just gets stuck into the practical hands-on side of things. It has been brilliant  to help facilitate people connecting with the natural world and all the wonderful creatures we share it with.

No two days are the same at Bog Meadows, from working on our community wilding garden to practical habitat management around the nature reserve to leading wellness sessions for local community groups, there are many tasks to keep me busy.

Community Wildling Garden
 

If you have visited the nature reserve over the past couple of months, you will have noticed big changes around our workshop area. Dawn Patterson, the Community Engagement Officer at Bog Meadows, along with a dedicated group of volunteers and myself have been getting to work creating a community wilding garden. The purpose of this garden is to demonstrate to the public easy and effective ways to create habitat for wildlife so they can apply this to their own spaces, creating beautiful areas for both people and wildlife to share. We are all very excited to get planting and see this space really transform!

Butterfly Surveying
 

April 1^st is fast approaching meaning it is nearly time to start carrying out butterfly surveys on the nature reserve for the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. We have a wonderful group of volunteers who undertake the surveys and, to ensure they are ready for the monitoring season, I have delivered some butterfly identification workshops and transect walks. This is a really rewarding part of my work here at Bog Meadows as I get to share my passion for wildlife and help people get involved in the conservation of our beautiful butterflies.

Wildlife

With spring coming, trees around the nature reserve have begun to bud, and one resident is taking full advantage. The bullfinch is a secretive little bird, but at this time of year, you may see them feeding along the trees. Their name and blunt beaks may appear tough, but they are shy and will flee if you get too close. Bring a pair of binoculars next time you visit and watch these guys from a distance!

Find out about the Bog Meadows 'Our People, Our Places' project 

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