Habitat Surveyor and Botanist

• Nov 2022 - Present

I undertake voluntary botanical and habitat surveys for across Oxfordshire. I collect and submit botanical species records, as well as providing citation information for protected sites across the county. This information includes any records of notable protected or invasive species as well as advice on habitat management, restoration and enhancement. I undertake voluntary botanical and habitat surveys for across Oxfordshire. I collect and submit botanical species records, as well as providing citation information for protected sites across the county. This information includes any records of notable protected or invasive species as well as advice on habitat management, restoration and enhancement.

Senior Ecologist

• Oct 2022 - Present

Ecologist

• May 2019 - Oct 2022

As an ecologist, I undertake a variety of surveys to record the presence of Bats, Reptiles/Amphibians, Dormice and Great Crested Newts (GCN), in a range of different habitats. I am experienced with a variety of software packages including GIS software, Kaleidoscope bat analysis software and MAVIS software, as well as trained to use a range of different surveying equipment, including handheld bat echometres, static bat echometres, dormice nesting tubes, reptile mats, and GCN bottle traps. I am an experienced botanist, attaining a FISC Level 5 certification, as well as regularly undertaking phase I, NVC and biodiversity net gain condition assessment surveys. I am further skilled in biodiversity offsetting and Net Gain Assessments metrics 2.0 and 3.0, evaluating how habitats are conserved and incorporated throughout different development schemes. These skills have further been used to implement bespoke restoration and bio-remediation management measures to compliment a range of ecological solutions.I project manage a wide range of sites from small-large scale housing developments, as well as industrial and land extraction projects. This includes overseeing as well as undertaking the collection of data and further creating ecological reports for a variety of purposes. This has led to a keen understanding of a range of mitigation measures for specific protected species, as well as to reduce impacts towards international to local designated sites. I have also achieved my Great Crested Newt level 1 survey licence and am working towards my rare reptile protected species survey license.

Assistant Ecologist

• Jun 2015 - Oct 2022

Ecologist

• May 2014 - Oct 2022

I have a student membership with the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, as an ecologist. I am pursuing a career as an ecological consultant after I have graduated.Additionally I have attended training courses covering a variety of skills including Biodiversity Offsetting. I have a student membership with the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, as an ecologist. I am pursuing a career as an ecological consultant after I have graduated.Additionally I have attended training courses covering a variety of skills including Biodiversity Offsetting.

Volunteer

• Jun 2015 - Aug 2015

As a volunteer for the Thames Valley Records Centre (TVERC) I created a freshwater invasive species monitoring project, as part of the team. This work saw me collecting data and information from local wildlife organisations, designing and delivering questionnaires on the invasive species which this project would cover. I was responsible for reporting on the development of this citizen science project, including the creation of the data collection methods, notably designing a wildlife recording (mobile) application. In addition to this, I created GIS map layers to display the invasive species records collected, as the data output of this project. This project is continuing to improve the monitoring of the freshwater invasive species recording across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, to help provide effective management of these species.

Volunteer

• Jun 2012 - Aug 2015

As a volunteer, I worked both on Argal, Stithians and College Reservoirs performing a range of tasks such as surveying, practical management and monitoring. In particular I became heavily involved with the introduction of European otters, monitoring there progress within the Argal reservoirs. Within this role, I was responsible for engaging with the public on a daily basis in order to provide information on the reservoirs and was part of a team that helped to make the College reservoir pathway accessible for the public. In addition to this I started a project to monitor the presence and condition of the European otter (Lutra lutra) population on the Argal reservoir and College lake. This involved me implementing a variety of survey techniques, including camera trapping, spraint analysis and recording basic otter evidence (e.g. Spraints, prey remains and tracks), to establish the presence, and provide an estimate on the population abundance. I collated and documented this evidence in a final report, improving my ecological report writing skills as well as my surveying skills.

Bat carer

• Oct 2014 - Oct 2014

I participated in a course training to become a bat carer. This gave me basic experience in bat rescue, identification, handling, legistlation and primary care. I am enthusiastic about taking these skills further to become a qualified bat carer. I participated in a course training to become a bat carer. This gave me basic experience in bat rescue, identification, handling, legistlation and primary care. I am enthusiastic about taking these skills further to become a qualified bat carer.

Environmental Advisor

• Jun 2014 - Jul 2014

As an environmental advisor my roles were spread across various construction sites, surveying and providing information on numerous environmental features. This work saw me heavily involved with various wildlife legislation, as well as tree protection orders so that solutions could be established to get the proposed works done. I became closely involved with soil sampling and waste management on site, in order to prevent environmental contamination from the construction works. Additionally I became part of a team which managed noise pollution, which saw me constructing a noise mitigation solution for the works on site. As a result of my work I produced several ecological reports using GIS software and previous ecological reports, to accurately display key issues (For example Japanese Knotweed and badger sets) in the surrounding environment that needed to be addressed in the proposed areas of construction.

Volunteer

• Jul 2013 - Jul 2013

As part of a team, working on Alagadi beach, Northern Cyprus, I was involved with a variety of tasks, including collecting turtle nesting data and taking tours around the beaches and explaining the work of SPOT and the ecology of Green and Loggerhead turtles. As a data collector I took part in night shifts (20:00-05:00), collecting data about the species and size of the turtle as well as the location, depth and temperature of the nest.In addition to this I took part in various methods of tagging (satellite, PIT tags, metal flipper tags) the turtles in order to collect data on returning nesting individuals to the beach. On different turtle nesting beaches, during day shifts, I was part of a team responsible from collecting similar data, based on the tracks left by the turtles the previous night.

Peer coaching leader

• Sep 2012 - Jul 2013

Alongside my university career I have helped out with the peer coaching team acting as a leader to help my fellow 1st year students with aspects of their courses and general university life. This allowed me to develop good communication skills enabling me to form positive group dynamics. Alongside my university career I have helped out with the peer coaching team acting as a leader to help my fellow 1st year students with aspects of their courses and general university life. This allowed me to develop good communication skills enabling me to form positive group dynamics.

Trainee Zookeeper

• Aug 2011 - Aug 2011

I was exposed to a variety of activities during this experience, which include feeding and mucking out animal pens. This gave me an insight into possible future career opportunities and provided me with skills that enable me to work both individually and as part of a team. I was exposed to a variety of activities during this experience, which include feeding and mucking out animal pens. This gave me an insight into possible future career opportunities and provided me with skills that enable me to work both individually and as part of a team.

Work Experience

• May 2011 - May 2011

During my time at the Melvin Stafford Veterinary Practice, my role varied and I was fortunate enough to be an assistant for surgery vets. Other roles that I undertook were in animal care, receptionist work and accompanying a vet with cattle vaccinations. This provided me insight as to a possible career opportunity and provided me with skills in both animal welfare and helping out the public. During my time at the Melvin Stafford Veterinary Practice, my role varied and I was fortunate enough to be an assistant for surgery vets. Other roles that I undertook were in animal care, receptionist work and accompanying a vet with cattle vaccinations. This provided me insight as to a possible career opportunity and provided me with skills in both animal welfare and helping out the public.