Contacts

Growing up next to the Peak District, I spent much of my childhood scrambling around the national park with nets and jars, attempting to catch insects. Since then my fascination with natural history has continued to strengthen, and this motivated me to undertake a BSc Zoology with Conservation (Bangor University) and an MSc Biodiversity and Conservation (Leeds University). After graduating, I spent a year wading around in RSPB wetland reserves as a Warden Intern, performing practical habitat management with volunteers. I also spent two seasons as the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project’s Senior Research Assistant, monitoring upland wildlife. During this time I had the opportunity to observe Odonata in a range of habitats, and found that the more I learnt about their ecology the more I wanted to discover. I feel so fortunate that I now have a job that allows me to work with fellow dragonfly enthusiasts across the country, as well as contribute to the conservation of some of Britain’s most charismatic insects.

I became interested in natural history from a very early age probably going back as far as a toddler when I would watch birds feeding in the garden with my Mum. After spending a good few years working as a Manager within the Customer Service, Retail and Hospitality sectors I moved across to Adult Education Teaching and whilst there I became aware of the possibility of a career in nature conservation. I studied for my BSc at the University of Hull and since graduating I have worked for a number of conservation organisations and also ecological consultancies. I now have my own company offering wildlife tours in West Perthshire. My love of nature knows no bounds and working with dragonflies in going to be a sheer joy

I worked for the BDS from 2013 to 2017, with a break to study for an MSc in Sustainability in 2018. I am delighted to return to work with dragonflies, this time with more of an emphasis on the conservation of the rarer species in Scotland. I am looking forward to working with these beautiful insects again, as well as engaging volunteers to help improve habitats for dragonflies on our Hotspots, Key Sites and other wetlands.

Wildlife is my biggest passion and I started working in wildlife rehabilitation in my home county of Lincolnshire, which naturally led to the world of wildlife conservation. After studying Wildlife Conservation Science at Nottingham Trent University I volunteered extensively on wetland reserves and as a seabird researcher before working for RSPB Scotland on a freshwater loch site. Freshwater life has always fascinated me and led onto working for rivers and fisheries trusts and learning even more about what lies beneath the water’s surface and how to care for it. I have created partnerships, delivered river restoration projects, tackled invasive & non-native species, and worked with lots of fantastic volunteers to set up a network of community groups across the Anglian region. I love working with people as much as I love working with wildlife and I am so excited to get stuck into helping the dedicated team at BDS to save species and encourage even more wonderful people to get involved in this important work. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like to know more about the Dragonfly Hotspots project.

My background in computing and degree in Biological Sciences should be useful in this role, having been a long-time supporter of the BDS. I'm also interested in local food, sustainable transport and the effects of rising human population on the natural world.

I have been obsessed with dragonflies for quite a few years now, and spend as much time as possible watching them each summer.  I am lucky to have enjoyed several holidays in Europe focused on dragonflies, while at home I record sightings and try and improve my photography!  I have worked for Anglian Water for nearly 30 years in many roles from scientific to project management, and currently I lead a small team focused on gathering insights about our customers' priorities and preferences, which drive our future business planning.  I am also a volunteer Ranger at the Great Fen Project, managed by the Wildlife Trust.    I am delighted to be joining the Trustee Board of the BDS having been a keen member for some time, and hope I can use my experience and skills to benefit the society.

I am a Chartered Mechanical Engineer who became a bird watcher while at school and gradually developed an interest in other wildlife. I was drawn into the dragonfly community when I bumped into someone looking at Variable Damselflies at Hatchmere in Cheshire and was recruited to help with the Cheshire Atlas and into BDS. I subsequently moved to Oxfordshire and became more involved while retaining my broader interests.

I’ve have been fascinated by wildlife since I was a young boy and I’m now fortunate enough to live on my own small nature reserve on the North East Essex coast. We have a nice variety of habitat on site, including deer passing through, birds from gold crests to marsh harriers and a good selection of insects including several dragonfly species. I work as an IT Consultant in the finance sector and I’m looking forward to helping run the BDS

Wildlife is my biggest passion and I started working in wildlife rehabilitation in my home county of Lincolnshire, which naturally led to the world of wildlife conservation. After studying Wildlife Conservation Science at Nottingham Trent University I volunteered extensively on wetland reserves and as a seabird researcher before working for RSPB Scotland on a freshwater loch site. Freshwater life has always fascinated me and led onto working for rivers and fisheries trusts and learning even more about what lies beneath the water’s surface and how to care for it. I have created partnerships, delivered river restoration projects, tackled invasive & non-native species, and worked with lots of fantastic volunteers to set up a network of community groups across the Anglian region. I love working with people as much as I love working with wildlife and I am so excited to get stuck into helping the dedicated team at BDS to save species and encourage even more wonderful people to get involved in this important work. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like to know more about the Dragonfly Hotspots project.

My childhood interest in bird-watching expanded over the years to include other wildlife including mammals, butterflies and finally, in 1986, dragonflies. This interest in dragonflies and their wetland habitats coincided with surveys for a Norfolk dragonfly atlas. I soon became involved in recording activities and by the mid-1990s I was Norfolk’s County Recorder. I first became a BDS Trustee in 2000; taking over as Dragonfly Conservation Group Convenor in 2001. I was elected BDS President in 2008 and served in that capacity for five years. Following a break from national duties, I once again became DCG Convenor early in 2016. My main interests remain with dragonfly conservation and all the work I do is aimed at protecting their habitats and making people more aware of this fascinating group of insects.

