Meet Alex, the National Park apprentice
February 9, 2022
For National Apprenticeship Week this February, we caught up with one of the National Park’s apprentices, Alex Jarvis.
Can you tell us more about your apprentice role at the National Park?
As an apprentice, I’m being trained in the role while in the job, in my case, that of a park ranger. This means that I carry out tasks with the park ranger at Seven Sisters, and they instruct me how and why these things are done. This can be anything from scrub clearance, to boundary repair, maintenance of signs and benches or a bird survey. I also attend college for the theoretical aspect of the course, and have to complete a portfolio summarising my work and study.
Why did you choose an apprenticeship at the South Downs National Park?
During the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the most important things for me was spending time outside in nature. Informed by the experience, I decided that I wanted to try something different that meant I could spend more time in nature, but also allow me to gain new skills and gain experience in a new field. Growing up, we spent a lot of time going for walks at some of the most beautiful spots in the South Downs National Park, particularly the eastern end, the Long Man of Wilmington, Mount Caburn, and the Seven Sisters. So, when the opportunity came up to be able to not only work in this landscape, but also learn how it’s managed and protected for the benefit of both people and nature, I jumped at the chance!
What do you think are the benefits of apprenticeships?
I think the great thing about studying through an apprenticeship is that it gives you the opportunity to see all aspects of a field; we learn both about the theoretical side of our work (ecology, conservation, common agricultural practices) and the practical applications (conservation grazing, vegetation management, species surveys, the importance and value of heritage crafts like hedgelaying). This combination allows you to get a very complete understanding of the job you are carrying out, while giving you a variety of skills and experience that will help in the wider world of work. I also think apprenticeships can be really helpful for those wishing to get in to a competitive industry, where it can seem difficult where to begin.
What have been the challenges so far?
Probably the most challenging aspect so far has been learning to use power tools. Learning to fell tries was incredibly interesting but also quite nerve-racking. Luckily our instructor was very helpful, and we all overcame this challenge and passed the course.
What’s been the highlight of your time in the National Park as an apprentice so far?
There are many! Since I spend most of my working days at Seven Sisters Country Park. Much of the practical work we do focuses on the large areas of chalk grassland found there. I have found learning about this habitat fascinating. Not only is the incredible diversity of plants and insects that can thrive there staggering, but learning how this a man-made landscape that needs careful management and grazing has been really interesting. I also enjoyed learning the craft of hedge laying.
What are your future aspirations for your apprenticeship?
During the rest of my apprenticeship, I hope I can continue gaining experience working in conservation and land management, and contributing to the great work the rest of the team are doing at Seven Sisters. I also hope to continue taking courses on other areas that I’m interested in, such as woodland management and bird ringing.