THE Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has been providing work experience to two LEMUR+ students to enable them to gain skills in conservation and environmental work.

Stephen Shutt and Sophie Anderson are the latest trainees on the Learning Environments in Marine, Urban and Rural Areas (LEMUR) Project, led by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust and funded by the Heritage Lottery. It provides career opportunities with organisations like the Wye Valley AONB, by offering professional on the job practical experience in technical skills such as wildlife habitat surveying, habitat management, species identification and project management.

Phil Burton, LEMUR project manager, was very emphatic about the need for this project. He said: “Under current predictions, it is expected that there will be a seriously depleted number of skilled naturalists that are able to provide the level and quality data required to inform biodiversity planning.

“This may have serious implications for our ability to monitor species dynamics as a result of climate change.”

The Wye Valley AONB Unit has worked with a number of trainees since 2011, all of whom have gone on to work within the environmental and conservation sectors. The two latest trainees came along very different paths to their LEMUR+ placements at the Wye Valley AONB offices at Hadnock Road, Monmouth.

Stephen Shutt, 61, is believed to be the oldest LEMUR+ trainee and is currently on a three month placement. He came from a varied background which included the Royal Marines, pub management, security work and manufacturing.

He discovered LEMUR+ and after a four day employability event, he was accepted on the LEMUR+ training placement. Stephen is currently studying for his BSc in Environmental Science with the Open University.

Sophie Anderson, 22, came to the project via a more traditional route. After working in community engagement and horticulture she studied at the University of Reading, Berkshire in applied ecology and conservation.

She sourced the LEMUR placement and was given a nine month placement at the Wye Valley AONB.

Both Sophie and Stephen have had the opportunity to work on surveying the landscape area of Woolhope Dome an area south east of Herefordshire.

Their important survey work was sent onto the National Biodiversity Network who capture wildlife data in a standard electronic form and it has contributed to the biodiversity knowledge of the Wye Valley.