Bridgwater College second year student Rebecca Woodgate, is about to successfully complete her Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Countryside Management and is also the new Poldens Landscape Champion for the Somerset and Bristol Branch of Butterfly Conservation.

Butterfly Conservation is the UK charity dedicated to saving butterflies, moths and our environment. Their research provides advice on how to conserve and restore habitats and they run projects to protect more than 100 threatened species and are involved in conserving hundreds of sites and reserves.

The voluntary role Rebecca will be undertaking is new and will involve undertaking butterfly and moth surveys, monitoring, liaising with land owners, arranging and leading practical work sessions and public events with the organisations involved in the Polden Hills landscape.

Rebecca, of Alford, Castle Cary said,

“This is a new position for Butterfly Conservation and I thought this was something I would really like to get involved with and am excited at the prospects it holds. I have a special interest in butterflies and this is a great experience along with my other volunteering and college course. I had a meeting with Rachel Jones of Butterfly Conservation who I had worked with on the Large Blue project and John Andrews, Branch Chairman and after some discussion we were all happy with what would be involved in the position.”

Rachel Jones, Conservation Officer for Butterfly Conservation said,

“The Polden Hills landscape is important for a number of species of butterflies and moths and there is a lot of brilliant work being achieved by many organisations and volunteer groups, many of which Rebecca is already involved with. The Landscape Champion Role is an exciting new voluntary role with Butterfly Conservation Somerset and Bristol Branch. Rebecca has been an important volunteer throughout our recent Biffa Award funded project on the Large Blue in the Polden Hills, helping with practical work and with butterfly monitoring so it is great that she has decided to take up a more official role with the local branch. I look forward to working with Rebecca more in the future as part of my ongoing work in the Polden Hills.”

If you would like more information about studying Countryside Management at Bridgwater College please contact our Information and Guidance team on 01278 441234. If you would like to know more about Butterfly Conservation please visit www.butterfly-conservation.org.