Completed Sustainability & Ecology MSc with the Centre for Alternative Technology
Wildlife survey methods (Phase 1, kick sampling, bird counts etc)
Project management
British flora and fauna knowledge
Bushcraft and use of construction tools (including chainsaw and brushcutter)
Teamwork and leadership
Communication and education
CIEEM Member
Current Activity
Sustainability & Ecology MSc (Sept 2021 - June 2023)
I recently passed my MSc in Sustainability & Ecology with Distinction at the Centre for Alternative Technology. This course has provided me with a broad range of knowledge about the issues and potential solutions for addressing the effects of climate change, and a good foundation for entering a career in this field.
My dissertation research question was: What are the noise absorption characteristics of NVC W8 woodland? My research is designed to provide insights into this habitat's resilience to noise pollution and provide evidence for developing new research into the sonic characteristics of other British habitats.
https://cat.org.uk/courses-and-training/graduate-school/courses/sustainable-ecology/
Up Skill, Down Dale
I secured a place on the Up Skill, Down Dale volunteer programme at the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Every month (from June 2022 to May 2023) I took part in a new conservation-related activity to gain valuable practical experience and skills in a variety of areas to support the academic theory studied during my master's degree.
Past Work & Volunteering
Crutchley Farms
During the summer of 2021, I worked for Crutchley Farms in Dorset. The owner was enthusiastic about sustainable agricultural practice and conservation and implemented these attitudes into the way the farm and surrounding land was managed. Living out of a shepherd's hut, I assisted the landowner with maintenance tasks, including:
Pruning timber trees
Installing and dismantling farm infrastructure
Recycling forestry materials
I gained lots of experience independently driving a 4x4 off road in order to access various woodlands for pruning. It was a great experience and I really enjoyed the rural setting and lifestyle.
Autumn 2020 Volunteering
After graduating in 2020 and between Covid lockdowns, I voluteered for a number of conservation projects around Norfolk to build up my experience in the field.
Norfolk Wildlife Trust (in partnership with Wymondham Nature Group): mowing and clearing cuttings at a wildflower meadow in Hethel Churchyard in order to keep the soil poor to discourage grass growth and encourage wild flowers.
Wild Hethersett: brushcutting at Beckhithe Meadow in order to create space to plant a hedge to protect the meadow from a new housing development. https://wildhethersett.wordpress.com/home/beckhithe-meadow/
Norfolk Wildlife Trust: coppicing at Lower Wood in Ashwellthorpe to increase habitat variety and biodiversity in the wood.
Ted Ellis Trust: replacing an old boardwalk with a sturdier, recycled plastic one at Wheatfen.
WWOOFing in New Zealand
August 2019-September 2019 (between years 2 and 3 of undergrad)
In August-September 2019, I went WWOOFing in New Zealand. I worked on three smallholdings, including Mahurangi Olives (https://www.mahurangiolives.co.nz/), looking after livestock, grounds maintenance, and operating farming machinery.
Green Roof Maintenance
Higher Ground
June 2018-August 2018 (between years 1 and 2 of undergrad)
Planting, weeding and maintaining a number of green roofs around the Columbus, OH area, including Nationwide Children's Hospital and Battelle Darby Creek Nature Centre.
https://highergroundgreenroofs.com/
GIS Tagging
Chadwick Arboretum
June 2018-August 2018 (between years 1 and 2 of undergrad)
Identifying and tagging trees at Chadwick Arboretum to consolidate old GIS data into a new master database
Wildlife Sanctuary Groundskeeping
Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary
May 2017-August 2017 (gap year after finishing school)
I spent an incredible three months at the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary, Minnesota, a protected area for wild American black bears. Work there consisted of maintaining the grounds (strimming roads and pathways, litter picking etc), monitoring bear population health through fieldwork and communicating with the public visiting the sanctuary, providing interpretation and education.
Duke of Edinburgh Volunteering
Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service (NBIS) & Norfolk Wildlife Trust
November 2015-April 2016
As part of my Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award I carried out a six month long survey of Marston Marsh nature reserve recording flora and fauna and entering this into a database for the Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service (NBIS). I also volunteered weekly with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust to coppice sections of Ashwelthorpe wood to create greater habitat diversity in the wood.
