Our Trustees are all volunteers and come from many different walks of life. Find out more about them and what has inspired them to give up their time for the Trust.
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Sue Mayer
Chair
I have lived in the Peak District for 20 years and been a member of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust for most of that time.
I am a veterinary surgeon with a PhD in veterinary immunology. I have had a varied career working in private practice, as a lecturer at Bristol University and in the voluntary sector for the RSPCA, Greenpeace and GeneWatch UK. I have also spent 12 years as a board member of Greenpeace UK, 6 years of which I was the chair and also a trustee of Greenpeace International. Outside work, I am a horse rider, hill walker and am passionate about animal welfare, the environment and social justice.
As a trustee, I hope my skills and experience in governance and campaigning will help the DWLT in all its conservation work but particularly to be even more effective in bringing the changes we need to protect wildlife and the environment.
David Charlton
Vice-Chair
I have been a member of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, and a lover of Derbyshire's wildlife and countryside, for some 30 years. I am a retired solicitor and retirement from a senior position in Alliance Boot's Legal Department some years ago gave me the opportunity to spend time as a DWT Trustee. I am also a keen grower and exhibitor of alpine plants. I am a Trustee of the Alpine Garden Society and secretary of its Derby Local Group. For many years I have been fortunate enough to lead mountain flower walks in the Dolomites, Pyrenees and Picos de Europa for a specialist mountain holiday company. I am co-author of two field guides to the flora of those mountains and regularly give talks to try to spread my enthusiasm for their beautiful flowers and wildlife.
Peter Bradbury - Honorary Treasurer
My interest in wildlife, and the great outdoors, has been a lifelong. Although I was brought up, and still live in, Sheffield I feel a strong sense of connection with Derbyshire and, in particular, the Peak District where, historically, my family have had farming and land management interests.
That influence has now been passed onto my own family and we have enjoyed many nature reserve visits, across the UK, during the last thirty years. We are long-standing members of Dorset Wildlife Trust, a county we visit most years, and I served on the Board for Butterfly Conservation for four years until 2012.
I am a qualified management accountant, and a marketer, and undertake annual continuing professional development to support both my formal qualifications.
I have been lucky enough the work in the charity sector for the last ten years after a successful career in the private sector, in South Yorkshire. I am currently Director of Finance and IT at Ashgate Hospicecare, in Chesterfield, who I joined in September 2013.
Since joining Ashgate, I have been focused on both the demands of busy Finance and IT departments but, at the same time, have been developing a long-term robust financial framework for the hospice. I am also keen on systems development, benchmarking, and the implementation, and use, of best practice.
Outside work, I enjoy listening to music, photography, walking, and, of course, the natural history.
Tony Hams
Originally from Devizes in Wiltshire, I studied Geography at London University and urban and regional planning at Nottingham University before embarking on a career in planning and environmental policy. From 1989 till 2000 I held major roles in several leading environmental bodies both at a regional and national government level. I was a Secretary of State appointee to the Peak District National Park Authority for 10 years and its chair from 2002 until 2007. I also chaired the UK Association of National Park Authorities for three years during that period.
I was a board member for the Countryside Agency between 1998 and 2005 and from its creation in 2005 until October 2011 I was on the board of Natural England where I was lead member for protected areas and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. I was also Chair of the East Midlands committee for the Heritage Lottery Fund for seven years until 2008 and chair of the East Midlands Biodiversity Partnership until 2011. I was a Director of the National Forest Company between 2010 and 2016, and am currently a member of the National Trust's Midlands Regional Advisory Board and its national natural environment panel. I have also been a member of the JNCC’s audit and risk committee for 3 years.
Chris Gale
I grew up in Surrey, among the heaths and hills of the North Downs. A degree course in Geography at Aberystwyth University prompted a lifelong interest in all aspects of mountaineering and the outdoors.
I trained in town planning in Brighton and then Teesside, where I qualified, before coming to Derbyshire in 1972, working on a variety of transportation projects. A change of career direction took me to Nottingham City Council in 1984, eventually becoming corporate policy manager with responsibility for researching and developing new service priorities and ways of working. I became an independent consultant in 1998, mainly working with voluntary and community groups on business planning, funding applications and organisational development until retirement in 2010. My wife and I love Derbyshire. The Wildlife Trust helps us appreciate the richness of its landscapes and wildlife. Being a trustee enables me to help ensure that it remains and grows as an effective, well-managed and dynamic organisation. Amongst such friendly and enthusiastic staff and fellow trustees, this is satisfying indeed!