My background in computing and degree in Biological Sciences should be useful in this role, having been a long-time supporter of the BDS. I'm also interested in local food, sustainable transport and the effects of rising human population on the natural world.

I am a Chartered Mechanical Engineer who became a bird watcher while at school and gradually developed an interest in other wildlife. I was drawn into the dragonfly community when I bumped into someone looking at Variable Damselflies at Hatchmere in Cheshire and was recruited to help with the Cheshire Atlas and into BDS. I subsequently moved to Oxfordshire and became more involved while retaining my broader interests.

I have been obsessed with dragonflies for quite a few years now, and spend as much time as possible watching them each summer.  I am lucky to have enjoyed several holidays in Europe focused on dragonflies, while at home I record sightings and try and improve my photography!  I have worked for Anglian Water for nearly 30 years in many roles from scientific to project management, and currently I lead a small team focused on gathering insights about our customers' priorities and preferences, which drive our future business planning.  I am also a volunteer Ranger at the Great Fen Project, managed by the Wildlife Trust.    I am delighted to be joining the Trustee Board of the BDS having been a keen member for some time, and hope I can use my experience and skills to benefit the society.

I’ve have been fascinated by wildlife since I was a young boy and I’m now fortunate enough to live on my own small nature reserve on the North East Essex coast. We have a nice variety of habitat on site, including deer passing through, birds from gold crests to marsh harriers and a good selection of insects including several dragonfly species. I work as an IT Consultant in the finance sector and I’m looking forward to helping run the BDS

My childhood interest in bird-watching expanded over the years to include other wildlife including mammals, butterflies and finally, in 1986, dragonflies. This interest in dragonflies and their wetland habitats coincided with surveys for a Norfolk dragonfly atlas. I soon became involved in recording activities and by the mid-1990s I was Norfolk’s County Recorder. I first became a BDS Trustee in 2000; taking over as Dragonfly Conservation Group Convenor in 2001. I was elected BDS President in 2008 and served in that capacity for five years. Following a break from national duties, I once again became DCG Convenor early in 2016. My main interests remain with dragonfly conservation and all the work I do is aimed at protecting their habitats and making people more aware of this fascinating group of insects.

I have recently retired from a career in countryside and wildlife management, latterly with Natural England where I was responsible for the management of National Nature Reserves in the West Midlands, including a key site for White-faced Darter.  For the last 20 years I have acted as host for and worked alongside the BDS Conservation Officers in NE’s Shrewsbury and Telford offices so have a good knowledge of the Society. Apart from invertebrate conservation my main interests are photography and sailing.

I’ve had an abiding interest in natural history going back to a very young age which, for most of those years, was really centred on birds, although not exclusively so. That interest has expanded, especially since my retirement from an IT role within the banking industry, to accommodate an ever-increasing fascination with insects, in particular dragonflies. The catalyst was a visit to an RSPB reserve in Cheshire in 2013 for a guided walk led by a local dragonfly expert: that was it, I was hooked. Having moved to Cambridgeshire in 2015 I volunteered at the Dragonfly Centre at Wicken Fen from then until its closure at the end of the 2019 season. Giving people an introduction into the world of dragonflies is something I love doing and I hope, when it again becomes possible, to get back into leading dragonfly walks. Other than that, I am involved in the continuing development of the BDS website. Outside the BDS, though still very much in the world of nature conservation, I am the voluntary warden at my local BCN Wildlife Trust reserve of Houghton Meadows.

I grew up in a new house on the edge of Kirkcaldy, (some 60+years ago) almost surrounded by fields and woodlands.  I was fascinated by wildlife; loved finding ladybirds, earwigs (clip-shears), bees, spiders, butterflies and of course birds. Aged sixteen, I was offered an Apprenticeship with BT, progressing from Walking Linesman, to Senior Technician Fault Distribution Officer, moving from the outdoors into an office.  After 28 years there, I took redundancy and applied to Elmwood College to study Countryside Management, something I was absolutely passionate about.  After graduating, I was fortunate to start as the seasonal Reserve Manager, Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve, (NNR) with Scottish Natural Heritage, 20 miles from where we now live.  Tentsmuir NNR consists of three sites; Tentsmuir Point & Abertay Sandbar, Tayport Heath and Morton Lochs. Less than a year later, I was offered the post of Nature Reserve Manager, which was my dream come true.  My alternative name for the Reserve is Paradise!  I accumulated a wealth of experience in Conservation and Habitat Management, monitoring wildlife species and particularly in education where we had over six hundred school, college and university visits, and I estimated over the course of my tenure, we had over 10,000 students visiting. We also developed organised walks and events particularly popular was the annual Family Day event, with up to 180 attendees.  My colleagues and volunteers assisted with a range of nature related activities. I’ve been fortunate to work with a diverse range of wonderful people; amongst them, Daniele, (Muir) and Morton Lochs became of the Scottish Dragonfly Hotspots. Importantly, we could not have achieved all that we do without a fantastic band of volunteers After just over 22 years there, I retired at the end of June 2020.