Staff Stories: Kat's Transition to the Green Sector
Kat, our Trees for Climate Action Trainee, shares her traineeship journey, and how a background in art fuelled her interest in connecting communities to nature.
Before joining Trees for Cities, Kat’s career was rooted in the arts. She had completed a degree in history, followed by a master's in poetry, which had then led to working in arts administration in London. This job wasn't lacking in creativity, but in Kat's words, "it wasn't very fulfilling."
She decided she wanted more meaningful, nature-connected work. After moving back home to Bradford, she discovered our Trees for Climate Action traineeship opportunity, which would provide a new direction for her career.
Skills, Confidence, and Community Impact
Kat began her traineeship in the summer, contributing early on to the development of a community tree nursery at Woodville Activity Centre, where a space was transformed into a nursery housing over 7,000 trees. What better way to kick off an environmental internship than creating a home for trees of the future!
Over the year, she gained experience in tree planting and woodland condition surveys, community engagement, and leading creative workshops.
I’ve already worked in people-facing roles, but it was really nice to work with such a range of different people. That definitely improved my confidence.
Kat's background in art played a big part in her workshops. By utilising hands-on creativity, such as charcoal drawing sessions using willow and oak from on-site, Kat helped connect people to their local nature, engaging them in new and innovative ways.
I feel like, unless people have a real interest in nature, sometimes it can be difficult to get people to engage with it. Whereas if you give them something else that they were already interested in, it's like a segue into it, building that compassion for the natural world.
Knowledge Development and Sector Awareness
Through practical experience, Kat built foundational knowledge in urban forestry, learning about tree selection, site planning, maintenance, and the multiple benefits of urban trees. While she already valued urban greenery, the traineeship deepened her understanding. “I already knew massively reduced temperatures in cities, but I wasn’t aware of how much. You get an appreciation for just how much they do.”
The traineeship also helps shed light on how green roles intersect with other sectors, providing valuable knowledge on what ways her career path could go.
Plans for the Future
With these new insights, and the hands-on experience the traineeship provides, Kat feels equipped to pursue a green career. Her goal is to work within a city farm, where community and nature intersect. She also plans to continue volunteering and stay involved in upcoming planting events. “Even if I don’t get a job in the sector straight away, I know I definitely want to volunteer.”
We're excited to watch Kat's career grow and flourish as she explores her passion for connecting people to nature. To other young people considering a green traineeship, Kat gave the message:
It’s a really positive way to gain skills and learn on the job. The scope to make it your own - that's the thing I’ve enjoyed the most.
Learn more about Trees for Climate Action
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Generations Growing Together in Keighley
30 April 2025
In Keighley, we've been working with local groups of all ages to co-design and plant a woodland - not just to grow trees, but to grow a stronger community.
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Trees for Climate Action
Young people in Bradford and Glasgow will learn how to tackle the climate crisis with help from experienced professionals working in the environmental sector.
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Greening up Bradford
11 July 2024
We've supported the planting of 60,000 trees in Bradford and with our ongoing Trees for Climate Action project we continue to support local residents to green up their communities!
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