Hazel White

From a young age I volunteered and worked professionally in nature conservation, both in the UK and overseas. By the age of 29 I had amassed considerable and varied experience. Then in 2006 I developed a debilitating illness which left me unable to work. Nature helped to pull me through that time, during which I developed a passion and knowledge for plants, native wildflowers, and wildlife gardening. I have recently recovered enough to return to part-time work, and with a renewed sense of energy and determination, want to do as much as I can to help halt the decline of nature in this country.

Key interests: species recovery and reintroduction, ecosystem restoration, with a particular interest in plants/wildflowers and mammals.

Key Skills: project design and management, fundraising, partnership working, and community engagement.

Sep 2024-Present: Volunteer at Hay Bridge Nature Reserve

Wildflower and tree planting, wildflower propagation, wildlife garden maintenance, maintaining pine marten research stations, assessing camera trap footage, setting and maintaining mink traps, and other general tasks.

June-Oct 2024: Wildflower Planting with the Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Sep 2023-Nov 2024: Volunteer gardener at Swarthmoor Hall, Ulverston

• Project coordinator, University of Newcastle Undergraduate expedition, Malawi, 07/01/98 - 09/01/98: Research project to assess the success of a biological control programme to protect the Mulanje cedar from aphid damage. Carried out blue monkey surveys. Responsible for delivering all aspects of project; collaboration with Malawian institutes, research methods, logistics, fundraising, budgeting, report writing.
• Team member, University of Newcastle Undergraduate expedition, Malawi, 07/01/97 - 09/01/97: Research project to assess the natural regeneration of the Mulanje cedar, the threatened national tree of Malawi.
• Social work, South India, 01/01/96 - 07/01/96: worked on a social enterprise cooperative comprising of an organic farm, rehabilitation centre and school for mentally and physically handicapped children and adults.
• Sea Turtle Conservation Project, Trekforce International, Sumatra, Indonesia, 07/01/96 - 09/01/96: building footpaths, ranger huts, and fencing.