I feel particularly motivated to be involved in the TGS Marvellous Meadows project as I am passionate about getting young people to engage with nature; I also believe that this project will demonstrate that rewilding small areas can have a big impact. It can act as a model for other schools to develop their green spaces and re-wild local areas; this may encourage students and staff to use similar methods in their gardens and surrounding areas.  

What did you do after leaving TGS? 
Since leaving Tonbridge Grammar School, I have been a full-time student at Sussex University studying for a Msci in Biology. I have been fortunate to experience a field trip to Pembrokeshire, investigating species in marine habitats, and gain experience in river restoration projects, completing reptile and freshwater invertebrate surveys. In my third year, I completed an in-depth, independent research project investigating the abundance and distribution of earwigs in self-made earwig hotels on sycamore trees in a semi-ancient woodland. I am currently in my final year, investigating the importance of chalk grassland restoration and recreation and how it can help to make the University of Sussex campus more biodiverse. 

What inspired you to become involved in the Marvellous Meadows project?  
I feel that I have built up an appreciation of adaptation to different habitats: I am lucky to live near woodlands and meadows and help my dad manage them for nature conservation. We now have some interesting wildflowers in the fields, including sneezewort. I am also involved in co-leading a project aimed at coordinating the management of nature on neighbouring estates; this includes mapping, exploring technological solutions and liaising with landowners.  

Rewilding has been an emerging interest of mine, brought alive by readings in the past few years of my degree. It is a new, exciting and evolving field. This year I completed a ‘Rewilding and Ecosystem Services’ module, where I learned about the benefits and different practices of rewilding. I got to observe rewilding in action on a camping trip to Knepp Wildlands, where I used camera traps, audiomoths, quadrats and sweep-nets to sample different invertebrates and vegetation. I feel particularly motivated to be involved in the Marvellous Meadows project as I am passionate about getting young people to engage with nature; I also believe that this project will demonstrate that rewilding small areas can have a big impact. It can act as a model for other schools to develop their green spaces and re-wild local areas; this may encourage students and staff to use similar methods in their gardens and surrounding areas.  

How do you think being involved in this project will help current TGS students on their post TGS journeys? 
Spending time in nature is becoming an afterthought in peoples’ busy lives. Yet, nature has positive knock-on effects on mental health and nature-based recreational activity has been proven to reduce stress. The Marvellous Meadows project will provide space to allow students to relax and connect to the world around them in their free time, building up an appreciation for nature that can be carried forward when students leave school. It will also provide an opportunity for students to witness first-hand benefits of the project to surrounding wildlife and gain experience in horticulture and composting. As there are endless possibilities for research using the experimental plots, bug hotels and reptile areas, it will be particularly beneficial for those applying for careers in biology, the environment or geography: it provides students with a fantastic understanding of a variety of habitats and inspires different strategies to conserve them.