- Town or countryside?
Countryside
- Summer or winter?
It’s a tough one. I love a crisp, frosty winter morning, but the summer, especially early summer, is so full of life. I’ll say summer, so long as I can have an ice cream.
- Early bird or night owl?
Early bird
- Outdoor or indoors?
Outdoors
- Plants or animals?
Plants. You can find out so much about a place from what’s growing there, and the animals won’t be there without the plants.
- What species is closest to your heart and why?
I think it has to be an oak tree. A single tree can support so much life, from mosses and ferns growing on the bark, to the stag beetles munching the dead wood and tree creepers scouring the trunk for insects. An oak woodland in spring is one of my favourite places to be.
- What is your favourite Greater London open space and why?
I’ve got a lot of places to explore yet, but I do like Hampstead Heath. You can escape from the bustle of the city so quickly, and you can’t beat a dip in the Ponds.
- What has been your most formative experience working with the natural environment? And what did you learn then that you keep with you today?
I love exploring the world around me and have been lucky to live all over the British Isles. I have been able to learn from those around me involved in the natural world, whether professionally or as part of the fantastic volunteer community. I’m constantly motivated to continue to learn by their passion, commitment and knowledge.
- What is your role at GiGL?
I am a Data Assistant in the Community Team, working with GiGL’s species records. I assist with the inputting of species data from the variety of sources GiGL receives data from and taps in to, recently focusing on the swathes of data from iRecord (and iNaturalist which feeds into it). I will also be helping the team with the use of ‘R’, a coding program which will help streamline GiGL’s systems and services.
- What is your most enjoyable GiGL task so far?
As a newcomer to London, I have been enjoying exploring diversity of London’s greenspaces through the breadth of records that GiGL has. I am looking forward to getting to know the wide range of community recorders that submit data to us.
What made you want to work for a Local Environmental Records Centre?
I’ve been sharing my records of plants and invertebrates for a number of years, through citizen science projects, iRecord and to county recorders. While studying ecology recently, records from my Local Environmental Record Centre were invaluable for my research project, which supported practical conservation efforts. Using these records made me think more about how records are shared, stored, and made accessible to those that need them. Good data allows us to carry out good conservation and I am excited to be a part of that.
- London has a lot to offer someone looking to learn more about wildlife and open spaces. What one thing would you advise people to explore?
Slow down and be curious. Sit on a bench and listen to the different bird calls, peer under logs and stones to see what creepy crawlies have made them home or see how many different plants are growing in the pavement between your home and the local shop. I’m continually amazed how much nature surrounds even the most unlikely places.
