I was privileged to join the Board of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in autumn 2024, but my connection to the Trust, and Yorkshire’s nature, goes back a little further. 

I have lived in Yorkshire for over 20 years – the majority of my adult life – and feel a deep connection to the nature and wildlife here. Whilst many will sing the praises of the Dales and Moors National Parks, I am rooted to the post-industrial landscapes in the south and east of the region. I find hope in the Ings, the old pit tips supporting unnoticed skylarks and the former quarries transformed into abundant wetlands. 

Before moving into conservation as a career, I used to work in the very different world of rail freight. My office was next door to the Trust’s Reserve at Potteric Carr which gave me the wonderful opportunity of building a relationship with the Trust and becoming a Gold Corporate Partner.

As well as gaining access to discounted flapjack and a place away from the office for much-needed thinking and grounding, this relationship meant I was able to get to know the Trust better. I found the relationships I built inspiring, open and inclusive; the desire to share the joys of nature and support others to learn and grow was infectious. It was through this connection that I reconnected with my own passion for nature, and this was no small part of my inspiration to change careers.  I was fortunate enough a few years ago to have the opportunity to join the RSPB, where I still work.

Above: Suzannah joined a volunteer Discovery Day early in 2025 to meet fellow volunteers and learn more about our precious chalk stream landscapes.

Applying to become a Trustee was driven by my experience with the Potteric team and a desire to become a part of the mission of the Trust; to protect the future of these precious places in my backyard and help enable other people to connect with them.

Being a Trustee has been a fascinating insight into the Trust and I’ve been involved in an interesting range of changes and decisions – from the acquisition of Park Gill, to updating safeguarding and health and safety policies, to the development of a Land Management Scheme in the Dales. I see my role as one of support, a critical friend and a champion of the organisation. I’ve really enjoyed being able to share knowledge and ideas from my day job, as well as learning plenty from staff, volunteers and the rest of the Board – it’s very much a cross-pollination!

I’ve also jumped into getting to know the Trust at ground level – literally! I’ve joined volunteer task days planting trees on Ingleborough, repairing fences at Ripon City Wetlands, cleaning a section of the River Dearne and learning to rebuild dry stone walls at Stirley. For me, it’s really important to understand before I can lead; getting to know the people who work for and give their time to the Trust, and understanding the variety of work, landscapes and challenges they face is necessary for me to connect the decisions we make at Board level with the work of the organisation.

Above: Getting involved at ground level - tree planting on Wild Ingleborough

It’s been a really exciting time to join the Trust. Following the publication of the State of Yorkshire’s Nature last year the staff team, led by Director of Nature Recovery Dr Sharne McMillan, have been working hard to identify what is required to reach 30 x 30; that is, protecting 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 within Yorkshire. At the start of 2025 I was co-opted onto the Nature Recovery Committee which supports this work, so I have been privileged to see it develop. ‘Bringing Yorkshire’s Nature Back’,  published this autumn, demonstrates how we can all work to ensure we reach the international 30 x 30 target within our region. The document demonstrates the phenomenal expertise and dedication within the organisation and, critically, shows the tangible steps required to reach this goal.

Above: Exploring limestone pavement in the Dales.

Crucial to the role of a Trustee is to ensure the charity remains true to its purpose and that it is run well. A key part of this is agreeing the accounts each year. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has a Finance and Risk Committee made up of Board members and staff (like the Nature Recovery Committee) who report on finances regularly to the Board. It’s a challenging time to be a charity, particularly with inflation, the cost-of-living crisis and the unexpected National Insurance rise last year, all putting strain on finances. I think it’s a real credit to the Trust and its members that even in this environment we have been able to continue to expand our work, and it was great to sign off my first set of accounts this year showing we’re in a stable financial place. 

My experience of being a Trustee has been overwhelmingly positive. I am learning all the time, from such an amazing array of experienced and inspiring people who are part of the Trust. I’ve been able to share my knowledge and experience of Curlew conservation to help design future projects and policies, and I feel part of an amazing and powerful collective of people who are passionate about the nature on our doorstep.