RSPB ​Reserves Conference 2014

WORKSHOPS ON THURSDAY 11 SEPTEMBER

 

SESSION B

 

WORKSHOP 1 

BIOSECURITY: KEEPING RODENT-FREE ISLANDS RODENT-FREE

Facilitator: Sophie Thomas

 

Aim: to equip staff to plan appropriate biosecurity (primarily for rodents) on their site/island and to share ideas and practices from across reserves. Ideal for staff working with seabird islands.

 

Presentations and exercises including:

- key elements of biosecurity planning

- site description; risk species and pathways identification,  prioritization;

- prevention measures

- surveillance and incursion response

- identification of rodent signs

 

To get the most out of it bring a copy of a map of your site to annotate

 

 

 

WORKSHOP 2

WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE FOR INCREASING INCOME FROM OUR RESERVES?

Facilitator: Simon Busuttil

 

Active debate: To explore what ideas are out there for doing this and come up with a prioritised shortlist of ideas to take back to the project group for consideration.

 

If we are to help create a world that is richer in nature, RSPB needs to double our income for conservation and it is recognised and proven that Reserves can contribute to this.  The current Reserves Strategy wants to look at a small number of projects which might help do this – either by delivering income OR helping us learn for the future. 

You will be invited to e-mail questions beforehand to help frame the workshop.

 

 

 

WORKSHOP 3

CREATING THE "KEEN BIRDER" EXPERIENCE

Facilitator: Richard Bashford

 

Who are ‘keen birders’? How does the RSPB engage with them? What can they do for us? What can we do for them? How do we provide a consistent experience for them on our reserves?

 

This will be an interactive presentation followed by a discussion; information/ideas will be both shared and gathered.

 

 

 

WORKSHOP 4

MANAGING PREDATION

Facilitators: Mark Smart, Lucy Mason and Graham Hirons

 

Presenting the results of the Fox control questionnaire with Q and A.

 

Lucy Mason will present her research on chick survival inside and outside anti-predator  fences, exploring both avian and mammalian predation including the Marsh Harrier project.

 

Discussion on delivery in the wider landscape.

 

 

 

WORKSHOP 5

FIELD VOLE - A TWO YEAR PILOT TESTING NEW WAYS OF WORKING WITH VOLUNTEERS ON OUR RESERVES

Facilitator: David Chandler

 

This workshop will take the form of a brief presentation, group work and discussion, and cover a summary of our current thinking and an opportunity for you to influence the three proposed pilot projects. These projects will look to future-proof our volunteers, looking at what we and they want from the volunteering experience, and how this is changing. We will be looking at skills development of volunteers, to help train potential staff of the future, providing them with the skill-sets we need. We will also be looking at short-stay volunteering holiday opportunities within the reserve network.

 

 

WORKSHOP 6

INTRODUCTION TO FUNGI

Facilitator: Mark Gurney

 

An introduction to fungi: what they do and why the natural world would collapse without them.  Bring a hand lens if you have one.