Cara Donald Email & Phone Number

North Highlands, Scotland

Operations Officer - Strategic Projects & PartnershipsMain Areas of Work:• Working within multi-agency project team to successfully submit bid to UNESCO for The Flow Country World Heritage Site inscribed in July 2024Representing Nature Scot within the Highland Tourism Partnership to develop Highland Tourism Strategy (temporarily from May 2024 onwards)Providing ongoing verbal and written reports to a wide range of stakeholders as well as briefing documents for elected representatives and Scottish Ministers relating to the Flow Country, Caithness & Sutherland SAC extension, Northwest Highlands Geopark• Agri-Environment Climate Scheme casework across Highlands and associated trainingRepresent Nature Scot & stakeholder engagement across Sutherland and Caithness Community Partnerships and Biodiversity, Tourism and Access forums across the regionSite Condition Monitoring

Aviemore, Scotland, United Kingdom

Have received training in:- Visitor Experience Planning- Exceeding Visitor Expectations- Forester Web- developing social media audiences- trail checks- ongoing upkeep of the visitor centre. In addition I have trained and managed temporary stewards in their duties as well as ongoing duties of monitoring busy visitor sites, trails and facilities. In all work our aim is to engage positively with visitors and provide excellent visitor experiences while ensuring difficult messages are conveyed professionally, clearly and consistently. I have also been required to attend meetings with other FLS teams, such as Land Management Planning, stakeholder meetings such as the Beach Managers Forum and Easing of Lockdown Management Scenario Planning meeting. Often in place of the Area Visitor Services Manager. Due to the volume of visitors coming to the Glenmore area, following easing of COVID-19 restrictions, I was also responsible for the management and onsite training and supervision of a team of up to 15 temporary stewards. As staff new to both FLS and in most cases visitor engagement work, I was required to provide Health and Safety training, ensuring COVID-19 procedures were followed and assigning work required throughout the site depending on issues arising.

Stirlingshire

Ranger covering North of Stirling Council area:Responsible for co-ordinating site projects to maintain and enhance the biodiversity and access to multiple greenspace sites for local communities and provide support to community groups operating in volunteer activities to achieve these aims.To work as part of an Operations team to implement site management prescriptions for green space sites which are under the control of the Council.Undertake a programme of site patrols, tree inspections and appropriate maintenance tasks. Trained in LANTRA Basic Level 1 Tree inspection.Undertake Environmental Education working directly with schools or community groups including John Muir Awards (John Muir Award Leader qualified) and Branching Out .Provide site environmental interpretation and information for residents and visitors.Work with and provide support to encourage community green space and voluntary sector environmental initiatives, for example local green space activity programmes/projects with volunteers or green space Friends groups.Carry out environmental monitoring to enable information gathering for site management strategies.Participate in policy and project working groups in the Council and with other agencies as required by the service.

Dunfermline

Delivery of :Undertaking ecological surveys on Fife Council property including Phase 1 Habitat and bat surveys Pittencrieff Park HLF projects (2012-2016) - Signage & Interpretation projects (leaflets, website and signage)Environmental education programme for schools, youth groups and volunteersOutdoor eventsVoluntary opportunities for public, community groups, youth groups and corporate groupsJohn Muir Award programmes (completed John Muir Award Leader training in early 2016)Green Flag Award- Pittencrieff Park Management Plan*Pittencrieff Park being voted the Best Park in Scotland in the Fields in Trust UK's Best Park 2019 awards.* Have received training in:Outdoor First AidVolunteer ManagementConflict ResolutionBat Ecology and Survey MethodsWildlife CrimePhase 1 Habitat Upland Surveys (already having experience in Phase 1 Habitat Surveys)Lowland Leader

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey

Delivery of:Environmental educationOutdoor, countryside eventsCountryside access and promoting the Scottish Outdoor Access CodeWildlife monitoring including red squirrels, butterflies and birdsSmall Mammal surveys at Merkinch LNRRed Squirrel Transect monitoringButterfly Transect monitoring

Dean Castle Country Park

Assisted and co-ordinated countryside events and environmental education activities.Promoting Scottish outdoor access code.Co-ordinated a series of Phase 1 Habitat Surveys contributing to LBAP.

Dean Castle Country Park

As above

Master Of Science (Msc), Wildlife Biology And Conservation, Pass

• Completed courses in Behavioural Ecology, Population and Communities, Biodiversity and Rarity, Scientific Methods, Humans and Wildlife.

Bachelor Of Science (Bsc), Zoology/Animal Biology, 2:2

• Studied a wide range of subjects including Ecology, Animal Biology, Parasite Biology, The Biology and Control of Malaria.