The New Forest in Autumn

Jonathan is a professional conservationist with over 30 years' experience in nature conservation and environmental management. Much of this has been working in protected areas e.g. the Shropshire Hills & Sussex Downs AONBs and the Peak District, New Forest and South Downs National Parks. He gained a BSc Hons in Applied Biology from Liverpool John Moore's University, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Countryside Management from Manchester Metropolitan University, during the 1980's. He is currently an Environmental Project Manager with the Environment Agency. Jonathan has been a keen naturalist from a very young age. He honed his birding skills on the moors, dales and reservoirs of the Peak District, with regular stays at Spurn Bird Observatory during his teenage years. During this period Jonathan gained a detailed knowledge of the songs and calls of British birds which has stood him in good stead when undertaking bird surveys and leading guided walks. Jonathan has travelled extensively in Europe, Turkey, North Africa and the Middle East, The Gambia, India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, California, Costa Rica and Ecuador in search of birds and other wildlife. Following the end of his most recent contract with the RSPB, Jonathan spent most of April 2018 on the Sorrento Peninsula and Sicily, co-leading tours for Naturetrek. He also leads the Go Slow in Hampshire holiday. In his spare time, Jonathan is a voluntary warden at Pulborough Brooks, sits on the Management Committee of Hampshire Ornithological Society and undertakes local surveys for the BTO.