Meet the staff | Meet our Trustees

Adrian Banford

“We are at a cross roads, a tipping point. Where we head now in terms of reversing biodiversity loss and minimising the effects of climate change are key for our following generations. I want to do what I can.”

Since graduating in the early 1980s Adrian had a long career in nature conservation and rural environments with experience of finding partnerships, innovating and problem solving in the voluntary and private sectors and in roles for local and national government.

He is the Honorary Reserve Warden at Smardale and also holds voluntary positions with Cumbria Action for Sustainability, the Cultura Trust and Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust as well as being a Visiting Fellow of the University of Cumbria.

Adrian is a fan of the England cricket team, West Ham football team and science fiction.

Julie Barrett: Treasurer

"I'd like to use my financial expertise & keen interest in the environment to help further the aims of the Trust & enable more people to be enthused & inspired by the natural world"

Julie was the Bursar for a large Conference and Retreat Centre for many years. In her retirement she volunteers for the RSPB as well as being a Lay Minister for her local churches.

Julie is a keen walker and cyclist and is particularly interested in natural history.

Amy Bray

“Growing up and living in the Lake District inspired my passion for the natural world. I hope I can use my skills and experience to work with you to make nature more accessible for people in Cumbria and to help inspire them to protect it”

Amy Bray is Director of environmental education charity Another Way which she founded when she was 16.  She also organises community events and has created numerous resources and certifications to empower people to live more kindly towards our planet, including a new Power of Ten network to bring together young changemakers from around the world.

Amy has presented a series of short documentaries on BBC Bitesize and appeared on CountryFile, BBC 5Live, Radio 4 and Good Morning Britain. She is a Patron of Friends of the Lake District, a committee member for the UN Decade of Ocean Science and has received Cumbria Woman of the Year 2019 and the Prime Minister's Point of Light Award for her work. She is currently in her third year studying Marine Biology at the University of Exeter. 

Philip Byle

“Cumbria has been my home for over 30 years. It has some rare habitats that are in need of protection and support. I am keen to play my part in helping ensure that they are here for future generations”

Philip has been an Investment Director at Barclays Bank plc for 15 years and a Board Director for Barclays Investment Solutions Ltd. for 5 years. He is a member of the Institute for Chartered Accountants in England &Wales, and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities & Investments. Philip has a doctorate on bird behaviour from Cambridge University.

Philip is a keen birdwatcher and tennis player.

Volker Deecke

“The partnership between Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the University offers a unique opportunity for our students to access practical experience of working within a conservation organisation and for us both to help develop a passionate and informed new generation of conservation practitioners”

Volker is Associate Professor in Wildlife Conservation at the University of Cumbria in Ambleside where he is involved in research and teaching related to biodiversity conservation. Volker’s research interests lie in the application of behavioural research to wildlife conservation with a focus on cetaceans and other mammals. Volker is also Chair of the Ambleside Natural History Society and a Research Associate at the Vancouver Aquarium in Canada.

Volker's interests include wildlife, walking, and anything to do with the outdoors.

Sheila Gregory

“I have worked with diverse and disabled people for over 40 years and I know the value that green spaces can offer to people.  I am now excited to join the trust board as I am keen to help encourage more people from all communities to enjoy the therapeutic pleasures of Cumbrian wildlife.”

Sheila was the CEO of a learning disability charity for 23 years until she retired in 2021. She continues to be involved in the voluntary sector and is current Deputy Chair of Cumbria Council for Voluntary Service amongst other roles. Sheila has been a member of Cumbria Wildlife Trust for over 20 years. She enjoys birdwatching, wild flowers, fellwalking, gardening and maintaining her small woodland.

Graham Hooley

“As a keen local historian & amateur archaeologist I am interested in man’s impact on the environment. I want to help the Trust protect wild spaces & demonstrate the value of nature to the wider public.”

Graham is Professor Emeritus at Aston University and was previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor. He was Professor of Strategic Marketing for 20 years with a research focus on business strategy.

He is a former President of the European Marketing Academy
and Board member of the European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management.

Graham is a volunteer with Lunesdale Archaeology Society and binds and restores antiquarian books.

Danny Poland

“I have always been passionate about the great outdoors, wildlife, and nature. Nature’s Recovery is possible, but it requires urgent help, I want to encourage everyone to help nature in any way possible. Our own future is intrinsically linked with the health of the natural world. To overcome the catastrophic decline, we must learn to live sustainably and increase biodiversity. To see nature as an extension of ourselves and not separate.”

Danny Poland works for a local nursery as a Horticulture Apprentice and was one of Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s 60^th anniversary Nature Heroes, nominated for community engagement work during lockdown. Efforts to cheer up local residents by planting sunflowers evolved into working with the local school and with residents to create pollinator friendly habitats. His efforts were recognised with awards from Cumbria in Bloom and Britain in Bloom, and a thriving local group ‘Nature’s Friends’ was created which continues to take action for people and for wildlife in Irthington, near Carlisle.

David Sharrod: Chair 

"Wildlife Trusts really do 'Think Globally & Act Locally'. I am constantly inspired & humbled by the amazing people who work & volunteer with Cumbria Wildlife Trust"

With a background in managing nature reserves, David is the current Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust and is particularly proud of their work engaging hard to reach communities and young people with the natural world. He served as Honorary Secretary of The Wildlife Trusts after a lifelong involvement. He has a special interest in ‘good governance’ for charities.

David is a keen birdwatcher and fell walker.

Fiona Southern

“Having hugely enjoyed working with the Wildlife Trust on the Eycott Hill and Get Cumbria Buzzing projects I am really enthusiastic about becoming more widely involved, particularly with the landscape scale and partnership work undertaken by the Trust.”

Fiona is a Rural Practice Surveyor based in Cumbria and has worked in land management and conservation for more than thirty years. Her main areas of interest are nature recovery and landscape scale project development and delivery, on which she provides specialist advice to the Heritage Fund.

Fiona enjoys long distance walks and park running, and recently rekindled an interest in gardening.

Lilly Swietek

“I will do what I can to help Cumbria Wildlife Trust restore Cumbria’s wildlife and hope to represent the views of young people in Cumbria.”

Lilly is a student at the University of Cumbria where she is learning about wildlife conservation. She has a particular interest in beavers and has undertaken a range of fieldwork during her internship with the Norwegian Beaver Project. In the future, Lilly would like to work in academia so that she can help strengthen our knowledge of the natural world. 

Lilly enjoys hiking, birdwatching and climbing. 

Jane Wilson: Secretary

“I am keen to help preserve and enhance Cumbria’s unique natural history for everyone. I want to promote partnership working to face the environmental challenges ahead”

Jane worked in the water industry for many years, most recently as Engineering Manager supporting drinking water collection and treatment in Cumbria. Jane is currently working in the conservation sector.

Jane has been volunteering as a Kendal KingfishersWildlife Watch Leader for the last 7 years, and has been a member of Cumbria Wildlife Trust for over 10 years.

Peter Young

“I believe our wildlife is precious, but also in a precarious state. I want to see nature’s recovery underway and use my professional environmental expertise to support the Trust in all its work – showing how nature and communities can thrive together in Cumbria.”

Peter sits on Esmée Fairbairn’s Our Natural World Advisory Panel, and was RSWT’s first independent Trustee (2014-2020). Peter co-founded and remains active with two environmental NGOs, the Aldersgate Group and the Broadway Initiative.

He is particularly interested in getting business and finance to help nature. He loves walking but is always stopping to look at the wildlife!