Student placements

image of young conservationist, Andy Macaulay using binoculars out in the field

Career development

Giving next generation conservationists a solid foundation of practical experience

We offer apprenticeships, internships and student placement opportunities here at Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

From time to time, we are able to offer work experience too. If you're seeking wildlife conservation practical work experience directly in the field whilst studying your nature conservation and/or media courses then get in touch

Student Placements

Once annually, we recruit for students on a recognised sandwich-year course to join one of our teams for up to 10 months to gain real-life  experience in the field, office and within the community, supported through our bursary and training programme. 

Recent placements have joined our Peatlands Team working across Cumbria and our reserves team based at South Walney Nature Reserve.

Apprenticeship scheme

Run bi-annually, our 18-month apprenticeships provide opportunities for young people to work with Cumbria Wildlife Trust and gain hands-on experience in managing our natural heritage, wildlife and environment.

The Marine Futures North West Internship

If you're interested in a career in marine wildlife conservation then The Marine Futures North West Internship programme offers a unique opportunity. Candidates gain skills, knowledge and experience across a variety of marine sectors; helping to inform and shape future career opportunities. Find out more.

foulshaw moss pool at dusk - c- les fitton

© Les Fitton

2024 Student Placement Opportunity - now open

An exciting opportunity to join our Peatlands Team and get involved in innovative restoration works on some of our most remote sites. 

Find out about our Peatland Placement opportunity
Dorothy Farrers 2013

Dorothy Farrers 2013. Steve Pipe

2024 Student Placement Opportunity - now open

A diverse and exciting opportunity to champion nature reserves and habitats as part of our Nature Reserves team. 

Find out about our Nature Reserves placement opportunity
I really think that my time spent working with the Trust has given me invaluable experience of working in my chosen field of study; I’ve been involved with the practical management of various habitat types and I’ve a deeper understanding of ecological concepts studied academically; I hope that these practical skills will help to give me a competitive edge over other graduates when applying for jobs at the end of my final year.
Ian Kane, University of Cumbria placement student 2013-14
University of Cumbria

A short film by school student Rhys Walker after partaking in work experience with Cumbria Wildlife Trust in 2016.

Read more testimonials

Vicky Slugocki, Student Placement, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, summer 2023

I spent 7 weeks volunteering full-time as a placement student for part of my MSci Ecology and Conservation Degree. My main role was to write species reintroduction feasibility studies for the potential reintroduction of Choughs, Water voles, and Harvest mice to Cumbria.

I was able to develop a range of transferrable skills such as communication, self-organisation, and problem-solving, as well as more-specialist skills such as species identification and how to use different tools when helping with habitat management. This really helped to boost both my confidence and my CV, enabling me to advertise the skills I’d developed to prospective graduate employers and achieve a position as a Graduate Ecologist, upon finishing university.

Patrick Gaffney, Volunteer Placement, September 2022 - 2023

I’ve recently joined Cumbria Wildlife Trust on a 6-month volunteer placement as the resident coastal assistant warden down at South Walney Nature Reserve. 

The volunteer placement involves working with the warden and other regular volunteers on the 130 hectares of reserve, whether that be assisting with conservation work, land management, supervising work parties or helping visitors.

Being 3 months into my placement I’ve really enjoyed my time volunteering with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, as every day is different whether I’m working on the reserve or with the Dunescapes project. If feeling like I’m learning new things every day about what it takes to work/volunteer within the conservation sector and that makes the conservation work all the more rewarding.

Andrew Macaulay, Conservation Apprentice, Cumbria Wildlife Trust 2018-2020

I am currently studying Conservation Biology at University of Cumbria. I have just begun my placement with Cumbria Wildlife Trust and I am looking forward to land management work such as peat bog restoration at Foulshaw Moss, that will stand me in good stead for applying for jobs in the conservation sector.

I have a keen interest in plants and birds and during my time at the Trust I hope to develop my identification skills and hone my survey techniques.

Sian Bentley, Conservation Apprentice, Cumbria Wildlife Trust 2016-2018

My two-year traineeship at Cumbria Wildlife Trust has been special and unique as it has given me so much experience, knowledge and direction.

The flexible and supportive nature of the Trust has enabled me to do work where my interests already lie, but still develop new skills and confidence.

I feel very lucky to have had this opportunity and I’m now going to university in September to study Environmental Science. I will definitely be sad to leave!

Ian Kane, Conservation Apprentice, University of Cumbria placement student 2013-14

My placement with Cumbria Wildlife Trust has gone by too quickly. It seems only five minutes since I was disastrously messing up my interview – which I still got through, showing how understanding the staff are – something that continued to be demonstrated throughout the year, I never felt uncomfortable asking questions, or for asking for help.

I really think that my time spent working with the Trust has given me invaluable experience of working in my chosen field of study; I’ve been involved with the practical management of various habitat types and I’ve a deeper understanding of ecological concepts studied academically; I hope that these practical skills will help to give me a competitive edge over other graduates when applying for jobs at the end of my final year.

Now I have done this placement, my future career ideas have changed somewhat; initially, I was interested in working on a species based, ex-situ conservation program, now, I am quite keen on the idea of working on a more landscape based conservation effort such as the work carried out by the Trust.

I still have one more year at university but I’m eager to get it finished and get out there doing something practical again! Massive thanks to everyone I worked with and everyone else who made it possible.

What they said

Blogs by some of our student placements

Marine Conservation

Marine Futures Internship

The Marine Futures North West Internship programme offers a unique opportunity for candidates interested in a career in the marine environment to gain skills, knowledge and experience across a variety of marine sectors; helping to inform and shape future career opportunities.

Find out more