James Moss feels his dreams have come true. James has been a passionate conservationist since childhood, so being Warden at Kingfishers Bridge Nature Reserve is a perfect fit.
"I dedicated so much time to volunteering for wildlife and conservation projects as a teenager, and when I discovered degree courses in Zoology, I knew that was the route for me, " he said.
His days at university are over, but he stressed that there's no end to learning when it comes to conservation and re-wilding. "Every week, every year is different. Weather systems affect so much of what we as conservationists do, and we all know how changeable and hard to predict they are. What works well one year, may completely flounder another. You have to know your site really well, understand how it is going to be affected by the climate, and that only comes with experience."
During his university days, James reflected that conservation was a small element of the Zoology degree studies, but he focussed part of his degree studies on the conservation of Cors Fochno, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Ceredigion Valley in Wales. Cors Fochno is a one of the largest remaining examples of raised peat bog in Britain, and James was fortunate enough to gather data from closed areas of the reserve for most of the three years of his course for his final dissertation.
“When I left, I really wanted to enthuse others for my love of the living world and decided to follow a path into teaching, but I discovered I was missing working outdoors and decided to try to find a hands-on conservation role, which was easier said than done!"
"Conservation roles are few and far between, and I realised that volunteering was the best route forward – a difficult decision after a steady salary for a few years. But I knew that conservation work was where I wanted to be, and I didn’t have sufficient career experience to secure a seasonal warden’s post at that stage."
James searched for opportunities, and secured a year as a volunteer at the National Trust’s Wicken Fen. A volunteers’ cottage came with the role, which meant James had to move from his base in Crewe. James said: "I couldn’t get there fast enough! I had barely visited this area of the country previously, but knew Wicken Fen was an important wetland habitat and that fenland was home to some nationally important species.
James worked hard to make ends meet: "Monday to Friday I was full-time at Wicken Fen, and worked in the local supermarket at weekends to cover food and fuel costs, but it was a fantastic year.
"I visited Kingfishers Bridge (KFB) on many occasions. It’s just down the road from Wicken Fen, and I was intrigued by the conservation work. I really admired Andrew Green’s vision. In many ways he was ahead of his time in his approach to rewilding because he, too, as a young boy had spent so much time observing and documenting the nature around him. Andrew has always had a passion for wildlife and habitat creation, and a willingness to experiment. That’s why the Reserve is here now!"
In autumn 2011, as James' year at Wicken Fen was coming to an end, KFB advertised for an Assistant Warden.
"I simply couldn’t believe my luck! Not so far to travel this time and I was down there in minutes! Its hard to believe that was so long ago. I am so lucky that KFB has become my home, my life, my career, all rolled into one."
"I dedicated so much time to volunteering for wildlife and conservation projects as a teenager, and when I discovered degree courses in Zoology, I knew that was the route for me, " he said.
His days at university are over, but he stressed that there's no end to learning when it comes to conservation and re-wilding. "Every week, every year is different. Weather systems affect so much of what we as conservationists do, and we all know how changeable and hard to predict they are. What works well one year, may completely flounder another. You have to know your site really well, understand how it is going to be affected by the climate, and that only comes with experience."
During his university days, James reflected that conservation was a small element of the Zoology degree studies, but he focussed part of his degree studies on the conservation of Cors Fochno, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Ceredigion Valley in Wales. Cors Fochno is a one of the largest remaining examples of raised peat bog in Britain, and James was fortunate enough to gather data from closed areas of the reserve for most of the three years of his course for his final dissertation.
“When I left, I really wanted to enthuse others for my love of the living world and decided to follow a path into teaching, but I discovered I was missing working outdoors and decided to try to find a hands-on conservation role, which was easier said than done!"
"Conservation roles are few and far between, and I realised that volunteering was the best route forward – a difficult decision after a steady salary for a few years. But I knew that conservation work was where I wanted to be, and I didn’t have sufficient career experience to secure a seasonal warden’s post at that stage."
James searched for opportunities, and secured a year as a volunteer at the National Trust’s Wicken Fen. A volunteers’ cottage came with the role, which meant James had to move from his base in Crewe. James said: "I couldn’t get there fast enough! I had barely visited this area of the country previously, but knew Wicken Fen was an important wetland habitat and that fenland was home to some nationally important species.
James worked hard to make ends meet: "Monday to Friday I was full-time at Wicken Fen, and worked in the local supermarket at weekends to cover food and fuel costs, but it was a fantastic year.
"I visited Kingfishers Bridge (KFB) on many occasions. It’s just down the road from Wicken Fen, and I was intrigued by the conservation work. I really admired Andrew Green’s vision. In many ways he was ahead of his time in his approach to rewilding because he, too, as a young boy had spent so much time observing and documenting the nature around him. Andrew has always had a passion for wildlife and habitat creation, and a willingness to experiment. That’s why the Reserve is here now!"
In autumn 2011, as James' year at Wicken Fen was coming to an end, KFB advertised for an Assistant Warden.
"I simply couldn’t believe my luck! Not so far to travel this time and I was down there in minutes! Its hard to believe that was so long ago. I am so lucky that KFB has become my home, my life, my career, all rolled into one."