Passionate, hardworking, enthusiastic. Working for nature is what I was put here to do. Give me the chance to help save wildlife, restore habitats and impart knowledge to prioritise nature in society.
I am the person who can bring the most dedication, the most passion and the most enthusiasm to the job. I can talk in depth to one person, and can address a room full of people with warmth and intent. I am friendly, knowledgable, approachable and brave. I love nature with all that I am and am looking to dedicate that to my role.
My specialist areas are wildlife education, and sharing nature with people - helping to educate, enthuse and bring out in them that relationship we all inherently have with the natural world. I want the people I meet, and the encounters they have in nature to change them as a person - so they go away reflecting on what they can do for nature in their lives.
My passions are bringing nature to people and people to nature. I am particularly interested in the mental health benefits time in nature can give, and the importance of bringing nature into the lives of children (in particular from an urban background) and those suffering from social isolation.
It is my intent to allow people to experience and reprioritise nature, and my dream is to see a shift in the culture of modern society that centralises nature - on a practical, emotional and spiritual level.
x10 GCSE's A0C
X4 A Levels including Biology
2:2 BA in the History of Art
* NVQ Visitor Services
* NVQ Business Administration
* Funadmentals of Project Planning and Management (Darden School of Business) Futurelearn, 2019
* Emergency First Aid at Work (2018)
* Equality and Diversity levels 1-4 (2009)
* Information Governance (2009)
* Risk Assessment Training (2011)
* Risk Assessor Training (2011)
Looking at distance learning MSC/Foundation Ecology training when funds allow.
Driving
Machinery
Chemicals
NGB Awards
Animal
RHS Qualifications (or Equivalent)
Outdoor Education
Other
Volunteer Work Experience:
Date: 2003-2007
Organisation: The Wordsworth Trust, Grasmere, Cumbria
Role: Full time Volunteer Heritage Officer
* Working alongside volunteers and training new starters
* Giving guided tours and public talks
* Organising and attending events
* Working in the shop and museum areas
* Security – locking up the site etc
* Subsequently promoted to a paid position of Bookings Officer which involved coordinating the charities group visits (20,000 people a year), and managing volunteers, handing out project work etc, please see CV for a full list of duties/responsibilities
* I was also promoted to Marketing Officer after this, please see CV for a full list of duties/responsibilities
Date: 2008 - 2017
Organisation: Kirkleatham Owl Centre
Role: Volunteer Co-Ordinator and Rehabilitation Officer
* Managing the Centre in absence of the Director
* Security of the site / key holder
* Feeding and general care of the owls and aviaries (cleaning, structural work and repairs etc)
* Hand rearing of captive bred owls and other animals
* General care of animals – reindeer, meerkats, mongoose, horses, harvest mice etc
* Involved in the care and rehabilitation of injured / orphaned baby birds brought into the centre
* Involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of all owls, other birds (notably Birds of Prey) and wildlife brought into the centre
* Researching suitable release sites, co-ordination of releases
* Assisting in flight displays
* Assisting in the Centre’s “Bird of Prey Experience” and photography days
* Construction of nest boxes (Barn, Tawny, Little owl and Kestrel)
* Taking payments / working in the shop area
* Working with educational groups
* School visits
* Wildlife talks with community groups
* All marketing activities
* Maintenance and development of the Owl Centre’s social media activities – Facbook, Twitter, Flickr, Blogger
* Representing the Owl Centre in the press / radio etc
* Attending events
* Volunteer rota, assessment and placements
* Talking to visitors, taking bookings and answering queries
* Membership recruitment
* Actively participate in the Owl Centre’s charity work (2012 – Coast to Coast twice, National 3 Peaks, Lyke Wake Walk)
Date: 2010
Organisation: North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority
Role: Conservation Volunteer / Hawk and Owl Trust Volunteer
* Taking part in conservation work parties
* Scrub clearance
* Geo – textiling
* Heather burning and general moorland management
* Fencing (and maintenance)
* Footpath maintenance
* Habitat management (wildflower meadows, heath, coastal verges)
* Mammal / bird survey work
* Ditching
Date: June 2010 – September 2010
Organisation: North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority
Role: “MAD” (Make a Difference) Volunteer
* Footpath maintenance work
* Drainage work (forestry / Cleveland Way)
Date: July 2010 – November 2010
Organisation: North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority
Role: Water Vole, Mink and Otter Project Volunteer
* Monitoring rafts for signs of water vole, mink and otter within a mapped catchment area
* Recording signs / sightings
* Collecting samples
* Producing regular reports on status to Project Officer
Date: September 2010 – February 2011
Organisation: RSPB – Saltholme Reserve
Role: Reserve Volunteer
* Footpath maintenance work
* Educational activities
Date: October 2010 – December 2010
Organisation: North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority
Role: “HOOTS” (Hawk and Owl Trust) Volunteer
* Taking part in conservation work parties
* Scrub clearance
* Heather burning and general moorland management
* Habitat management (wildflower meadows, heath, coastal verges)
* Ditching / subsidence management
Date: May 2010 – present
Organisation: National Trust
Role: Conservation Volunteer
* Himalayan Balsam pulling
* Event attendance
* Educational activities
* Path work
* Woodland thinning
Surveys undertaken:
* Water vole and Otter survey – North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority (Spring / Summer 2010)
* Wildflowers Count Surveyor – Plantlife International (Spring / Summer 2011)
* Birdbox surveys - yearly (Natural Trust)
* Bat surveys (sunrise/sunset, field) (2017/8)
Other relevant experience / knowledge / interests:
* BTO Ringing Trainee
* Native flora identification
* Native fauna identification, scat ID,
* Behavioural/feeding signs (mammals)
* Experience of general outdoor work (stables, BTCV volunteering days)
* Excellent knowledge of COSHH, and experience of working in and cleaning outside areas (pens / stable / farm areas)
* Good general knowledge of native mammal / bird behaviour, habitats etc
* Experience in working as a volunteer
* Experience in supervising volunteers
* Experience in working for a charity
* Physically fit and love for the outdoors
Marketing and PR skills:
* Budget setting and management
* Information collation / report writing and presentation
* Designing / writing leaflets, flyers and adverts – and organising their production and distribution
* Event organisation and attendance
* Writing press releases
* Writing and editing newsletters
* Proof reading and editorial
* Managing Twitter and Facebook sites on behalf of organisations
Computer skills/ Experience:
* NVQ level 2 in Business Administration (June 2011)
* R.S.A C.L.A.I.T word processing levels 1, 2, 3 (1999)
* Word, Access, Excel (spreadsheets, reports), Adobe, PowerPoint, Photoshop, Publisher, Visio, Outlook (Office 03,07 & 10)
* Monitoring online forums
People Skills:
* NVQ level 2 in Visitor Services (gained during a volunteer placement)
* Experience of dealing with queries, complaints, aggression, and delicate and/or confidential situations and information
* Experience in giving educational talks and guided talks/tours to
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