Practical Conservation Trainees

Seven young people from Falkirk have just started work as practical conservation trainees thanks to a programme supported through IFLI.

The new trainees are the second group to go through the IFLI programme and are engaged and managed through Falkirk Council’s Employment Training Unit. They are supervised day-to-day by TCV Scotland.

During the 13-week IFLI landscape management programme the trainees will be doing practical, work-based training ranging from path maintenance to clearing overgrown scrub, all aimed at increasing their employability. Much of the day-to-day work will be on IFLI project sites throughout the Inner Forth area, including Kinneil Foreshore Local Nature Reserve in Falkirk, and Butterfly Conservation Scotland’s Wester Moss nature reserve in Stirling, where they split their time in the first week.

Through their work trainees will play an important role helping to protect and care for key wildlife and historic sites around the Inner Forth, as well as increasing their skills and knowledge. By completing the Falkirk Employability Award and other recognised training, each trainee on completion of the 13-week programme will build on their positive experiences to support their progression onto further training and employment.

Commenting on the scheme, Kate Fuller, IFLI Community Engagement Officer said, “The Landscape Management Trainee project showcases how well our IFLI projects, which are all funded by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, work together to help conserve, enhance and celebrate the Inner Forth’s landscape. By giving local trainees hands-on experience of working on IFLI’s natural and cultural heritage project sites, we want people to see that these sites not only help tell the story of the landscape, but are places that can be used and appreciated by the community. These places all benefit from careful management, and are ideal sites to help the trainees to develop a range of skills in land and access management.”

Councillor Dennis Goldie, spokesperson for Economic Development at Falkirk Council, said, “This initiative is another excellent example of our work with partners, to help create new and diverse opportunities for young people to gain new skills and experience to help them in their journey towards sustainable employment.”

If you have any enquiries about this IFLI project, please contact Kate Fuller, IFLI Community Engagement Officer at info@innerforthlandscape.co.uk or 01324 831 568.