Sam Barden

• In this role I have been given the freedom to lead volunteers as well as apprentices on tasks relating to the role of a Maintenance Ranger.
• I have realized the knowledge I have attained is worth teaching others, this has given me an excellent skill for teaching apprentices and colleagues my general knowledge on wildflowers, tree identification and bird ID as well as my Rights of way/boundary management.
• Main tasks Include: Vegetation Clearance with a variety of power tools, Gate Hanging/making and stiles, machinery maintenance, walling, fencing.
• I am an expert in liaising with landowners to maintain access located on their land.
• I am extremely confident in my abilities to lead volunteers and work parties on tasks, following health and safety regulations when with volunteers.
• Training achieved through work:

· Basic Tree surveys

· 4x4 training

· Forestry first aiding

· Trailer Training

· winch training

· ROWMANs and K-mobile training

• In this role I have homed in on my practical skills, creating boundaries, path creation and installing gates as well as vegetation clearance, as well as learning all aspects of the natural world
• This role has also taught me how to communicate with the public, my colleagues and how to lead on tasks
• I am an excellent stone Waller and fencer from this role, mastering my trade to create walls.
• Furthermore, I have extensive experience in tree and hedge planting as well as laying with additional identification skills and Latin names.
• With further experience in surveying trees and plug planting of specific wildflowers on SSSI wildflower meadows with the Cumbria Wildlife Trust
• AS well as this Meadows, fish, trees and birds were surveyed on my apprenticeship which I learned and mastered quickly.
• Training Achieved:
• Essential risk assessment certificate
• De-escalation certificate
• Quad bike certificate
• CAT and GENNY training
• 4x4 off road certificate
• Water safety training
• First aiding in the workplace and catastrophic bleed (level 3)
• Abrasive wheels certification
• Brush cutting and strimming certification
• Chainsaw felling and cross cutting (CS30/CS31)
• Qgis training

• I set up my own business in gardening – this has put my skills up to the test in gardening and communication while working
• I had to keep good relationships with clients as well as remembering my knowledge of flora and fauna identification.
• Used wide range of hand tools, horticultural machinery and powered hand tools.
• Performed routine grass cutting and general maintenance of green spaces and communal areas.
• Improved herbaceous borders through weeding, seasonal pruning and cutting back.
• Maintained and serviced garden machinery, increasing average equipment lifespan.
• Pruned and trimmed trees and bushes.
• Completed planning, digging and weeding of flower beds and borders.
• Used and consistently improved composting systems.

• I volunteered at Foxglove Covert LNR – As a volunteer and work placement, I helped on a range of different jobs around the nature reserve
• Activities ranged from scrub clearance and bird handling, where I helped on occasional ringing days in the morning
• I also helped with school visits, where I helped the reserve managers teach and lead children around the reserve where they learnt everything from plants to animals
• I also gained a ‘Queen’s Award for Voluntary service’ dedicating a part of my life to foxglove’s running of the reserve
• The role also included a large amount of willow carr coppicing to create glades for butterflies and birds.

• I have volunteered with the Yorkshire Dales Rangers (young ranger) – learning about practical skills and how the park is run
• This helped me gain employment with the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

• At Overton House, Reeth - I cleaned dishes and waited tables where I improved my communication skills and my time management skills.
• Covered flexible shifts to meet overall team goals.
• Cleaned walls and extractor fans to achieve pristine food preparation areas.
• Assisted kitchen staff during peak times, performing various tasks to support current service demands.