John Dobson


148 Main Road
Danbury
Essex
CM3 4DT

Tel/fax: 01245 224408

E-mail: johndobson@mammals.fsnet.co.uk
Website: www.essexmammalsurveys.com


Employment history

Click on the “Recent site surveys” link on the left-hand panel to see examples of environmental projects worked on in recent months.


Voluntary work

Set up Essex Bat Group in 1984 developing network of bat workers able to deal with bat conservation issues arising in the county. Subsequently became licensed by English Nature as a trainer of new bat workers. Have participated in summer and winter surveys of bats in Normandy and have run courses for the Field Studies Council and Essex Wildlife Trust on bats and small mammals. Co-ordinated mammal survey of Essex resulting in collection of 11,000 records.

Currently co-ordinating fieldwork for a forthcoming study, The Dragonflies of Essex.

Papers presented at the national bat conference on Leisler’s bats in Essex, the Grays deneholes, Bats in Essex and Bats in Normandy. Paper on the conversion of war time bunkers in North Essex to be presented at the 2002 conference. Conducted workshops on Presentation Skills and “selling bats to the public”.


Publications

Books and reports
  • The Mammals of Essex (published by Lopinga Books, 1999)
  • Essex Bat Report (annually, 1984–1999)

    Articles
  • “The bats of Essex” (Essex Naturalist 14: 49–58)
  • “Cetaceans stranded on the Essex coast” (Essex Naturalist 15: 47–54)
  • Other articles for county-based natural history organisations


    Education

    1968–1971
    BSc Hons in Biochemistry, London University

    Other skills include word processing, spreadsheets and recording packages. Licensed bat worker and trainer. Clean driving licence.

    Member of Mammal Society, Bat Conservation Trust, British Dragonfly Society and several Essex-based natural history and conservation organisations.