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 have been at Bog Meadows for almost 18 months. 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 studying at Belfast Met, so it’s safe to say I enjoy what I do!
The traineeship has allowed me 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.