I have always had a penchant for the outdoors, it probably stems from my childhood where I was lucky enough to grow up in the small town of Letchworth, just north of London in the UK. It was one of the first modern day planned communities established in the 1800’s by a group of Quakers who were looking for a healthier way of life than could be found in the congested and dirty cities born of the industrial revolution.
Some of my fondest memories are of those warm summer days listening to musicians play on the band stand in the park, splashing in the paddling pools and walking with my mother through the commons on the way to school. As a teenager I played football in the green spaces and explored the trails through the countryside, farmland and woods that surround the town and are still there today. The green space has enabled the town to keep its identity in an otherwise world of suburban sprawl. Those old Quakers knew the value and beauty of the land and understood their connection to it. They didn’t use words like sustainability, conservation, recreation and lifestyle, they were farmers who valued the land and simply knew a healthier way to live.
As the Conservancy Ranger here at Willowsford I hope to find your connection to the land and its beauty, whether it’s through recreation, conservation, education or simply a love of the outdoors I hope that I can help develop a program that fits you.
As a project manager I have worked with local zoning, permitting, historic and civic groups to make sure that projects fit in with the neighborhood and community they serve. As a member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and BSA Scoutmaster I have training and experience in youth leadership, trail construction and maintenance.