I hope to show and inspire others like me, who don’t necessarily come from a naturalist background that nature is accessible for everyone. Simply having an interest, asking questions and spending time within nature is enough to be able to learn and make a difference.
We speak to Abbi Richards our new Communications Trainee
Paul Hobson
Abbi tells us about starting her new role as Communications Trainee, her first week and what inspired her to apply..
Taken at Whisby Educational Centre by Rachel Shaw
Tell us about yourself?
My name is Abbi, I’m 26 and I’m a fine artist by trade. I’m originally from Lincolnshire however, I spent six years living in Leeds after studying for my degree. My love of the natural world stems from my grandad who was a huge influence for me growing up. I spent the majority of my younger years with him whether it was teaching me about pondlife in his garden, taking me on visits to falconries or exploring local woodlands to find interesting plants to bring home and use for arts and crafts. I’ve always kept this passion for all things natural and I love to incorporate wildlife within my pieces whether it be sketching something I see whilst out and about, writing poetry inspired by nature or making wildlife themed ceramics, so watch this space.
An Illustration from Abbi's poem "Your world, outside our window."
What made you apply for the role?
Working on the frontline in charities enabled me to see things from an entirely different perspective often seeing the harsh realities of what we as humans can do to the world around us whether that be our pets, wildlife or the environment. These experiences really reignited that passion for wildlife and made me want to work towards protecting it but in a different way. I wanted to find a role that would allow me to draw upon these experiences to help inspire others to feel the same. The traineeship felt perfect for someone like me, who may not have the relevant educational background or the finances to restudy and would normally struggle to get my foot in the door.
I've always found nature therapeutic and I think the past two years have taught, not only myself but millions of others, that if we actually take more time out in nature, we get to see that the world around us is incredibly resilient, uplifting and grounding. I want to encourage others to take this time out, as it's easy for day-to-day life and mental health to take over. Spending time in the natural world allows me to step outside of whatever is going on, gaining a sense of perspective and creating that feeling of calmness that's often needed. This motivates me to want to give back to the natural world and what better way to do that then to use my creativity and passion to encourage others to give back too.
What do you hope to get out of it?
I hope to show and inspire others like me, who don’t necessarily come from a naturalist background that nature is accessible for everyone. Simply having an interest, asking questions and spending time within nature is enough to be able to not only learn more but make a difference. I want spark passions, conversations and actions in others whether its members, individuals or communities.
I’d love to learn how to communicate in a way that resonates with people enough to motivate them to take an invested interest within our natural world and its preservation. I’d love to potentially progress into a permanent communications role within the Wildlife Trusts or within perhaps an education-based role that can continue to make natural world accessible and inclusive for everyone.
What have you enjoyed most so far?
I love to learn so working within such an amazing team that actively encourages learning and are so generous with their knowledge about the natural world is fantastic. I’ve really enjoyed getting to visit local reserves and getting an understanding of how they work, what makes them so incredible and the teams that work tirelessly to keep them that way.
What’s your favourite spot in Lincolnshire and why?
For me, Willingham Woods holds a special place in my heart, living so close to it for many years meant I spent a lot of time there walking the dogs, going for picnics etc. I was also fortunate enough to grow up at the foot of the Wolds, so the Viking Way was on my door step, one of my favourite spots is up near Claxby Top. Its full of rolling hills where you can see for miles over the Wolds, perfect for watching sunsets.
The rolling hills of the Wolds - Abbi Richards