wildflower meadow

Welcome

to the new web pages for members! We wanted to find a way of keeping more regular contact with our members in between magazines, and decided that a page for members on the website might be a good way of updating you about what the Trust is doing.

We planned the launch to co-incide with the Trust’s 26th birthday - we’ve truly come of age! Your Trust starts its second quarter century in good shape -

• Its membership is approaching 14,000 and continuing to grow at around 25% a year
• It is financially more robust, with cash reserves near the Trustees’ minimum target for the first time in its history
• It is actively developing proposals for major new programmes - People and Wildlife, and Rebuilding Biodiversity
• During 2005/6 it exceeded its first-year target in establishing its new consultancy services
• It has completed the preliminary construction works at Folly Farm and assembled almost 90% of the funding
• Agreement is in place to take on ownership of its 39th nature reserve, complete with permanent funding
• It has put in place a 5-year Development Plan setting ambitious targets to reach by 2010

I look forward to keeping in touch with you more frequently through this page, and hope you’ll feed back any comments by writing to me at members@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Thanks for your support!

Steve Grainger
Chief Executive

Steve Grainger - Chief Executive

As Chief Executive I am responsible to the Trust’s governing body for everything that happens in the Trust’s name. That includes all the day to day management, development and promotion of the organisation - internally all its finances, administration, staffing and membership; all the projects, programmes, activities and events undertaken by the Trust; the extensive areas of land managed by the Trust as nature reserves; the Trust’s external contacts with public bodies, private bodies, private-sector and community organisations; and the campaigns and lobbying that the Trust undertakes to promote Avon’s wildlife and its enjoyment by the public. My job is to ensure that the Trust is successful and achieves all its objectives. I am assisted by a team of 5 senior managers, each of whom leads a small team of staff, volunteers and placements.

Biodiversity Team

Lucy Rogers- Head of Biodiversity
The remit of this team and my role is to develop biodiversity initiatives in the wider environment and to communicate this to partners, trust members and the general public. Our department is committed to implementing the Avon BAP with our internal and external partners through innovation and working closely with land managers.

With the reserves and education teams we will be working to achieve the Trusts long-term goal of creating heavens for wildlife. The Rebuilding Biodiversity initiatives are the key mechanism to achieving this. This will be looking at landscape scale projects to maximise potential for biodiversity whilst making them sustainable economic models. We will be building on our successes of the NSML Project and the teams extensive experience and knowledge. During 2006 we will be developing a training and consultancy capacity which will be promoted through the Trust and it's partners.

As manager of this team my main responsibilities are to:-

• Lead, develop and manage the biodiversity team
  
• Secure funding for the team
  
• Develop partnerships to implement Rebuilding Biodiversity Projects
  
• Contribute to the senior management team
  
• Ensure the Trust policies and finance procedures are followed

Craig Stenson - Biodiversity Projects Officer
The Biodiversity Projects Officer promotes and implements national and regional biodiversity objectives throughout the former county of Avon. This is achieved by successful partnership linking of local authorities, statutory conservation bodies and the private sector. Objectives are realised through the successful implementation of species and habitat projects such as those for neutral grassland, white-clawed crayfish, water vole, bats, dormouse and arable wildflower communities. The Biodiversity Project Officer offers management advice to farmers and land managers, including entry into agri-environment grant schemes. A significant role of the Biodiversity Project Officers for the next two years is as one of two Field Officers for the Batscapes Project. This entails ensuring landowners adopt favourable land management techniques for the benefit of horseshoe bats via grants such as the new Environment Stewardship Scheme.

James Field - North Somerset Levels and Moors Biodiversity Officer
The North Somerset Levels and Moors Project works to promote protect and enhance wildlife across the North Somerset Levels and Moors. The work of the Biodiversity Officer involves working with farmers and landowners to promote environmental management and assist with grant applications. Survey work is mainly focused on riparian mammals including otter and water vole. Last year an events programme was launched including wildlife courses and children’s activities.

