I went to the Big Wild Gathering. This is a national conference event that includes camping and involves staff and trustees from all the wildlife trusts. Including the National Wildlife Trust. My main goals for attending were to network with staff from other trusts and to meet with the National Wildlife Trust (RSWT) Youth Council, which was recently set up earlier in the year. 

To achieve these goals, I wholeheartedly participated in any conferences, talks, and discussions I could over the 3 days I was there, while arranging to meet with the RSWT Youth Council when I was available. Some of the session themes I attended were PRIDE, policy, sustainable food, and landscape recovery.  I think I achieved these goals well, as other LWT staff praised me for mixing with other staff and representing the Trust well. A highlight for me was the “Marine Room,” a small, quiet space featuring native marine crafts and activities, including a sound quiz, a fish necklace-making activity, and a VR experience of diving in the British Channel.

A further challenge we all faced was the heatwave. The Big Wild Gathering took place during the hottest heatwave Britain has ever experienced, with all 3 days reaching a minimum of 40 °C. This meant that some members left early after falling ill from the heat, and we were required to stay hydrated constantly. The event was closed early after reaching 42 °C by 12 pm on Friday, with the peak temperatures expected to skyrocket in the afternoon. 

Despite these challenges, I had fun attending the Big Wild Gathering with staff and Trustees, and the event made me even more proud to have the honour of being a member of the LWT Youth Council.