Role involves responding to casework concerning tree establishment in the West Midlands area. Casework can come in from private individuals, organisations or via the Forestry Commission. Providing a response involves making sure tree establishment and woodland creation does not negatively impact on priority habitats, species, protected sites, public access or peatlands. Successful completion of duties requires good IT skills in Microsoft Office and GIS systems and the ability to deal effectively with consultees via phone, email and in person during site visits. Additionally, I look to proactively influence external partnerships to encourage the strategic establishment where they will have the greatest benefit to nature.

Working on one of DEFRA’s Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) trials. Work involved meeting with landowners to develop prospective land management plans which could be used as a framework for the upcoming ELMS. I would use various databases to inform on the possible options and items that were appropriate for each farm, then following farm visits, would develop the plans.

Temporarily filling in as a reserves officer. Duties included volunteer leadership, managing contractors, livestock husbandry, development of a hedgerow management plan and working as part of a small team of reserves officers.

Running a project with two main aims: working with local communities to develop autonomous wildlife groups. And working with landowners to develop projects based around hedgerow management and creation, woodland creation, meadow restoration and pond creation. Through this project I become more familiar with agri-environment schemes, project management, partnership work, budgeting (>£30k), creation of legal agreements, landowner liaison, management planning, monitoring program creation, producing publicity materials and volunteer group creation. When the Hedgerow Havens Project came to an end in September 2021 and I temporarily filled in as a part time reserves officer until December. This work involved livestock management, volunteer group leadership, supervision of contractors and development of a site hedgerow management plan.

Post involved management of the town’s wildlife areas, collaborating with local wildlife groups, sitting on council committees, encouraging a greater understanding of wildlife issues within the town and working to run volunteer opportunities across the town. Projects completed in this time included the development of several management plans, the creation of a community orchard and the extension of wildlife areas in community green spaces.

This role was primarily practical, involving scrub removal, tree felling, maintenance of machinery and herbicide spraying but also involves an element of liaison with members of the public and other land managers. Additionally, I led a group of approximately 20 volunteers on a weekly basis, performing practical conservation or surveys and regularly supervised students on work experience. Post was full time.

This role primarily involved providing support on various types of survey including: water vole, dormouse, great crested newt, bat, riverfly, white clawed crayfish, phase 1, rapid condition assessment and NVC, as well as the associated disinfection protocols. I was also responsible for assisting on the Hampshire ‘Keeping Rivers Cool’ project, for which I worked on an advisory document for landowners letting them know safe and effective ways to plant trees along river banks. In addition to this, I worked using GIS to determine potential ‘Ark’ sites for white clawed crayfish within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

This role was primarily practical, involving scrub removal, tree felling, maintenance of machinery and herbicide spraying but also involves an element of liaison with members of the public and other land managers. Additionally, I led a group of approximately 20 volunteers on a weekly basis, performing practical conservation or surveys and regularly supervised students on work experience. Post was full time.

Duties included practical habitat management on countryside sites, performing butterfly and rare plant transects, patrolling of countryside and open spaces sites, volunteer liaison and task leadership, running community engagement activities and education sessions with local schools. I also led guided walks for local wildlife groups and acted as a warden on Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust and Dorset Wildlife Trust Heathland sites.