As I look ahead to stepping down from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust board later this year, I am struck by how lucky I have been to be a trustee for eight years and the Chair for nearly four.

During that time, I have learned so much about wildlife, and about the work the Trust does to help it thrive by playing an instrumental role in bringing about nature’s recovery in Yorkshire.

Thanks to the support of members, donors and those who have left legacies, I’ve seen the Trust go from strength to strength with more land managed for nature by us, more and better facilities for visitors on some of our key reserves, more peat restored and protected from further erosion, increased focus and expertise in the area of protecting and restoring wildlife round our coasts and in our seas, and better engagement with more communities for the benefit of both people and nature.

And that list only begins to cover the breadth and power of our work. It is the staff and volunteers, who with their knowledge, skills and expertise, their hearts, and their hands, make all of this happen – and they all have my deep appreciation and thanks – as I am sure they have yours.

I was interviewed and then co-opted on to the board in 2016 after seeing and responding to a notice in the YWT magazine – like the information being provided on this page. Prior to that I had been volunteering for the Trust near Harrogate for a couple of years. I knew that I wanted to support the Trust because of the way it works with and for nature as a whole, and the way it was actively doing something about my deepest concerns for the future – the interlinking crises affecting nature and the climate.

Trustees, as members of the board, shape and guide the organisation’s direction, for example by influencing and approving major plans and strategies. We make sure that the decisions taken comply with our governing document (the Articles of Association) and we make decisions about taking on new pieces of land and help to make sure that risks are managed.

The trustees have a wide range of skills and experience that we contribute both in formal board meetings (often held on or near one of our nature reserves), and also in sub-committees and through more informal discussions.

Once a year, as part of our annual members’ day, we hold our AGM and provide the annual report and accounts to members.

You may be wondering why I am stepping down given all I have said. It is good practice for charity boards to have a balance of newer and longer serving trustees. This helps make sure fresh perspectives are brought to bear on the Trust and the decisions that the board makes for wildlife in Yorkshire.

So, though I am sad to step down, and consider carrying out this role to have been one of the greatest privileges of my life, I am happy to go knowing that others will step up and make sure the Trust will continue to thrive, and with it Yorkshire’s wildlife.

Feeling inspired?

Being a trustee is a rewarding voluntary role in a friendly, energetic team – and can help to make a real difference. We ask trustees to commit at least 5 hours a month.

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