Beth joins the team
Written by Tir Coed / Monday 22 March 2021
Hi. I’m Beth, the new Project Coordinator for Pembrokeshire, working with the Activity Leaders and Mentor to provide both training and experience and future opportunities in woodlands. I will be working Monday to Thursdays part time between the Narberth office, home and the woods.
Tell us a little something about yourself...
I am a mum to three humans and one cat and have been working for a few years as a freelance designer. Prior to this I worked for many years in parks management, working on a range of sites in the midlands and Yorkshire from national nature reserves to large amenity parks, a market garden, and everything in between. I love the outdoors, and am passionate about connecting people with nature, because often we don’t realise that is what’s missing until we find it again!
What are your hobbies?
Cold water swimming on Pembrokeshire beaches, eating weeds and wild food…growing food, and well, eating it.….anything arty, watching and reading anything scifi, reading historical novels and listening to history and science podcasts. But mostly these are what I wish my hobbies were if I had time to do them.
What excites you most about your new role?
I'm looking forward to getting back into the woods, hopefully sharing and learning new skills. I also really care about land based careers, and showing people that they are a solid option career wise, and also extremely rewarding.
With the recent lockdowns teaching us all how important our connection to nature is and with such a spotlight on sustainability and our environmental future, now is a better time than ever to be involved in this sector, and I really hope I can be a part of helping people break into this field of work. I think we have only just begun to look at the ways we can work sustainably with woodland to create community resources, employment opportunities and more sustainable futures
What do you enjoy most about being outdoors?
I have worked outdoors my whole adult life in one form or another, I love experiencing seasons up close. I love that you can get micro seasons in a day, well lets face it in Wales you can get all four seasons in an hour… and you only really see that if your outside for any length of time. When your outside, its never the same old same old…, and you never know what you’re going to see or experience that will stay with you for a lifetime! The things I have seen over the years! Jaw dropping beauty, nature being downright weird and animals doing the strangest things...tales for another time!
I love the UK overall for its diversity and beauty in its landscape, but especially Pembrokeshire. We really are competing on the global stage when it comes to iconic and beautiful landscape, what a privilege to live and work here!
What inspires you?
People who try new things even when it scares them… and my children, every day.
What's your favourite season of the year and why?
Its hard, I love the whole year, I love wild food, and so always get excited in spring when I see wild garlic popping up…..but I love late summer / early autumn, for berries and nuts and apples. I can think of no better thing than taking home great armfuls of windfall apples, it might actually be my most favourite thing….so maybe autumn. Im also obsessed with Halloween and pumpkins so yes, we will go with autumn.
If you were a tree, what tree would you be and why?
This is actually a hard question. Id love to say an ‘oak’, strong, dependable, Or a beech, tall and majestic…but perhaps I’m more of a hawthorn, a bit rough and ready at home in most places but can be impressive when given space and left to run wild.
