Meet our staff - Glenn Norris Reserves Ecologist

When did you begin in this role and what was your route to it?

I studied Ecology at the University of Swansea, volunteered for the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust, then lived in Scotland and Bristol. For seven years I worked for an ecological consultancy doing wildlife surveys for developments, which can be depressing.

When I saw the role of Reserves Ecologist being advertised at Sussex Wildlife Trust, I applied, then moved to Hove when I was successful. It's the kind of position I've been looking for the whole time I've been an ecologist. 

I arrived at Sussex Wildlife Trust in June 2019, in the middle of survey season, so it was a baptism of fire, but I had a six month handover with my predecessor Graeme Lyons, which was hugely helpful. 

What qualities do you need to be a good ecologist?

You've got to be able to cope with anti-social hours. Early mornings and late evenings - wildlife doesn’t keep to a typical human schedule - but the way to get around these is to think about being the only person who gets to see some incredible sunrises. I also spend a lot of time alone, so you need to enjoy your own company. You have to be ok with some elements being time consuming and repetitive, because ultimately you get some very exciting results at the end of it. 

What are the tools of your trade?

Winter and summer are different. But the main things are: binoculars (mine are Opticron, mid-range, that offer good clarity at low light), and a bumbag! Two much more experienced ecologists Graeme Lyons and Mike Edwards both recommended it. Attached to it are a camera and GPS. It looks a bit strange but is really useful because it's easy to get things out of and keeps your hands free. In it, I carry specimen tubes, a record pad, in which I write down everything I see, a pen-knife, a couple of hand lenses (x10, x20).  

And I have a tuning fork. If you strike it so it vibrates and hold it against a blade of grass or web, the spider will come out. Some people use an electric toothbrush. 

In terms of bigger equipment, it's a sweep net, a vacuum sampler and a tray.  

I always take lunch with me too! 

Are you out in all weathers?

Less so in rain. It's harder to see and record things. And nobody really likes being wet all day.

What have Covid restrictions meant for your role?

Like everyone else, I've been out a lot less than usual. I'm only able to conduct monitoring essential to maintaining the condition of the reserves, for example, checking how much of an effect the livestock are having.

Some surveys are conducted under a license? 

Yes, some of the surveys for species protected by law are done under a licence. The obvious one is for Great Crested Newt, a European Protected Species. I hold a licence from Natural England that allows me to survey for them.

Which colleagues at the trust do you work most closely with?

I'm always telling my colleagues in the Land Management team what I've seen, mostly the Reserve Managers. They get the results from my surveys and plan accordingly for the following year. I also work closely with Tom the Grazing Manager. Grazing is the most important management tool for conservation, especially during the last year when we've not been able to work with our amazing volunteer teams.  

There is a huge and fantastic network of recorders in Sussex that I work with too, and the knowledge we have of the reserves would be far reduced without them.

Give us a potted version of what tasks in your job might involve.

In the winter, it's pretty office-based, writing up surveys. In June, I'm finishing the breeding bird survey at Butcherlands, rare plant mapping and carrying out an aquatic invertebrate survey at Leythorne Meadow, moth trapping at Southerham, looking for Silver Studded Blues at Old Lodge. It’s busy and varied. 

What sparks joy in your working day?

At the moment - just being outside and not in a tiny flat in Hove. During normal times, finding something new is great. A species new to me is called a lifer. I've found a lot of lifers since moving to Sussex because the Trust sites are so great and most of my recording effort had been in Scotland previously, so with spiders, it’s almost a completely different set of species to learn. 

Least favourite activity?

Data entry can be tedious, but there's something relaxing about it as well, as you can see the progress you're making. The scrub analysis at Butcherlands took two days, but it looks amazing and it's given us some solid data that can be used to plan the future of the site.

If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?

I loved how you could really get away from other people in Scotland, the north west coast, Ullapool and the Cairngorms. But I also love living so close to the sea in Hove now as well.

Lark or owl?

Definitely a lark, which is good really, because surveys require an early start. For the last bird survey, I was on site before 4am.

Cat, dog or….?

We have a cat called Cheeks we brought down from Scotland, who spends a lot of time sleeping inside. 

What would you love to find on a survey?

This year I want to tick off some nice winter birds like a Brambling and a Black Redstart. Something new to Britain would be amazing. We've had more species arriving here over the last decade with climate change. I'd love to see a Southern Small White Butterfly in late summer. They've been seen in northern France and may already be here. They are similar to a Small White so can be hard to ID.