1. Can you tell us a bit about your job and what you do?

I am the Biodiversity Officer for Powys County Council. Part of my role is to coordinate the Powys Nature Partnership. The Powys Nature Partnership (PNP) is a group of organisations and individuals working together to conserve and restore nature in Powys. The PNP produced the Powys Nature Recovery Action Plan which details the specific action needed to restore nature in Powys. Members of the partnership agree to work towards this plan with their own projects and through collaborative work. The PNP will also lead on local action to meet the UN 30 by 30 agreement to protect and effectively manage 30% of land and water by 2030. Covering 25% of Wales, Powys has a huge part to play in achieving 30 by 30 nationally and, therefore, offers an exciting opportunity to lead on efforts. Collaboration between all stakeholders is crucial to meeting the targets of the PNP. Representation from community groups, farmers, and businesses, along with environmental groups such as Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, is important to bring everyone together for this common goal.

I also manage the Local Places for Nature funding from Welsh Government. This funding aims to create or enhance nature on people’s doorsteps. This ranges from wildflower planting for pollinators to a sensory garden to benefit mental well-being. We have worked with community groups across Powys to create valuable spaces for people that enhance biodiversity in the process. This would not be possible without the hard work of volunteers who have made these wild spaces their own.

2. How did you get to where you are today?

I grew up in Llandrindod in Radnorshire and, although I always had a keen interest in nature, my drive to work in conservation didn’t begin until I was working towards my A Levels. After leaving Llandrindod High School (now Ysgol Calon Cymru) I studied Ecology and Conservation Biology at the University of Leeds. My time in Leeds was disrupted by the Covid pandemic but still gave me a foundation to build knowledge and skills upon. I remained at Leeds for a further year to complete a master’s degree. I spent this time studying the effects of human disturbance on biodiversity. Disturbance, at the right intensity and frequency, is fundamental to conservation. I spent much of this year on Ilkley Moor in the Yorkshire Dales studying plant biodiversity along footpaths that had been heavily trampled – taking care to stay well away from nesting curlews! The effects of human trampling on wildlife are important all over the world, not least in parts of Powys that are recreational hotpots, such as Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. As a fell runner, I do my best to apply my understanding of footpath erosion to ensure I minimise my impact on our upland areas.

After completing my studies, I moved to Betws-y-Coed in the Eryri National Park to work as an outdoor education tutor for the Field Studies Council. There is no better classroom than North Wales – taking groups of school children around Cwm Idwal never gets old! The role helped to boost my self-confidence. I had tutored while at university, but this is very different to teaching a whole class. I also had to brush up on my geography knowledge – a subject I hadn’t given much thought to since school. Embracing these new challenges is a great way to develop your skills and knowledge. I returned to Radnorshire in November 2022 to take up the role of Biodiversity Officer at Powys County Council. This was initially just a short-term plan but I have been very fortunate that this has developed into a longer term position. There is something very rewarding about working in the area you were raised in, especially delivering projects that really benefit the people that live here.

3. What advice would you give to aspiring conservationists?

In short, get stuck in wherever possible! In many ways, you learn more from a day of volunteering than from any number of hours in a classroom. Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, and other local organisations, offer loads of ways to join in with conservation work. This is the best way to learn practical conservation skills and enhancing nature in your area is very rewarding. Volunteering demonstrates your passion for wildlife – a quality that every potential employer is searching for. Volunteering with RWT in the past certainly helped me.

Backing yourself is crucial. I am very early in my career. In fact, I fall within the target audience of Radnorshire Wildlife Trust's under 25's newsletter! One question I always get asked is, ‘what is your background?’ When I first started in this job, I was embarrassed to admit how inexperienced I am. This imposter syndrome is difficult to overcome, and I still struggle with it now. The important thing is to be open to advice and to ask questions. One perk of coordinating the Powys Nature Partnership is that I get to meet and talk with experts from around Powys. The vastness of nature means that no one knows everything. An eagerness to learn is more important than knowing everything. Young people are exactly what the world needs. We have new ideas and aren’t afraid to question the norm.