Mike Greenwood
I have had a life-long interest in wildlife, indulged by living in and around Derbyshire for over 30 years while working as a university academic and professional biologist at the University of Derby. Leading the Department of Biological and Forensic Science for over 10 years before taking on a wider role as Head of Science and Assistant Dean of Faculty, I was keen to align and develop the interests of the University with those of the Trust. This was facilitated by my appointment as a Trustee in 2008.
Being a Trustee is a most rewarding experience and retirement in September 2010 allowed more time to indulge my wildlife interests, as well as continuing to promote the development of areas of mutual benefit for the Trust and the University through various educational, research and public awareness initiatives. I believe, as part of a team of Trustees, I can bring specific perspectives that provide a positive influence on the strategic direction of the Trust, as well as gaining a better personal understanding of the current issues concerning wildlife in the UK.
Phil Shore
I have been a member of the Trust since I moved to Derbyshire in 1995, having previously been a member of Sussex Wildlife Trust. I became a trustee in 2008, when I was a director of Lubrizol Limited, through a Business In The Community (BITC) initiative to encourage business leaders to become more involved in charitable ventures. Lubrizol was already a corporate sponsor of the Trust, and had used the Trust's expertise to help ensure that Lubrizol managed its land in wildlife-friendly ways. I enjoy walking in the Derbyshire countryside, and I particularly value the trust for its network of nature reserves, its conservation work and its focus on engaging with children.
Trevor Hudson
My wife Jose has been a member of the Trust for a number of years and I joined when we met and I became a trustee in 2008.
I qualified as a chartered accountant in 1976 and worked as a finance director in a number of companies. I am now semi retired. I have a number of interests including theatre, reading, playing squash and golf and walking. The main interest other than family is travel. We have visited a number of interesting places such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia. In 2009 we bought a motorhome and are enjoying rediscovering how wonderful the UK is.
Being a member of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has given me an opportunity to contribute to the protection of our local countryside, wildlife and nature. I get a great thrill from seeing wildlife in Derbyshire such as water voles at Cromford Canal.
Fred Pickering
I was fortunate to grow up in Chapel-en-le-Frith, Capital of the Peak, where over our garden fence the trees, fields and streams were my playground. Seeking out the nests of lapwings in the marshy fields and trying to catch newts in the local pond stimulated a life-long interest in natural history, leading me to study biological sciences at Lancaster University, specialising in ecology. Afterwards, I taught biology to A level for 35 years in various schools and at Barnsley College before retiring from there as Director of Sixth Form. Other responsibilities at college included teacher training and the use of IT in learning. I participated in a number of award-winning online learning projects including some at a pan-European level.
Throughout my working life I have always retained that initial interest in natural history and my wife and I have always enjoyed walking in the beautiful Peak District. So on retirement we decided to move here to live, transferring our allegiance from the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. On my return, I find the pond is no more and that the lapwings have suffered a huge decline in numbers. Hence my reason for offering my services as a trustee to an organisation that is not only engaged in conserving and restoring environments but, as importantly, is encouraging local communities to value and champion our fragile ecosystems so that future generations may have the formative experiences I enjoyed.
Huw Edwards
My original career was as a zoologist with research and teaching interests in entomology and physiological adaptation to ‘extreme’ environments. Latterly I’ve moved into the grant funding of research and development and in particular have chaired many funding panels in life sciences for the European Commission. Between the two I have worked in media and communication, gaining experience in project management and corporate governance.
Undoubtedly, my love of wildlife and the outdoors was stimulated by my early childhood in Cyprus and Guyana, South America. My interest in biology and the environment was always encouraged by my mother and on the early death of my father we settled in her home town of Nottingham. Throughout my school years Derbyshire was the regular venue for my school walking club, for geography and biology field trips, for bird watching, for photography and Cadet Force activity.
Today, I have what is described as a portfolio career, made up of my work on: life science research funding, the development of bioscience research internationally, supporting bioscience innovation in UK industry and voluntary work supporting: amateur athletics, rowing, Cambridge University and East Midlands Business Champions. I’m a member of the Zoological Society of London and dip into other UK and international conservation organisations as time permits.
