Ben Barker - Secretary of the BS3 Wildlife Group and Convenor of My Wild South Bristol.
Ben became a community activist (busy body) upon his retirement from teaching in 1994. One recent thread of his activity has been about building local networks across Greater Bedminster (BS3) around walking as a low pollution activity; increasing access to green spaces and, through the BS3 Wildlife Group, raising public awareness of endangered local wildlife and how through gardening and park improvements wild neighbours could be valued and encouraged.
Kim Taylor - Area Manager for Environmental and Landscaping Services, Plymouth Homes Community Association
Kim has worked in Social Housing for 25 years, in Housing Management, then focusing in anti-social behaviour. Kim recognised that Plymouth lacked green spaces and this impacts on behaviour and well-being, as well as being good for the planet. Now a Manager for Environmental and Landscape Services Kim promotes greener spaces for everyone's pleasure, health and well-being.
Savita Willmott - CEO, Natural History Consortium
Savita is CEO of the Natural History Consortium, an innovative charitable collaboration of 13 partners working together to find new ways to connect people and the environment. They run public events such as City Nature Challenge and Festival of Nature, and support others across the UK and beyond through the Communicate conference and community.
Ian Barrett - Chief Executive, Avon Wildlife Trust
Ian leads a team working to bring wildlife back to Bristol and Bath city-region, inspiring people to take action for nature. In February 2020, Ian and the Mayor of Bristol declared an ecological emergency for Bristol, making it the first UK city to do so. Ian is a board member of the West of England Nature Partnership, a Trustee of the Natural History Consortium and a non-Executive Director of the Bristol Green Capital Partnership. Previous roles include England South Director at Sustrans and Defra.
Professor Selena Gray, MBChB, MD, FFPH - Chair of West of England Nature Partnership and Professor of Public Health, UWE
Selena has research interests in the area of transport, spatial planning and health, and physical activity in older people. She has published widely in the area of public health, with over 100 articles in peer reviewed journals. In 2017 she was appointed as Chair of the West of England Nature Partnership, and is a Trustee of the charity Trees for Cities.
Ross Kennerley - South West Regional Director, Woodland Trust
Ross is South West Regional Director for the Woodland Trust. This role spans management of over 200 woodlands, working with landowners on woodland management & creation alongside campaigning, volunteering and research activity. He has previous roles in strategic planning, parks and leisure services in local authorities – bringing a passion for providing quality places for public benefit. Ross is a member of the West of England Local Nature Partnership.
