FOURTEEN-year-old Emily Waters (pictured above left) has recently been on work experience at Manor House Wildlife Park, St. Florence.

Emily is a pupil at Greenhill School, Tenby, and lives in Pentlepoir. She has been on work experience as part of her travel and tourism at school.

I have been on work experience at the Tenby Observer and spoke to Emily to find out more about her work (writes Amy Deverson, seen right).

Emily took French, DIDA, history and travel and tourism at school. She is still not sure what she wants to do as a career, but she says that work experience has geared her in the right way.

Emily worked in the ticket office/reception at Manor House. She met all kinds of tourists and people, which fits in with the course she is taking in school. Emily also helped out in the café and shop, allowing her to get a taste of what a job in that direction might be like.

Emily said she found the work experience interesting. She would like to have a career with people, and have lots of communication, and so this job was perfect. Manor House is one of the main tourist attractions in Pembrokeshire, and so it was full of people all week.

Emily said that working at Manor House was thoroughly enjoyable.

"The park has a nice atmosphere and everyone is very welcoming," she stated. "It's really taken off now, and it's a very happy environment to work in."

Owners, Anna Ryder Richardsoand Colin MacDougall, made her feel very welcome too.

"They were both very interactive and interested in my work experience and what I am doing," she said. "They were both very positive and always smiling."

Emily also said that work experience had made her realise all the different parts of zoo life, and how many people had to come together to make everything work.

She said it was not just caring for the animals, as maths, IT and other subjects were involved too.

"It's a huge project that is going really well!" she added.