Hello everyone its Heather. Its been a long time since I’ve left Writhlington School and blogged last. This is a little update of what I’ve been up to after leaving the Orchid Project.

After I finished A levels I took a gap year where I spent 5 months in Rwanda, which was all documented on this blog which is where I left you last. Since then I have started at the University of Chester studying Conservation Biology I am finding everything very fascinating and enjoying expanding my knowledge beyond orchids. Even though I have moved away to university my passion for traveling hasnt gone. This summer I spent 6 weeks in Malawi of which 4 weeks were spent volunteering on a Carnivore research project in Kasungu National Park working mostly with leopards and hyenas. I was able to get involved in current research about human-wildlife conflict and learn key tracking and identification skills as unlike orchids, carnivores don’t stay in the same place. After my time in Kasungu National park, I spent 2 weeks traveling Malawi and visited Lake Malawi and kayaked to see the amazing cichlids.

I am about to start my second year at Chester and cannot wait for what traveling opportunities it brings.