Matthew Chatfield BSc CEnv CIEEM

Personal profile

I am a confident manager, team leader, problem-solver and communicator with a record of success across a range of projects. I have in-depth experience of landscape, ecology, heritage and visitor management, with knowledge of planning, budget control, lottery funding, interpretation and practical land management. An active writer and commentator, I also work as a social media and web design professional with an up-to-date knowledge of online and print marketing and production.

Key skills

I’ve got plenty of experience of using the media and the internet to get my messages out. I have good working relationships with local media, both online and traditional.
I’m an enthusiastic communicator with knowledge of and passion for my home county, and I regularly lead guided walks around the Isle of Wight’s beautiful countryside.
I manage and develop complex and multi-functional, predominantly outdoor, sites; balancing conflicting constraints and demands.
I’m a very experienced team leader, used to managing a diverse team and getting the best out of my staff and volunteers.
Working with visitors and the public for most of my career, particularly in outdoor and countryside sites, I’m used to stressful situations and am very good at satisfying complaints and solving problems.
I am not afraid to get my hands dirty, and still take the opportunity to use my skills in litter picking, car park marshalling and covering reception.
I am used to handling large budgets and competitively procuring and supervising contracts and supplies. I’ve been involved in many grant applications and successful grant-funded projects.
I have an abiding interest in computers and internet technologies, including website design and deployment, practical IT support and purchase skills, as well as up-to-date understanding of social media.

Employment history

Employer	From	To	Roles and responsibilities
Isle of Wight Council County Hall Newport IW PO30 1UD Part-time until 2021, then full-time.	2018	Date	Communications and Engagement Officer. Working within the Communications team, with special responsibility for the regeneration directorate which includes planning, economic development and housing. Producing media releases, managing events, promoting council messages and working with stakeholders and partners within and outside the council.
Island 2000 Trust Shide Meadows Centre Newport IW PO30 1HR Part time.	2016	2018	Gift to Nature Manager. Manager of charitable project to support outsourced IW Council countryside section sites plus many other environmental activities.
Isle of Wight Council County Hall Newport IW PO30 1UD Full-time until 2011, then part-time.	1999	2016	Parks, Beaches and Countryside Manager. Various roles within countryside, parks and beaches management. Included direct responsibility for county Countryside Service, rangers, country parks, nature reserves, ecology, and protected trees service, plus strategic role in Planning Service across whole Island. Grounds maintenance in all council parks and beaches, allotments and esplanades. Responsible for site of Isle of Wight Festival. Experience in procuring and managing large public contracts. Chair of Biodiversity Partnership; manager of West Wight Landscape Partnership (£1.7M Heritage Lottery grant); client officer for over 70 business concessions across the Island. Budget £0.8M revenue + £0.6M grants/capital
Pinkeye Graphics Ltd 2 Somerville East Hill Road Ryde IW PO33 1LU	2005	Date	Executive Director. Co-owner and director of design and web business pinkeyegraphics.co.uk. Specialising in print and online design, social media, technical solutions, consultancy and marketing for clients on the Island and beyond. Twice runner-up in HantsWeb awards 2009 and 2007. Pinkeye Graphics works with a variety of clients within the public sector, charities, private individuals and on its own projects.
Basildon District Council The Basildon Centre Basildon SS14 1DL	1997	1999	Manager of Countryside Services, and Director of the National Motorboat Museum. Responsible for countryside service throughout Basildon District, including direct management of country park, museum, education centre, commercial units, a profitable marina and other sites. Achievements included managing free ‘BasFest’ music festival for two years, establishing Landfill Tax Trust, a complete staff-led review of health and safety including major changes in working practices. Budget £0.5M revenue plus Landfill Tax trust.
The National Trust Wicken Fen Lode Lane Wicken, Ely Cambs, CB7 5XP	1995	1997	Property Manager. Managing an internationally important nature reserve, associated estate and farmland, tourist attraction, charitable body and residential education centre. Achievements included appointing new management team, grant and lottery funding bids, safely increasing visitor footfall on a delicate site, undertaking major building projects, opening a shop, large scale restoration and development of wetland landscape. Budget £0.2M.
Hampshire County Council The Castle Winchester	1989	1995	Site Manager, Westwood Project. Managed ranger team in urban fringe Southampton countryside with significant levels of social deprivation and antisocial behaviour. Education programme, reclamation of landfill site, community arts projects, working closely with agencies and communities. Achievements included great success in working with local communities, pioneer social inclusion and accessibility projects. Budget £0.15M.

Education

Establishment	From	To	Qualifications
Southampton Institute	1992	1993	Postgraduate Certificate in Management
University of Durham	1985	1988	BSc (Hons) Zoology 2(ii)

Professional qualifications and membership

Body	Status	Date awarded
Countryside Management Association	Full member; Life Member	1989, 2016
Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management	Full member	1999
Society for the Environment (SocEnv)	Chartered Environmentalist	2006

Work-related training and external experience

President of the Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society, 2019
Member of editorial panel, IEEM ‘In Practice’ magazine, 2011-2015
Historic Environment Landscape Management – English Heritage, 2006
Investors in People - Isle of Wight Council 2003
Countryside Management Association national website editor 2001 - 2021
Interviewing and Appointing Staff - Isle of Wight Council 2000
Living History, Centre for Environmental Interpretation, 1994
Storytelling, Countryside Education Trust, 1994, (3 days)

Media, publications and other interests

Editor of the countryside management website and blog, naturenet.net, which has been online since 1995, and has over 1,800 Twitter followers (@virtualranger)
Co-author of the successful Matt & Cat’s Isle of Wight Eating Out Guide, which attracts over 8,000 Twitter followers (@mattandcat). Fortnightly review column in the Isle of Wight County Press
Regular columnist for the Isle of Wight County Press.
Appeared on BBC Countryfile, and in other programmes including ‘River Walks with Charlie Dimmock’, Meridian Tonight, Gardeners Question Time. Featured in documentaries including ‘The Thin Green Line’ 2011, ‘Paradise on Earth’, 2017, ‘Wightwash’ 2018.
Co-organiser of the Isle of Wight Hedgelaying Competition since 1999
Enthusiast for British spiders and other invertebrates

Last updated December 2021