Matt Hamilton- Biodiversity Co-ordinator
I co-ordinate the Avon Biodiversity Partnership, a partnership of 33 organisations and groups interested in nature conservation in Avon. The Avon Biodiversity Action Plan (Avon BAP) was produced in July 2004 after consultation with local experts and partnership members. The BAP identifies what need to happen for Avon’s most valuable habitats and species and for cross-cutting issues such as education over the next ten years. The BAP was launched in July 2004 at a very successful event hosted by Bristol Zoo Gardens. My job now involves co-ordinating the BAPs implementation. This is a new and exciting challenge and I hope that the next couple of years will see a number of partnership projects that will make areal difference to Avon’s biodiversity.

I also run Birdwatch - the winter garden bird survey that has been so successful over the past four years in Bristol. In addition, I am very interested in dormice and will be helping to run dormouse surveys in the Mendips and the Avon gorge and training to get my dormouse licence.

Mary Wood - Biodiversity Advisory Officer
I check the local authority planning application lists and the Forestry Commission Woodland Grant Schemes lists each week and follow up any which may have adverse implications for wildlife. We are fortunate in this area to have an ecologist in each UA so we can be selective as to which applications we campaign on, mainly those affecting Sites of Nature Conservation Interest. Often we are able to alert the ecologists to potential problems at other sites, which they may not have been consulted on. Commenting on the UA draft Local Plans is also a vital part of the Trust’s work. An extension of my role is the provision of training to people whose work may impact on protected species; we have already delivered training to planning officers and there is great scope to develop this aspect.

Development Team

Pat Ellingham - Head of Development
I manage the Development Section (5 staff posts, 7 permanent volunteers) and my main priorities are -
Supporting Steve, Chief Executive, in day to day running of the Trust - this includes personnel matters, liaison with Trust Chair and General Secretary over governance issues and general administration of the Trust HQ.

Managing Trust membership - which is ably administered by Angela with the help of Sue Stevens. We work together to keep an eye on the new Face to Face initiative, monitoring income and any problems, and keeping in touch with any general membership issues. A current priority is working with the results of the membership survey to make sure we are offering the best in terms of member satisfaction - so we keep our supporters!

Developing the profile of the Trust - in the absence of a dedicated marketing section I’m well supported by Sam, and I’m working closely with Ruth on a programme of events to celebrate the Trust’s 25th anniversary. I edit the Trust magazine, produce other publications as needed (on our limited budget) and maintain the house-style overview. I’m also responsible for maintaining and updating content on the website.

I’ve worked for the Trust for over 20 years and still look forward to coming into work each day - not one of them have ever been the same!

Ken Johnson - Folly Farm Project Manager

As Project Manager for Folly Farm I am responsible for all aspects of delivery of the Trust’s ‘flagship’ project-in a nutshell I am here to make the project happen!

Rather astonishingly the Trust has been in discussion with the Heritage Lottery Fund for nearly 10 years about different ideas for Folly. An important part of my role has been to finalise these proposals and produce a business plan for the project which is viable and acceptable to HLF and our other funding partners.

The Project Manager is required to lead and instruct a team of professional consultants including for example the Architect and Engineers. This involves a great deal of co ordination and at times being a ‘master of all trades’.
In the last 18months I have been fundraiser for the project-preparing our massive [in terms of paperwork alone] bid to HLF for £2.567 million. We have now been successful in this and with bids to SWRDA and Biffa for a further £1million . Also a large part of my time has been devoted to securing detailed planning permission- which proved more of a trial than anticipated.

With this in place, however the project now moves to another phase entirely-its implementation. My role will be focused on securing the outstanding funding, managing the design and construction process during the ‘hard hat’ phase and finalising the business and operational planning ready for the first of the residential training courses to begin at the Folly Farm Centre.

On a day to day basis my time tends to be split between the office, on site at Folly Farm and meetings around and about with consultants , funding partners and our various partners and advisors.