I am aided and abetted in all things by my wife Lorna, the executive of a small charity promoting carbon reduction by households; my daughter Rhiannon, a recent psychology graduate, and my son Rhodri, currently studying biology at Bristol.
Sarah Lewis
I became a member of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust in 1997 after studying fine art at university. I have always been fascinated in the world around me, especially wildlife both locally and worldwide. My parents have always encouraged me to respect the environment but my biggest inspiration has come from the likes of Terry Nutkins and David Bellamy.
I enjoy a busy home life and work hard as a school teacher in Derbyshire. My husband and I enjoy walking and visiting National Trust locations. We help to organise a local Alfa Romeo enthusiasts group and frequently meet in Derbyshire and across the UK. We are lucky to regularly visit the south of France and (less regularly) Kenya where I appreciate the local wildlife, taking photos, sketching and acquiring as much information as I can about what I find. I have also been a volunteer for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association for over 20 years.
I care a great deal about nature conservation and feel privileged to be given the opportunity to become a Trustee. I will support the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to continue its success and development.
Sarah Fowler
I have always had a keen interest in wildlife - both for its own beauty and also for the immense value it brings to our lives. I feel it is important to use my skills, knowledge and energy in whatever way I can to support a healthy environment for communities, which is why I am pleased to be given the opportunity to be a Trustee of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.
I started my career with the Wildlife Trusts; joining Wiltshire Wildlife Trust in the early 1990s to run the Water for Wildlife campaign. From there I joined the RSPB as a policy specialist in water management; the stand out moments for me here were when I succeeded in forming successful alliances with water consumer groups and with farming unions to jointly press for wildlife friendly policies. I then joined English Nature where I developed the concept of a Wetland Vision for wildlife partners to sign up to, which is still in use today.
About 10 years ago I left the world of wildlife policy and took on the role of Chief Executive of Peterborough Environment City Trust. I led a small team of staff dedicated to promoting the environmental well-being of the city - working with businesses, social landlords, a diverse range of communities and the City Council. I realised here first hand the power of individual actions coming together to bring about positive changes to people's lives. Since 2005 I have been an Executive Manager at the Environment Agency - leading the regional strategy in Anglian region, operational delivery in the East Midlands and, currently, leading flood risk management across the Midlands.
In 2011 my husband and I took a leap of faith and moved our family from the flatlands of Bedfordshire to the hills of the Derbyshire Dales to take up the opportunity to run an organic farm. We specialise in rare breed animals - cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry - and hope we can demonstrate that by working with nature, engaging communities and promoting our food heritage we can create a sustainable farm business.
Nigel Huish
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I have been working in an Environmental and Engineering consultancy based in Derbyshire since the early nineties. Since 2006 I have been the Managing Director of the company which specialises in advising on all environmental aspects of construction and engineering design in the infrastructure, power and energy, education, housing and public sectors.
I live on the edge of the Peak District and enjoy walking in the local countryside when I get the chance with my daughters and their dogs.
My interest in wildlife originated in Somerset where I grew up with the diverse and wildlife-rich habitats of the beach, the Levels and Mendip within easy reach. Family holidays in Scotland eagle and osprey watching really fired my enthusiasm for native wildlife. I have gained some practical conservation experience volunteering with the BTCV and have been a lifelong member of the WWF.
In addition to wildlife I enjoy playing piano, quizzing and making and drinking wine from various garden fruits and produce.
Paul Lynch
I have always had a fundamental interest in plants and have been lucky enough to for much of my career to ‘indulge’ this interest. A BSc in botany and a PhD in plant biotechnology from Liverpool University lead me to University of Nottingham primarily as a research fellow as part of the Rockefeller Foundation rice biotechnology programme. At this time I started to discover Derbyshire and its wildlife. In 1993 I took up a lectureship at the University of Derby and started focusing my research interests more around the utilisation of biotechnology to support plant conservation. I am now Head of the Department of Natural Sciences, whose academics have a wide range of environmental interests; it is also the ‘base’ for the University’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre. As a trustee of the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust I aim to facilitate the collaboration between the University and the Trust to open up new opportunities for both organisations to enhance the understanding and awareness of our wildlife.