Daisy
Bayman

Why did you choose to study your course at Brackenhurst?

The course sounded perfect from the start. I went to two open days and fell in love with the beautiful campus. The lecturers seemed amazing (they are!), and I was so excited for my passion for preserving wildlife to be put into practice!

Tell us more about your course. What do you enjoy studying the most?

I really enjoy the ecology and natural habitats modules, along with the very interesting research for our assignments, and then putting them into practice in our practicals.

What do you think about the facilities available on your course and what do you use the most?

Me and my friends spend a lot of time in the library, doing assignments, loaning their laptops, etc. We also have our own lockers which are very useful when out on a practical.

What do you think about Brackenhurst Campus? What do you get up to in your spare time?

There is a great range of habitats (woodlands, many ponds, grasslands, hedgerows (that we lay!), and a lovely river that is of great interest for wildlife students, as we can base our study from the campus, and practically work on it.

I tend to go on many walks with my friends, around the campus, spending time down by the river Dumble, and walks into Southwell too. In breaks, we sometimes play football and eat lunch under the trees.

Have you had any support from other departments? How was your experience accessing these/was the service helpful?

I have had support from the employability team, specifically with getting my work placement organised.

What is your top tip for someone considering studying at Brackenhurst Campus?

Talk to as many people as you can. There are so many like-minded people at Brackenhurst, you’ll find your group. Keep a spare change of clothes in your locker (just in case you fall in when doing a pond practical!)

Have you been involved in any placements, work experience or volunteering as part of your course? If so, what did you do and what did you achieve? 

I carried out my work placement at Whisby Nature Reserve near Lincoln and gained valuable experience in the education side of wildlife conservation.

Some further education (FE) groups were also taken to Greenwood tree planting, planting 930 trees in one day!

Why would you recommend your course to someone considering studying it?

The content is so interesting, putting this knowledge into real-life scenarios within assignments that help you learn more and showcase your efforts. The lecturers are so welcoming, kind, and interesting to talk to. The campus is perfect for studying wildlife and managing the habitats, and it feels great to make a difference.

What are your plans for after the course and how do you feel your course has/will help you to achieve that goal?

My plan is to take a travelling gap year, and then look for an internship in either a Countryside Ranger role or as an Ecologist. This course has provided me with very useful knowledge, alongside skills such as writing reports and management plans. The practical experience I have gained has set me up very well so far in terms of confidence and employability skills.

Any additional comments?

I have made many great friends that I’m sure will be life-long. They have really inspired me to continue pursuing my passion and work hard to get where I want to be, making my time at college so enjoyable too.

The practicals we are involved in include pond work (removing invasive species, making barely bags, newt surveys), hedge-laying, bat box making, learning how to use machinery like ATVs and tractors, strimming for the benefit of wildflowers, coppicing, slab and brick-laying, surveys (moth, breeding birds, wildflower, invertebrates, hedgerow etc.)

I am very pleased that I did not take the A-level route, as I wouldn’t have had anywhere near the experience and real-life learning as I have had already on this course. I also love the split between assignments and exams, as opposed to only exams in A-levels.