Sam Pullinger - Development Officer
I work as part of the Development Team and support the Trust with fundraising, publicity and membership.

I support fundraising efforts by co-ordinating larger bids to funding bodies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and Landfill tax operators, which also involves adhering to their monitoring and claiming procedures. I assist members of staff by researching other funding sources such as charitable trusts, making applications where appropriate and monitoring progress.

Ensuring that the Trust makes the most of its publicity opportunities is a vital part of promoting the work that we do. This entails keeping in contact with key media representatives, organising publicity campaigns, issuing and monitoring the success of press releases.

I support membership efforts by being the link between the Trust and the professional fundraisers who recruit new members on our behalf. I also take part in promotional activities and ensure that information about the Trust is available at events. I have a role to play in a new initiative to develop and increase the Trust’s audience and thereby ensure that more people are involved in wildlife and natural heritage.

Angela Davies - Membership and Administration Officer
With the help of volunteers I run the membership database and help with reception and general administration when necessary.

As well as listing all members, the database holds a variety of lists of people for various members of staff, thus enabling me to provide labels and letters where necessary.

My job involves amending the database for new and ex members and changes of details; sending payment reminders and dealing with all payments, by cheque, standing order and direct debit and providing statistics.

Membership numbers have increased significantly because of external recruiters and as a result my workload has increased a great deal. Although the focus has changed as most new members pay by direct debit, once they are set up correctly, there is little more work concerned with them. The focus for me now is much more around creating statistical reports for Management as well as collating and sending out packs for new members and Watch.

Fiona McCarthy - Office Administrator
I have responsibility for running the reception office at The Old Police Station, which includes answering the telephone, dealing with post and requests for information.

I take bookings and do the administration for the Trust events and for schools bookings at Willsbridge and Folly Farm.

Administration of Bristol Bird Watch is another of my responsibilities. This involves updating the database of participants and sending out packs.

I also assist with personnel matters, such as recruitment and staff training and assist the finance officer with payment of invoices and expenses.

Education Team

John Nickerson - Head of Education

• Lead and manage education team

• Contribute to the senior management team

• Lead and manage education programme at Folly Farm

• Teach environmental topics for about 40 days a year

• Contribute to achieving various special projects such as the People and Wildlife Bid

• Pretend trouble shooter for some IT problems

Naomi Silverton - School Grounds Officer
As School Grounds Officer, I am part of the Education Team. I primarily support schools to develop and manage their grounds for both wildlife and people. I work with the whole school community including children, teachers and parents through:

• Giving advice on planning and developing their grounds, including new wildlife areas, funding and ideas to enhance young people’s enjoyment of their school grounds.
• Undertaking practical tasks, such as habitat creation projects - planting trees, hedges and butterfly borders, building ponds and creating living willow sculptures.
• Providing long-term, management advice outlining how to maintain schools’ wildlife areas and grounds for the future.
• Leading INSET days for teachers on developing their school grounds, creating wildlife habitats and how to use their school grounds as a resource within the national curriculum.

I also lead environmental activity days for schools and children’s groups, either in school grounds on a local nature reserve. Activities are varied and include minibeast studies in a pond or woodland, bird and bat box making and environmental art projects. Finally, as part of the Education Team, I also work in partnership with other local organisations to organise and lead environmental activities at family events.

Ruth Worsley - Community Education Officer
Manages Willsbridge Mill Environmental Education Centre, which involves management of:

• management of 50 Centre support volunteers (recruitment, training, coordination)
  
• local nature reserve (overseeing biodiversity improvements, development of visitor facilities and regular cross departmental liaison with landlords South Gloucestershire Council
  
• buildings (overseeing schedule of maintenance, management of service contracts,marketing and managing hirings and lettings
  
• interpretation and events programme - developing nature reserve and exhibition interpretation and coordinating annual programme of holiday and weekend events for general public and running training courses for adults working with children
  
• working with Alison to deliver outreach, weekend, and evening educational activity - running environmental art days in schools, running weekend birthday parties and evening brownie visits
  
