Trills: Nature Recovery Apprentice at Hyde Park Source
Career Progression: Following the end of their placement, Trills maintained their varied work at two of the organisations as a Co-Director at Fruit Works Co-operative and as a Volunteer Co-ordinator and Assistant Co-ordinator of Outdoor Education at Hyde Park Source.
Trills, 28, from Leeds, wanted to take a different career path and try something new and fulfilling – and outdoors! As a Nature Recovery Apprentice at Hyde Park Source, Trills engages in community centred work, which is progressing their interest in cultivating connections between people and nature.
Before New to Nature, Trills was struggling to find work, and they hadn’t found fulfilment in any of their past jobs. This placement was a chance to transform Trills’ life, through gaining new skills and a new type of employment.
Trills was drawn to the people-powered nature of Hyde Park Source, a small and local organisation. During their placement, Trills also works with at Leeds Coppice Workers and Fruit Works Co-operative. These two organisations strongly appealed to Trills, who found the collaborative structure of worker co-operatives motivating and aligned with their political beliefs. This community drive has helped Trills develop working relationships, the most fruitful part of their role. They have learnt to value people and relationships as much as purpose and output.
As well as stronger working relationships, Trills hopes to gain stable and secure employment; experience in new scenarios; a range of skills; knowledge of growing and gardening; and more confidence. They were surprised at their lack of self-assurance in this new role, but confidence is coming with time and Trills has learnt many things about themself during this experience.
Each day is spent outdoors but in many different ways. Trills could be planting orchards with community groups and schools, pruning trees, or even making products out of the trees felled with chainsaws! Being outside in their tasks has profoundly boosted Trills’ mental health; both the physicality of this role and connecting with people through nature has made them realise they don’t want to ever work mostly indoors again.
Beyond the placement, Trills hopes to continue this land work. Eventually, they seek to become a master pruner and confidently run workshops that facilitate groups of people to connect with nature. Co-creating joyful spaces and bringing people together through nature is Trills’ ultimate goal.
Trills said:
“I didn’t really know I wanted any of this before I started this placement! It’s opened up a whole new path for my life to go down. I now have lots of connections and experience that will springboard these ambitions for me.
“Mental health wise, winters can be a tough time for me, but this winter I haven’t felt the blues so much, and I really put that down to working outside. Overall, my mental health has benefitted a huge amount due the way my life has changed since starting this apprenticeship.
“I’ve been offered lots of 1-1 coaching and support sessions, phone calls, adjustments, and involvement in meetings. It’s been very helpful, and I’ve felt truly supported and like my needs were always heard.
“When I do my stretches properly after work, I know I’m doing my body a lot of good by being physical in my working day.
So many people who are desperate to work in this sector haven’t got a chance because it’s so competitive. People should definitely get more access to these roles as it’s been so life-opening.
New to Nature is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the King’s Coronation, delivered through a partnership of Groundwork, The Prince’s Trust, Disability Rights UK, Mission Diverse and the Youth Environmental Service.
