Volunteer Livestock Checker to Farmer Cluster Officer

30th May 2022

Ellen Wilson writes about her experience volunteering with Kent Wildlife Trust as a Livestock Checker.

In June 2020 I was working full time and trying my best to get through the pandemic! I wanted to use spare time on my weekends to do something positive that I would enjoy and got me back outside. I’d always cared about the work Kent Wildlife Trust did, so I went to their website to see if any volunteering opportunities were available. I was in luck! They were looking for livestock checkers at their Nashenden Down site which was perfect for me!

The training and induction process with Alison at Nashenden Down was brilliant. She went through all the safety details, showed where the favourite hiding spots were for the Herdwick and Hebridean sheep and what signs of injury or illness to look out for. Following the induction, I felt confident to carry out the checks on my own.

I’d get to the site in the morning and the views you’d see were wonderful, it’s a real contrast of hills, water, town and woods! As you walked across the field, the wildflower mix in the grass just smelt amazing – sort of herby and sweet at the same time. I would grab a little feed from the store bin before starting my walk round the field checking the fencing, water troughs and of course, the sheep. The Herdwicks and Hebrideans would follow you round, extremely keen to get some snacks! When I’d finished my circuit and was happy everything was okay, I would put an update in the WhatsApp group chat set up for the volunteers and KWT wardens. Though the group was for this purpose it was also used for general chatter between everyone which really made you feel part of a community.

In October 2020 I ended up moving to Ashford which meant staying at Nashenden Down was sadly just not feasible. I spoke with Alison, and she helped me get in touch with Iain at the Hothfield Heathland site so I could continue volunteering there. I was so grateful for the effort made to keep me involved and it was exciting to see a new site!

Hothfield Heathland was quite different to Nashenden Down. Firstly, the livestock were now Highland cattle and Konik ponies which were much bigger than my Herdwicks and Hebrideans that I’d gotten used too! Secondly, the landscape was fascinating! A real mix of bogs, trees and open spaces – great to walk round every week but also perfect conditions for the cattle and ponies to hide in! Once again it was a fantastic place to be and gave me a great feeling to be doing something positive.

Two years on and I am now an employee of Kent Wildlife Trust! I recently joined the team as a Farmer Cluster Officer for the Upper Beult and I’m so proud to be a part of this great organisation. Experiencing roles with the Trust as both a volunteer and an employee, I can honestly say it is a wonderful organisation to be a part of!