• fundraising - working with John on grant applications to local authority, land fill tax and lottery
  
• partnership working - South Gloucestershire Wildspaces project, ACORRN Avon community recycling reuse network
  
• working with Pat and Sam on central events in Trusts 25 anniversary year
  
• working with Pat on producing the Environmental Policy (sustainable management systems) following an external audit
  
• working with Pat and Tim on volunteer management - regularly reviewing best practise
  

other special projects include:

- development of outreach education work through partnership working eg local authority Wild Space projects, the 'Wild about Play' regional initiative (environmental playwork project), National Trust environmental art workshops

- developing heritage trail to include new booklet and poetry walk (as part of S.Glos Councils Wild Roots project and 25 anniversary celebrations

Alison Logan - Education Officer
As Education Officer at Willsbridge Mill most of my work is involved with providing a programme of activities for visiting schools - from pond and stream dipping to woodland workshops and environmental games, from rocks, soil and recycling to natural art. Willsbridge is a centre for lifelong learning so we cater for all ages from pre-school to Open University mature students.

I organise a team of dedicated and invaluable volunteers who receive training to help run the activities with the students and also make new resources, displays and publicity materials.

I work with other groups on outreach work - like Bath City farm, The National Trust and Wildspaces! in South Gloucestershire. This may be taking groups onto their local nature reserve, running activities at their different centres or training events for adults who work with children.

During the school holidays I organise activities for children and work with the team at Trust events. I am also the Watch organiser which means I offer support and guidance for Watch leaders and community Watch groups around the Avon area and co-ordinate resources and equipment.

As part of the Education team I promote the Trust message and provide opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to get close to and engage with the natural world to encourage respect and care for the environment through a sustainable lifestyle.

Helen Adshead - Environmental Interpretation Officer
I work with people, introducing them to the natural environment and helping them to make a positive connection with it. The methods I use and activities I organise depend on the group of people I am working with. A 'normal' days work is often meeting a group of people (could be children, students, families, adults with learning difficulties) on a site (could be one of our reserves, school grounds, parks, other wildlife sites) and helping them to enjoy or understand the wildlife there (practical conservation tasks, environmental education activities or environmental art). My preferred projects are long-term ones rather than 1-day events - the work can have a much greater impact on people if they get involved over a period of time. But 1-day celebrations have their place as well, for such things as Apple Day and Tree Dressing.

Reserves Team

Tim McGrath - Head of Nature Reserves
I co-ordinate the work of the Reserves Team who delivers all the activity based on the Trust Nature Reserves. Currently this team is supported by 4.5 members of staff, 5 volunteer placements, over 50 wardens and up to 250 regular practical volunteers. The 38 reserves that cover over 2500 acres of land, comprise of habitats and species that are important within the former County of Avon. Of these 15 are owned by the Trust and many are managed through partnerships with local graziers.

I am also responsible for managing the annual budget (approx. £200,000 in 2005/06) that delivers a considerable amount of activity that we are committed to through conditions of management. This sum is made up from project and revenue based work, which is designed to maximise the biodiversity values of the Nature Reserve Estate. Most of this work is supported through working in partnership with English Nature, Defra (Rural Development Service), Forestry Commission and Yansec (Landfill Tax).

Current initiatives include the re-introduction of greater water parsnip (Sium latifolium) back to its former haunts at Clapton Moor, Rebuilding Biodiversity, a Biodiversity Audit of our nature reserves and monitoring the impact of Defra’s Mid-Term Review.

I also represent the South West Trusts on the South West Region’s Farming and Food Group.

Stuart Hales - Reserves Manager
I am responsible for planning and co-ordinating the management of The Avon Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves. The reserve holding is split over 38 sites and covers a total of almost 1100 hectares (2600 acres) of land, representing some of the best habitats within Avon. This includes wetlands, neutral and limestone grassland, ancient semi-natural woodland and urban areas. Fifteen of these sites are owned freehold by the Trust, totalling an area of almost 450ha.

