From Intern to Trustee: A Conversation with Alex Marshall on Nature, Community and Finding a Path

At Andover Trees United, we often say nature can change lives and sometimes those changes grow in ways you could never predict.

For Alex Marshall, what began as an internship after university became the start of a lifelong journey in conservation. Today, Alex is Citizen Science Officer at Woodland Trust and also serves as a trustee of Andover Trees United. This is a wonderful full-circle story of how volunteering and grassroots action can shape futures, build careers and inspire leadership.

We spoke to Alex about what internships can unlock, why local conservation matters, and how one opportunity can grow into a lasting legacy.

What first drew you to Andover Trees and inspired you to become an intern with us?

I was inspired by the work and passion of Andover Trees, especially the value placed on young people and on nature, and how much had been achieved by an entirely volunteer-led team. I had recently graduated from university, so when I was offered an opportunity to carry out an internship I jumped at the chance, and it was invaluable in allowing me to put my skills and knowledge into practice.

What did a typical day look like during your time at Andover Trees?

No day was the same, I could be working in the field recording wildlife, planning or helping at community tree planting events, leading guided walks or school sessions, creating content for social media, writing funding bids and everything in between!

What’s one experience or moment from your internship that has really stayed with you?

Creating the Nature in Harmony Exchange Project, which was a Roots&Shoots affiliated youth group - teaching young people about trees and ecology, and taking them on an adventure of a lifetime to volunteer in the Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica.

What skills or knowledge did you gain during your time with us?

How to plan, organise and deliver projects, how to support volunteers, and how to network with likeminded individuals.

How did your internship influence your career path?

My internship put me in touch with trees and plants. I hadn’t considered working in woodland conservation beforehand, but I quickly fell in love with the environment and the power that trees have to unite both communities and ecosystems.

Can you tell us about your current role at the Woodland Trust and what it involves?

I’m the Citizen Science Officer responsible for a project called Nature’s Calendar. Nature’s Calendar is a citizen science project all about recording the timings of the changing seasons, anyone in the UK can take part. In my work I support volunteers to record, I communicate our findings and maintain our 300 year old database.

Do you see connections between what you learned at Andover Trees and what you do now?

Yes, both roles involved connecting people to nature, communicating science, studying the data, and inspiring others to make a difference. Andover Trees gives a local grass-roots point of view, whereas the Woodland Trust provides a national perspective. Both are valuable in different ways.

What would you say to someone considering an internship with Andover Trees?

It is a fantastic opportunity to get stuck into a wide range of projects and to really leave a legacy and make a difference.

Why do you think local organisations like Andover Trees are important for conservation?

Local organisations know their community better than anyone. The people running them live in the same town as the people they are working with. With strong networks, friendships and trust comes great teamwork and an understanding of what is most needed in an area, and therefore I think really meaningful results can come from organisations that work together at a local scale.

What does nature mean to you now, both personally and professionally?

Put simply, nature means everything to me.

Alex’s story is a powerful reminder of what can grow from volunteering — not just skills and careers, but confidence, leadership and lasting commitment to the natural world.

For us, it also reflects something deeper: when local organisations invest in young people, remarkable things can happen. Futures are shaped, communities strengthened and new custodians of nature emerge. From intern to trustee, Alex’s journey is something we are incredibly proud to celebrate.

Here’s Alex at our cabin opening back in 2023. Thanks Alex for being and continuing to be a driving force of Andover Trees.