A young wildlife journalist is celebrating after securing a placement on a prestigious national magazine.

Herts Advertiser: A bank vole, an example of Rebecca's work.A bank vole, an example of Rebecca's work. (Image: Archant)

St Albans resident Rebecca Gibson, currently a student at the University of Cumbria, has won a spot with BBC Wildlife magazine.

The BA Wildlife Media third-year said: “I’m absolutely thrilled about my work placement at BBC Wildlife.

“It’s something I saw myself trying to achieve many years down the line, perhaps once I’d become an established writer with experience at other magazines.

“So to be able to join the BBC team while still at university is something I still haven’t quite come to terms with!”

Rebecca has already built a porfolio of wildlife journalism and research, having previously helped catalogue and assemble an entire whale skeleton.

Her placement will be at the magazine’s Bristol headquarters, and involve producing content and managing social media.

She said: ”I first knew it was something I wanted to pursue professionally when I started A-Level photography and got my first DSLR camera, and decided to combine it with my passion for the natural world.

“My love of writing began in a similar way. I wrote endless stories when I was younger and have never lost this passion since.

“I’d read BBC Wildlife magazine and wanted to produce similar work, so I created a blog over two years ago, where I combine my writing and photography to post weekly about experiences I’ve had with wildlife.

“Ultimately, I aspire to have a permanent job with BBC Wildlife, so any experience I can gain during the internship will be invaluable.”

Rebecca has also written for The Cumberland News, Watchtree Nature Reserve, and the UK’s youth nature network ‘A Focus on Nature’.

Rebecca’s course leader Laura Baxter said: “Her interest in writing for publications was developed on a summer placement this year with ‘Student and Graduate Publishing,’ who produce three student magazines for undergraduate, postgraduate and international students.

“Rebecca wrote articles for the three publications, edited pieces from other members of the team, and assisted with preparations for their university fair events.”