My work on our reserves can be split into two broad categories. First and foremost to make sure that all annual maintenance activity is completed. This is essential in order to sustain existing biodiversity interest. For example neutral and limestone grasslands must be cut or grazed every year. I have to make sure that we complete our programme of hay cutting and that the farmers we work with are able to graze the land to an appropriate level at the right times in the right places.

I am also responsible for the delivery of a capital works programme. This is a series of projects designed to enhance the biodiversity interest of a site or allow more sustainable management practices in the future. For example restoring grassland or heathland that has been neglected, excavating rhynes that have been filled in and scrubbed over or fencing a site to allow grazing. This work is supported by HLF, English Nature, Defra, Forestry Authority and landfill tax (Yansec).

Tim Curley - Volunteer Co-ordinator
As Volunteering officer I am responsible for the co-ordination of the Trusts varied reserve volunteer base. My principle responsibilities are:

• To produce a work programme for and manage the Wednesday and Sunday Wildlife Action Groups
  
• To run the Conservation Assistant programme, providing training for volunteer placements to gain a wide range of experience
  
• Planning the estate team work programme, working closely with the Team Supervisor to ensure specific reserve management tasks that are completed
  
• To co-ordinate and support the 50 reserve wardens and local groups
  
• To establish new groups and recruit new volunteers
  
• Ensuring the delivery of the appropriate habitat management on the reserves, where necessary leading volunteer groups and providing specialist practical skills
  
• To develop opportunities and organise events for corporate groups
  
• Working as part of a cross sectional team to develop the Trust’s volunteer policy
  
• Maintaining all tools and equipment necessary for practical reserve management

Polly Glazebrook - Nature Reserves Monitoring Officer.
I provide support for the team by assessing the biodiversity interest and the impact of practical activities across the reserves. This helps to ensure that our work benefits the ecological interests on site.

I co-ordinate a programme of monitoring activity across the reserves. Many of our sites contain locally important habitats and UK Priority Species and Habitats (identified in the UK and Avon Biodiversity Action Plans). Of our 37 reserves, 15 have SSSI designation (Sites of Special Scientific Interest), 23 are Sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI), 3 are designated as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and 2 have SAC designation (Special Areas of Conservation) - we have plenty of flora and fauna to keep our eyes on! I work with a committed team of volunteers, including reserve wardens, volunteer placements and many experienced surveyors to ensure that all the biological data for the reserves is up-to-date. An important part of this is to monitor and survey the key biodiversity features of the Nature Reserves.

Andy Nevill - Estate Team Supervisor
Leads the Estates Team, which is made up of volunteers - some have been with us for over four years - who carry out practical work on Trust nature reserves, and sometimes work with the School Grounds Project.

Finance Team

Rachel Watkins- Head of Finance
As Head of Finance I am responsible for all the financial activities of the Trust working closely with and supported by Pat Sandy, the Finance Officer. My responsibilities are varied from the preparation of the annual budget for the Trust with the Chief Executive, monitoring results against budget and reviewing forecasts to preparing year-end accounts for audit and submission to Companies House and the Charity Commission.

The finance team is currently in the process of updating systems and procedures within the Trust to streamline the flow of information between budget holders, the finance team and Trustees. My job requires me to liaise with the senior managers of each team in order to keep abreast of each teams financial progress and this gives me the opportunity to get involved in understanding the activities that my colleagues are engaged in.

An important role of the Head of Finance is to provide monthly management accounts and a finance report to the Trustees and I regularly attend Trustee Council meetings to keep Trustees up to date on the financial position of the Trust.

