What’s new?
10 July 2009
New champion for local wildlife
A leading wildlife expert will take the helm as the new Chief Executive for the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough.
On 29 June the Council of Trustees approved the appointment of Brian Eversham – currently the Trust’s Conservation Director - to succeed Nick Hammond, when he leaves at the end of October.
Brian has worked for the Wildlife Trust since 1997. As Conservation Director, he is currently responsible for nature reserves, wider countryside conservation and wildlife training.
Trust Chairman Charles Chadwyck-Healey said “Brian is a worthy successor to Nick. They have worked together for more than ten years and in that time under Nick’s leadership BCNP has grown from a small struggling Trust into one of the bestand largest Trusts in the UK. A leader and trendsetter in many different areas, Nick has not only created a highly successful Trust but under his leadership he has also made it an immensely rewarding and enjoyable place in which to work.”
“Brian is recognised nationally as an outstanding naturalist, and we know that in appointing him we will have the approval and support of the entire wildlife movement, which holds him in the highest esteem.”
Brian said, “It is wonderful, a real privilege to be taking over a successful Trust at an exciting time when there is so much more work to do. Looking to the future the recession means we may face some lean years but also that development has slowed down which gives us an opportunity to consolidate our work with local authorities to ensure that when the recession eases, new homes are built in a way that is compatible with good wildlife husbandry.
“I’m a lifelong wildlife fan – I barely have memories before I was interested in wildlife - and there are some wonderful and contrasting landscapes for people to explore in our area. With our focus on creating bigger, better and more joined-up nature reserves we are moving to the stage where our nature reserves offer a full day out and an opportunity to go back again and again to see them through the changing seasons. Most of the problems that wildlife faces, but also the solutions to these problems, come down to the actions of people. The more we can do to inspire people to take action to protect local wildlife the better the future will be for all of us.”
In 2007, Brian was seconded to the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) as acting head of conservation, and now chairs the national team guiding RSWT’s Living Landscapes initiative to create larger and more resilient wildlife habitats. Previously, Brian was Head of Zoology and Research Co-ordinator at the national Biological Records Centre. His interests include birds, botany, lichens, insects and molluscs. He is author of the Atlas of the Dragonflies of Britain and Ireland, editor of the Ordnance Survey Nature Atlas, and author of more than 200 scientific papers and reports.
Nick became full-time Director of the Wildlife Trust in 2000, having been a volunteer since 1970. Previously he worked with RSPB for 24 years as Editor of Birds, Head of Publications and Director of Public Affairs, a position he left in 1991 to work as a freelance writer and consultant.
He has been Chairman of the Natural World Publishing Board since 1993 and has written and edited more than 15 books. He is an expert on Wildlife Art and regularly lectures on natural history and art.
To listen to Nick Hammond reflecting on his time at the Wildlife Trust and talking about his love of the natural world, please click here
To listen to new Director Brian Eversham talking about the Trust's future and his wildlife stories including living with a watervole, please click here