CURRICULUM VITAE  

 Stephen Leslie Thompson1 Bells MeadowGuilden MordenROYSTONHERTSSG8 0JBMob: 07803 362069Home: 01763 852709Email: slt72@hotmail.co.uk WORK HISTORY

1988 – 1990 Volunteer at RSPB Headquarters in Sandy Bedfordshire and then working there under a youth training scheme helping in the gardens and on the reserve.

November 1990 - Present Green Keeper John O‘Gaunt Golf Club Bedfordshire

Responsible for helping to maintain the Golf Course to a high standard: Looking after the Fairways, Greens and Tees using various grass cutting machines and maintaining the bunkers. Also looking after machines ensuring daily checks are carried out and that they are regularly maintained.

Helping the Club improve the local ecology and biodiversity by making/erecting and maintaining over 100 nest boxes, planting trees & creating wildflower areas and building a pond.

I write an article for the Club newsletter regarding the wildlife and ecology on the course.

I Play a major role in promoting the Club’s profile by entering Local and National Ecology Awards. The club won a highly commended & 2 silver awards (in 2009, 2010 & 2011) in the C.P.R.E Bedfordshire's Living countryside Awards and recently won the top award, the C.P.R.E Mark for our ecology/conservation work. The club also won a Nature Conservation award in the 2012 Golf Environment awards and was a finalist in environmental course of the year 2014. I was a finalist for Conservation Greenkeeperof the year 2015 in the golf environment awards. I also played a role in helping the club become corporate members of the RSPB.

I look after and maintain habitat for protected/rare species such as Water Vole, Barn Owl, Kestrel and White Spotted Pinion Moth.

I enrolled the club in Operation Pollinator.

Competent in the use of Greens Triple, pedestrian cylinder, rotary and flail mowers and all Tractors.

Install drainage systems on Greens and help Clear blocked drainage ditches of branches, leaves and debris, also clearing brook/ stream of weeds ensure a constant flow of water, and maintaining river banks for Water Vole habitat.

I have good communication skills and liase well with the members and other staff.

2003 – Present - Part time gardener in the village

Helped install an irrigation system and complete new lawn. Maintain lawn and help with other garden duties when needed.

Media/Public Relations experience:

A short TV Interview in 2009 about my work with Ecology/conservation etc on the golf course on BBC Look East

A short piece on BBC Local Radio about Kestrels when we were ringing Kestrel chicks with a Licenced ringer.

I deal with the public on a regular basis speaking to golfers around the course but also organising and leading evening wildlife walks for members and people from the local community.

I have liased with local wildlife groups in bringing in experts to lead a Moth Trapping evening, Bat Walks and Fungi Forays

I organise for experts to come to the club to give talks about conservation related subjects.

I have written several articles for the local newspaper and various national magazines.

I volunteer at the British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland water every August helping out on ticket sales and other duties dealing with the general public.

EDUCATION

Feb 2011 to Present ACS Distance Home Study – Wildlife Management

2009 NPTC Level 2 Certificate of competence in the safe use of Mowers. 

Oct 1993 to Mar 1995 Oakland’s College, St Albans Green Keeping and Sports Turf Management NVQ Level 1 and 2

1991 to 1992 Shuttleworth Agricultural College Bedfordshire Amenity Horticulture NVQ Level 1 and 2 

Sep 1989 to Jun 1990 Brooksby Agricultural College, Melton Mowbray The Certificate in Agriculture Phase 2 (Farm and Estate Maintenance)

Sep 1984 to May 1988 Bassingbourn Village College GCSE English Literature C Math’s C German C French D Science D English Language E Geography D RSA Level 1 Typing RSA level 1 Word Processing

I am willing to undertake further training/education to gain more knowledge to help me in my job.

REFERENCESNigel BroadwithCourse ManagerJohn o' Gaunt Golf ClubSutton ParkSandy BedsSG19 2LY  Peter Wilkinson42 Dale AvenueWheathampsteadSt AlbansHertsAL4 8LS

INTERESTS

A keen bird watcher. I have a restricted C permit entitling me to ring birds (unsupervised) in enclosed boxes.

I have carried out various surveys such as the common bird census and contributed a small part to the new Bird Atlas recently published.

I make nestboxes in my spare time and sell them at my local bird club and to other golf courses and nature reserves.

I also have an interest in all flora and fauna such as Butterflies, Bats, Badgers, Moths, wild flowers, Fungi, Whales, Dolphins and much more.

A recently discovered interest in sea fishing.

I enjoy driving and like travelling.

MEMBERSHIPS

British and International Golf Green Keepers Association British Trust for OrnithologyPortland Bird Observatory