Trustees

Meet the Trustees of Avon Wildlife Trust

...members who have decided to make a major commitment by volunteering to fill this role. As Trustees they are responsible for the sound governance of the Trust and for ensuring that the objects of the organisation are fulfilled. If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a Trustee contact Pat Ellingham on patelllingham@avowildlifetrust.org.uk

Richard Bland joined the Trust at its inception in 1980, having been a member of Bristol Naturalists since 1961. He became a Trustee in 1998. Richard’s keen interest in the natural world is evident in his active involvement in the Trust, Bristol Naturalists and the Bristol Trust for Ornithology, for which he has organised all local and national surveys since 1970. He is also interested in veteran trees, and is increasingly involved with botany and phenology ( the study of seasonal change). Richard is editor of Nature in Avon and chair of the group which produces the Avon Bird Report.

Alan Dorn has been a Trustee for 18 years, chaired the Resources Group from its inception, and also been Chair of the Portishead Local Group for 19 years. He also chairs the Trust’s Health and Safety Group and volunteers as Trust DIY man on a regular basis. Alan’s working life was spent in the insurance sector where he managed multiple project teams developing administrative and accounting systems.

Richard Dyson became involved in practical conservation activities when he moved to Bristol thirty years ago, and this led to his active involvement with the Trust. He founded the Keynsham Local Group in 1984 and ten years later became a member of Trust Council. In 1997 he became Chair of the Trust, a post he has only recently stepped down from. Richard is a Chartered Civil Engineer, working mainly in the water industry. Most of his career has been with Wessex Water where he worked in engineering planning and Regulation before becoming Head of Internal Audit and Risk Management. Richard is also a board member of the Bath self-help Housing Association.

Cecile Gillard’s involvement with the Trust began when she started volunteering at Willsbridge Mill in 1986. She became a Trustee in 1991 andCompany Secretary in 1992. Cecile is Head of the Charities and Voluntary Sector Unit in the Legal Services Department of Jordans Limited. Jordans provides corporate legal services and Cecile specialises in charity law and practice

Rosamund Kidman Cox has spent her working life editing, writing and commissioning in the field of natural history and conservation. She was editor of BBC Wildlife Magazine from 1983 to 2004, during which time she was also editorial director (UK region) of natural history books for BBC Books for three years.. She was a founder of the international Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and has been a judge and organiser since 1981. Roz has been a member of the Trust since 1986 and became a Trustee in 2005.

Brian Mayled has been a member of the Trust since it was founded in 1980. Over 1982 and 83 he supervised the mapping of flora at Max Bog, which led to it becoming an SSSI. He has maintained annual monitoring ever since. Brian’s career was spent in secondary education, and he pioneered field studies as part of the biology syllabus. When he retired he was Deputy Head of a large comprehensive school. Brian became a Trustee in 1989 and chaired the Education Advisory Group. He also helped to establish the School Grounds Project.

Mo Mulligan has always been passionate about conservation and biodiversity, establishing the Bristol Environment and Energy Trust in 1993. This was a sub regional cross sector partnership set up to promote more sustainable ways of living and working, which later became the Western Partnership for Sustainable Development and subsequently Future West. Mo is currently working independently on a range of sustainable development, regeneration and economic development initiatives in the West of England. He’s a keen ornithologist and loves wild places and gardening. Mo became a Trustee in 1998 and now chairs the Strategic Development Group.

Dudley Shellard has been a resident of Stowey for over 45 years, which gives him a special knowledge of Folly Farm those who farmed it in the past and its relationship with local people. Dudley was born and educated in Bristol from where he ran his business specialising in aspects of shop fitting throughout the UK. Dudley has been a member of the Trust since 1988 and a Trustee since 2001. He is a Trustee of three other charities and has been a Bristol Magistrate for over 20 years. His hobby is keeping a flock of pedigree Lleyn sheep.

Roger Wyatt worked for Bristol Water for over 37 years, retiring from his last job as Managing Director in March 2006. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers and of the Institute of Water Officers. His career encompassed many roles including engineering project management, and day-to-day operational responsibility for customer service delivery to over a million local people. A key aspect of his working life was ensuring that the Water Company's assets fulfilled their intended functions for public water supply, and were also managed to enhance wildlife conservation.