I always wanted a job in conservation. I used to imagine myself tagging whale sharks or rescuing orang-utans from burning forests. Now I am manager of the ‘Upstream Thinking’ conservation programme for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, funded by South West Water. The programme aims to improve raw water quality by working with farmers to reduce agricultural pollution into rivers, especially those upstream from reservoirs used to provide drinking water. This is an example of a sustainable conservation programme — working with business to achieve solutions that are beneficial to all.
For South West Water, there is economic benefit to improving the quality of water reaching reservoirs, because this reduces water treatment costs, and there are many additional benefits to wildlife and biodiversity. My team delivers advice, support and funding to farmers across Cornwall. I split my time between desk work, managing the team and talking to other organisations, such as Natural England and the Environment Agency. While it might sound dull compared to my old ambitions, what motivates me is knowing that this conservation effort makes a real difference close to home.
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