Hawk inspires countryside career of Harper Adams University student

Posted 12 June 2017

After finishing school, Daniel Willis started working in an office. However, he soon came to realise that this wasn’t the career path he wanted to follow after getting a Harris hawk.

The 27 year-old BSc (Hons) Countryside and Environmental Management student from Swindon, Wiltshire, said: “I was 25 years-old when I started at college, making me the oldest student in the class.

“The reason for returning to education was because I’d decided to quit the drab office lifestyle I’d been working in for seven years in order to pursue my passion for the countryside. This interest was ignited by getting my, now six-year-old, hawk.

“While at college I studied gamekeeping and countryside management.

“I picked up a lot of knowledge and skills during the two years at college and aim to keep improving this while at Harper.

“My eventual goal is to work within the Forestry or Botany professions in Canada.”

To help Daniel reach his goal, he has recently been awarded a John Hepworth Scholarship.

On this, Daniel said: “I’m so pleased to have been given this scholarship. It’s great to be recognised.

“Some of the money has already been put towards vocational courses to help further my ambitions. The rest will be used to further my education.”