Carrie leads the Trust’s Nature Recovery work, driving ambitious projects that restore landscapes, enhance biodiversity, and support farmers in delivering for nature. Passionate about nature recovery at scale, she is committed to creating partnerships and unlocking new funding models that deliver real impact for wildlife, people, and the land. You’ll find her often out on farms, usually with muddy boots, a notebook, and her old Jack Russell, Dougie, trotting along beside her. Here, she tells us more about her role and career journey...

What inspired you to get involved in nature recovery? And what was your pathway into this field?

I didn’t follow a traditional path into conservation. I grew up in Croydon, South London, where green spaces were few and far between. Honestly, I didn’t even know conservation could be a career until much later in life.

My journey began in education. I ran my own business, which I loved. Then I decided to take a year off, traveling around Europe in my VW campervan with my dog, researching men’s mental health for my MA in Education. Somewhere along the winding roads and wild landscapes, I found that nature’s quiet, steadfast presence was the thread holding everything together.

When I came back, I knew I needed to be part of protecting that. I started out with urban greening projects, creating little pockets of nature in London, and eventually found my way into landscape-scale conservation, working alongside farmers. It’s been the best decision I’ve ever made.

Could you describe a typical day at work?

My days are rarely typical. Some days are a blur of meetings and spreadsheets, discussing high-impact, innovative projects like NEIRF and the Wylye Landscape Recovery Scheme with my team. Other days, I’m out in the field, mud on my boots, walking through Great Chalfield or hosting my farm cluster group, Wessex & Combes Cluster, at events. I never quite know what the day will bring, which is just how I like it.

What do you find most rewarding about your role?

The people. Nature recovery is 90% working with people - the team, the farmers, the partners. If I spark just one new idea, make even the smallest change, it feels like planting a seed. You never know what might bloom. I find that incredibly rewarding.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?

Working in a male-dominated field can be a challenge, but growing up with four brothers gave me plenty of practice! Professionally, the biggest hurdle is getting long-term investment for nature recovery. Nature thinks in decades and centuries, not financial years and it can be hard to secure the long-term investment that nature needs.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in nature recovery?

Do it. You’ll find more than a career - you’ll find a calling.