Earth Day – Bailey Tait

My name is Bailey Tait and I studied Geography BSc at Lincoln from 2017-2020. During my time at Lincoln I started the Wildlife Conservation Society and was President for 2 years. We focused on fundraising for endangered species (both UK animals and non UK animals), we also volunteered at local animal charities and raised awareness about the biodiversity crisis.

In my third year I became the Environmental Officer for the Students’ Union and represented the student body on environment matters on campus.

When I graduated I was elected Lincoln Students’ Unions’ first Vice-President Campaigns and Environment for 2020-2021. This was an incredible opportunity to build on my experience and campaign with and for students on all environment and sustainability matters. I worked with the university, the council and student accommodations to get recycling bins in third party accommodation providers and succeeded in 3 of them. This was a huge win for students. I also started the sustainability award and the sustainability module so that no matter what course students do, they have access to information about the climate emergency in the form of an optional module on the SU website.

I now work for Essex Wildlife Trust as their first ever Campaigns Officer. I lead on county wide campaigns to protect wildlife, inspire a lifelong love of nature and encourage people to take action for nature. This could be anything from getting people to do one thing outside everyday for their mental health to petitions to citizen science campaigns to awareness campaigns. One of my favourites is our Big Wild Seed Sow where we give out free packets of seeds to people across the county to increase the amount of insect friendly habitat and create wildflower corridors that expand out across the county.

I’m also assistant editor of our magazine and act as a media spokesperson for the Trust which means I get to go on radio and tv talking all about wildlife and the environment.