My name is Ellie Micklewright and I’m a 18 year-old naturalist with a particular passion for wildlife gardening. I wanted to inspire more young people to get involved with nature and therefore started a wildlife gardening club at my school from scratch. Following my work to start this club, fundraise and design projects, I was amazed to be awarded the RHS Young School Gardener of the Year 2018.

My love for nature was encouraged from a very early age, as I was fell-walking before I could run! I still love to hike and enjoy seeing moorland waders and birds of prey, when I’m out and about. But the significant turning point in my enthusiasm and involvement in nature occurred when I attended the BTO Bird Camps at Thetford in 2017 and 2018, which were sponsored by the Cameron Bespolka Trust. I was astonished by the commitment of the other young birders and the huge differences they were already making in the conservation world. The camps also opened my eyes to a world of opportunities, including moth trapping, bird ringing and so much more. I'm now excited to say that I'm a trainee bird ringer with the BTO and have my T permit and I can't wait to see where this take me! 

The camps helped motivate and give me the confidence to transform the school environment through our wildlife gardening club but also to join the BTO's Youth Advisory Panel. On YAP we have created a youth engagement strategy, recruited regional Youth Representatives and launched an Equipment Donation scheme and Teacher Panel. This experience led me to then also join the management committee of the Shropshire Ornithological Society. 

I fully support the work of the Cameron Bespolka Trust as I’ve have experienced first-hand the benefits that an involvement in nature can bring to young people, including myself and the students at my wildlife gardening club. It is especially important to support a love of nature in as young people as we are the potential conservationists of the future.