RSPB Reserves Conference 2014
SEAMUS BURNS
I am the Area Manager for the Lough Neagh basin, one of two Futurescapes in Northern Ireland. I took up post as Restoration Officer for RSPB Northern Ireland in 2009 where developing and maintaining effective partnerships was a core part of this role. This continues to be the case in my current role where I take a strategic overview of how our nature reserve work can influence our landscape-scale conservation work within the Lough Neagh area. The vision for this approach is that we can work effectively in partnership with others to demonstrate successful and sustainable land management across landscapes.
NICK BRUCE-WHITE
I've been working for the RSPB since 2001, before that I grew up living and working on the family farm in Wiltshire. My first RSPB adventure was at Coombes Valley, then on the Dorset Heathland Project before moving to Rainham Marshes for 7 years. My last three years in London were as Area Manager, covering our fantastic reserves on the edge of the capital.
I have been Regional Reserves Manager in Northern England since 2010, looking after our amazing 20 or so reserves, which cover about 32,000 Ha from the Peak District up to the Scottish border.
SPEAKERS ON TUESDAY
KEITH CLARKSON
I am Senior Site Manager at our Bempton Cliffs reserve on the Yorkshire coast. I can think of few greater joys than waiting for dawn to rise on a September morning, on the Yorkshire coast - a light south-westerly brings promise, a gentle ‘tsip’ signals the first passing Meadow Pipit, a herald before the flood gates open and thousands of visible migrants, hugging the coastline, wing their way southwards. A couple of hours pre-breakfast birding does the trick then it’s off to the office at the wonderful Bempton Cliffs – 350’ chalk cliffs on the Great White Cape that is Flamborough Head. The cliffs are home to nearly a quarter of a million seabirds and it is here, in front of 80,000 visitors, where every year, another chapter in the story of the state of our seas unfolds. This year, as in Scotland, it’s a success story, food has been plentiful and the productivity is high but the pressures and threats remain – 40,000 pairs of Kittiwake have disappeared in the last 30 years. How do we best safeguard these wonderful birds for the future? That’s my challenge which lies at the heart of everything I do in my role as Site Manager.
JO GILBERT
My role is to ensure that our reserves give the best possible benefit to nature conservation. I manage a friendly and skilled team of ecologists who support reserves staff with advice and direction on habitat and species management. I have been at the RSPB for 14 years and I’m still working my way around the reserves (174 visited so far).
I’m part of several of the groups you might have come across - Land Management Group, Land Acquisition Group, Reserves Management Programme Board - and try to achieve a good balance between getting out and about and helping to develop projects to bring improvements to reserves.
DAVE HEDGES
I am Dave Hedges, Essex Area Manager. I have worked in nature conservation for 15 years and joined the RSPB seven years ago. Since joining the RSPB I have managed a number of large habitat creation projects including West Canvey Marsh and Bowers Marsh and for the last year I have worked to on the Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project supporting the Project Manager with construction risk, contract management and communications. To date we have placed 2 million tonnes of soil and I will show you what has happened on site to date.
JULIAN HUGHES
I have been Site Manager at Conwy since 2008, having previously worked in various roles at The Lodge for 16 years
SALLY MILLS
I have worked for the RSPB since 1989. My career began with a 'Showing People Birds' Project in South Devon and enabled me to work on numerous reserves around the country in a number of roles, which led to the position of Site Manager at Ham Wall Reserve, followed by the Exe Estuary, before my current role for Reserves Ecology which I began November 2012. I am now responsible for running the Wetland Biomass to Bioenergy Project with the Department of Energy and Climate Change, through which the RSPB is looking at the potential conversion of biomass created from habitat management works into energy. This is a two year project which could not only enable us to reduce our use of fossil fuels, but also has the potential to help us manage our reserves for efficiently and effectively. My talk will provide an update of the work so far and present potential opportunities for the future.
PETER ROBERTSON
I am currently the Regional Director for Northern England, leading a fantastic team of staff across the region to deliver a wide range of the Society’s priorities. I’ve worked in three different Directorates (International, Conservation and Operations) during my RSPB career, but started off as a residential volunteer on reserves when the volunteer accommodation at Arne consisted of three sheds; one with beds, one with a gas hob and one with a chemical loo.
I also did a PhD for Reserves Ecology, looking at the design and management of saline lagoons for breeding avocets, before they started turning up all over the shop. I live on the edge of the Peak District where I run a bit (but not too far), sail a bit (but not too fast) and generally spend time in the countryside with my family.
LEE SCHOFIELD
As site manager for Haweswater I oversee the management of two upland farms with extensive common grazing rights, all in within the catchment of Haweswater reservoir. Working in partnership with United Utilities our work at Haweswater aims to deliver a range of public benefits including biodiversity gains, improvements to raw water quality and carbon stewardship, all while maintaining a viable farming enterprise.
Before working for the RSPB, I was employed by a series of Wildlife Trusts, most recently, Cumbria. In this role I was responsible for a lowland raised mire restoration project, land acquisition and the management of a suite of other nature reserves in the north of the county.
GRAHAM WHITE
I work in Reserves Ecology and if its towards the East, or wet, or a large hole in the ground, then it's usually my job. Old, grizzled and usually covered in mud, the commonest field call is 'I've found an Otter poo!'