I have just over 12 years of experience in conservation first in land management and as a warden on a nature reserve before expanding into education and survey work. As a freelance surveyor I am currently in my 3rd season having done work for 8 different consultancies over the last 2 years. I have a first class degree in environmental science and geography finishing top of my class, a Level 2 Certificate and Diploma in Work-based Environmental Conservation and a graduate member of CIEEM. I am currently on a distinction in my Masters degree in biological recording pending the results of my dissertation. I have been involved in several projects including a couple of crayfish reintroductions, a signal crayfish control project, a crassula control project, baseline surveys for a beaver reintroduction project, putting in leaky woody debris dams for a slow the flow project, various atlases and bioblitzes, radio tracking polecats and bats, reintroducing and monitoring dormice and mapping and monitoring populations of water vole and otters.
- I have a first class degree in Physical Geography and Applied Environment Science finishing top of my year in Geography 2007-08, 08-09 and 09-10 and in Applied Environmental Science 09-10 and I am currently studying part-time for a Master’s degree in Biological Recording. I also have a Level 2 Certificate and Diploma in Work-based Environmental Conservation, a current outdoor first aid certificate, a site visitor CSCS card, a Level 2 Certificate of Competence in Brushcutting operations, woodchipper and PA1 and PA6 pesticide qualifications. I have a current, clean driving licence with minibus (D1) and trailer licences added as well as ATV (quad bike), 4x4 off-road driving and tractor licences and have my own vehicle available for business use. I currently hold a Great Crested Newt survey licence and in the process of working towards my own level 2 bat, crayfish, natterjack toad and dormouse licences.
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My
main area of interest is invertebrates and I have been involved in several
projects such as the Shropshire Springtail Atlas, earthworm surveys and
butterfly surveys for The National Trust and various Wildlife Trusts and do freshwater
invertebrate/water quality monitoring for a crayfish ARK site. I am also
involved in a Wood White butterfly project covering the West Midlands, managing
habitats and surveying, assist with a Scarlet Tiger project in an urbanised
area of Stourbridge again managing habitats and surveying, invertebrate surveys
as part of a finding rare species project in the Malverns and a project
sterilising signal crayfish in Worcestershire. Currently I am also writing a
Masters Degree dissertation in earthworm survey techniques. I have also
completed a training course in undertaking professional level invertebrate
surveys and writing reports for them. My main invertebrate groups are spiders,
Lepidoptera, soil inverts (earthworms, woodlice, centipedes, millipedes,
pseudoscorpions and springtails) and Hemiptera although I am working on
improving my Diptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera knowledge.
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I
also have a keen interest in bats and have done lots of dawn and dusk surveys
for consultancies over the last year and numerous emergence surveys and bat
walks as a volunteer for various bat groups as well as being involved in
several radio tracking projects, bat box checks, hibernation counts and mist
netting/harp trapping.
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I
have also been involved in amphibian and reptile projects and have undertaken
several newt fencing projects as a field surveyor and have done reptile surveys
and habitat assessments on Cannock Chase and amphibian and reptile surveys for
consultancies including eDNA sampling. I also help monitor a population of
Natterjack toads in Cheshire, do voluntary work for the Gems in the Dunes
project doing habitat management and surveys for Natterjack toads and sand
lizards and run events and training as secretary of the Shropshire and
Staffordshire ARG.
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I
have been active in several mammal projects including dormouse reintroductions,
radio-tracking polecats, microchipping and monitoring Edible dormice
populations, badger vaccinations (which involved helping with surveying,
pre-baiting, setting the traps and then assisting the vaccinator on the day),
otter holt building, baseline surveying for a beaver reintroduction project, water
vole surveys and habitat assessments, pine marten surveys and the usual small
mammal trapping, owl pellet dissections and dormice box checks. I have also
done breeding bird surveys and targeted species searches for woodcock,
nightjar, lesser spotted woodpeckers and swifts.
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I
additionally have experience in a range of hands-on conservation work including
firewood preparation, green wood working, charcoal production, meadow mowing,
heather brash strewing and re-seeding, hedgelaying, path clearance and
creation, car park repairs, installing benches, signs, barriers and noticeboards,
bee beach creation, making scrapes for Green Hairstreak and Dingy Skipper
butterflies, clearing areas of invasive species, heather burning, dry stone
walling, reedbed, wildflower and tree planting, tree felling, pollarding,
coppicing, ring-barking trees for standing deadwood, orchard maintenance and
restoration, spraying invasive plants, ditch digging, constructing and
installing dormice, bird and bat boxes, bug and bee hotels, boardwalks, green
roofs, stock fences, deer fences, rabbit-proof fences, tern rafts, culverts,
steps, styles, bridges, otter holts, raised plant beds and gates. I have
trained groups as well, particularly NEETs and young adults with learning
difficulties a variety of different skills such as coppicing and hedgelaying
and currently run hedgelaying and coppicing training courses.
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