Activity work experience
Our most recent Work Experience trainees, Caroline Frenzel and Finley Kamen, share their experiences working for Heath Hands this summer.
Finley and Caroline
Caroline - I began my interaction with Heath Hands as a Conservation Volunteer at the beginning of 2025 and was utterly charmed by not only the beautiful natural environment but also by the community of volunteers, friends, and members of the public who all come together to support Heath Hands’ work. To see so many people passionately engaging with the Heath and other North London green spaces through Heath Hands was inspiring, so I was more than excited to take on work experience with Heath Hands later in the year.
Through this work experience, I have enriched my understanding of the organisation and the work going into engaging our communities in conservation and supporting this natural resource.
Volunteer Jean, Caroline and Finley at the Highgate Wood Heritage day
I’ve enjoyed helping to lead youth groups, writing poetry amidst nature, attending staff training, exploring the Heath’s wildlife on bug, bat, and butterfly walks, and interacting with the public at our newly opened Information Hut as well as at The Dairy Nature Interpretation Centre. In addition to these hands-on Heath experiences, this was my first opportunity to work with a conservation charity. I learned a great deal about the sector and supported some of the office work that goes into running a conservation charity in areas such as communications, marketing and administration. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have worked on the iconic Hampstead Heath and to have given back to the wonderful community that has welcomed me here. I am sure the skills I further developed will support me in my future endeavours, and I am certain the memories I’ve made with Heath Hands and on Hampstead Heath are ones I will cherish forever.
Caroline and Finley at the newly opened Heath Information Hut
Finley - I’ve been lucky enough to live a short walk from Hampstead Heath for a number of years now. Throughout that time, the Heath has been a constant source of leisure, joy, solace and quiet away from the buzz of city life. From early morning walks to catch the last of the crisp, night air on Parliament Hill, to being sat in the grass, chatting with friends from 2m away during the Pandemic, I have never once regretted visiting the Heath.
Having completed this work experience with Heath Hands, I now see the Heath in a new light - an asset in so many additional ways.
The main difference for me has been to see the Heath as a hub of nature conservation and learning activity, as well as an invaluable resource in generating equitable access to green space in North London. A vital home and nesting ground for so many species of fauna and flora, it has been a humbling and enriching experience to participate in some of the activity that goes towards maintaining the ecosystems on the Heath. It has also been a particular highlight for me to have helped share this space with so many different people, some who had never been to the Heath before.
One of the most rewarding activities for me has been working with the youth and school groups that Heath Hands hosts for nature walks and other activities. Having supported the other session leaders on a couple of these walks – namely a bug hunt and a bird walk – Caroline and I were tasked with leading our own youth group on a nature walk. Whilst having to manage and lead 15-20 school children has its challenges, answering questions about the water birds and seeing the excitement caused by kestrels hovering overhead, have been stand-out moments for me.
A evening bat walk on the 21st of August.
I primarily applied to this 12-week programme to build conservation experience on my CV and contribute to ecological restoration and maintenance in my local area. My time with Heath Hands has been much more than just this. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the Heath Hands team and the community of volunteers and trustees, people who care so much about this slice of the countryside in North London.
