Mike
Thornley

Mike Thornley is not only a LANTRA Grey Squirrel Management Course Instructor but also works in Wildlife Management at Thornley Wildlife Services. 

After 40 years in the land and nature industry, Mike felt drawn to his role as the LANTRA Grey Squirrel Management Course Instructor, as he wanted to help other people to learn the skills necessary to work or volunteer in the industry. 

He has qualifications in Forestry, finding his current role through the Forestry Commission, and advises anyone looking for similar roles to gain practical skills either through courses or volunteering. 

What do you enjoy most about your role?

When asked what he enjoyed most about his role, Mike responded that he enjoys helping nature, and the diverse nature of his role.

While working in the industry Mike has faced many challenges, with the main challenge being a lack of accessibility for skills and courses in the land and nature industry.

Due to this, Mike has worked to cover all demographics with regards to the courses he instructs, which include; Birds of Prey Conservation, Deer Management, Firearms Training, Grey Squirrel Management and Red Squirrel Conservation.

Alongside instructing, Mike is actively working on a range of wildlife service projects from Osprey and Red Squirrel Conservation to Deer and Grey Squirrel Management.

How can you benefit from LANSS?

Mike believes that it is always a good thing to have better access to courses and training in the land and nature sector and that the work LANSS is doing is essential to this. 

He was concerned at first that he may have been too old to benefit from LANSS but after seeing what the service offers, he is pleased to see that if offers courses and opportunities for anyone over the age of 16.

Mike hopes for the future that LANSS is able to consistently offer a wide range of courses as well as a diverse range of providers and employers that are actively involved with skills and training provision in the land and nature based sectors across Cumbria.