Work experience (and a bit of play) at YDMT
October 21, 2010
This blog was written by Hannah – who we’ve had the pleasure of having with us on work experience this week.
“This week I have been doing work experience at the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust. I chose to come here for a number of reasons. Mainly because there are a lot of different types of jobs involved within the Trust. Being a charity, there’s quite a bit to do with fundraising, and finance and administration. Then there are the projects, which are a big part. The projects aim to improve or sustain the Yorkshire Dales. Projects such as People and the Dales, which leads fun and exciting activities in the dales, it aims to benefit ethnic minority groups, disabled people, urban disadvantaged and young people.
Yesterday I went out with Judy Rogers and a group of people from Bradford. As soon as we met them we got hats, boots (which some were reluctant to wear) and coats sorted out and took a small ride to Hoffman Kiln that lies between Langcliffe and Stainforth. The people in the group were older, but that certainly didn’t stop them. Firstly we went into the kiln and Judy told us a bit about it. For example, how it was used to burn limestone, and then the ashes were spread on fields as it helped the grass grow, and how the people that worked there would get their skin burnt by the limestone. I found all this very interesting, I had a feeling the group did too; now and then I’d here a gasp as they hung on her every word.
We then took a walk across a field up to where some English Crayfish are kept, to be protected from the American Crayfish which are killing them. Whilst we were in the field one man thought it was a good opportunity to do his daily exercise. He ran out into the middle of the field and started to squat, up, then down, then up, then down again. Even the sheep stopped to watch him. He thought it was great fun and I think we all did too!
After all that, you may have guessed we’d be a little bit peckish, and so we headed down into Stainforth to the village hall to have our lunch. The group had brought a proper dinner, pasta, chicken, bananas, Rubicon, well let’s just say, there was a lot. After everyone had finished, they realised they’d made too much chicken pasta, so they gave it to me for my chickens. Yes I know it sounds cannibalistic and a little bit wrong but hey, free pasta! And my chickens certainly appreciated it.
After all that we went to Stainforth Foss for a bit. We took some group photos and watched the waterfalls. Then it was time to say goodbye, after a great day that everyone had enjoyed, I know I did.
So, this week I’ve gone from copying questionnaires onto a spreadsheet, to visiting a pool of well protected Crayfish, and to be honest with you, I’ve enjoyed all of it.”
