Celebrating Women in Conservation on International Women's Day
International Women's Day provides a crucial opportunity to pause, reflect, and celebrate the remarkable women making significant differences both in personal lives and across the broader world. While acknowledging the many incredible men contributing similarly, this annual day specifically shines a spotlight on women's achievements. The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, a dedicated conservation organization working to protect and enhance nature in the North West, exemplifies this celebration through its female staff members.
Diverse Habitats and Female Leadership
The Trust's conservation area encompasses an impressive range of environments including marine and coastal zones, upland peatland moors, low-lying wetlands, woodlands, and various transitional ecosystems. Throughout all these landscapes, women's contributions are evident and essential to the organization's success.
Kim Coverdale: A Conservation Legend
Kim Coverdale represents a true Wildlife Trust legend, having begun her tenure in 1990. She currently manages six nature reserves in East Lancashire with deep, intimate knowledge of these precious spaces. Kim demonstrates exceptional care for both the wildlife inhabiting these reserves and the local communities utilizing them.
Her approach to rallying volunteers combines quiet kindness with passionate dedication, creating an almost irresistible call to action. Kim has perfected the art of nature appreciation, particularly enjoying summer bird box checks at Moor Piece nature reserve in the Ribble Valley, which she describes as "really life-affirming." She praises Trust staff and volunteers as "dedicated, genuine people who want to make the world a better place."
Fiona Whitfield: Strategic Land Management
Fiona Whitfield serves as head of land management, providing strategic direction and leadership to the nature reserves team—a substantial and critically important role within the organization. While acknowledging the challenges inherent in her position, Fiona remains completely devoted to environmental work and cannot imagine pursuing any other career path.
She maintains strong passion for encouraging others to engage with outdoor environments and make positive environmental impacts, whether through conservation careers, volunteer work, or simply connecting with local green spaces. Her advice to others is straightforward: "Follow your passion and take every opportunity that is offered with positivity. Enjoy every day."
Daveen Wallis: Nature and Wellbeing Director
Daveen Wallis holds the position of director of nature and wellbeing, dedicating twenty-two years to bringing nature's healing power to people through creating, shaping, and now leading the Trust's nature and wellbeing service. Her driving motivation involves promoting why nature remains fundamental to human health, why reversing nature's decline is essential, and why ensuring universal access to nature's benefits matters profoundly.
As the lead for equality, diversity and inclusion within the Wildlife Trust, Daveen maintains strong commitment to guaranteeing everyone has opportunities to connect with nature and participate in Trust activities.
The Communications Perspective
Working within the Trust's communications team offers the ultimate privilege of sharing stories about these remarkable women and all other dedicated staff members who work tirelessly with deep care for nature. This role involves absorbing their boundless, thoroughly infectious knowledge and enthusiasm.
There's particular joy in following inspirational staff around nature reserves, asking questions, capturing stories, and occasionally tripping due to complete captivation with the surroundings rather than watching where one is walking. The experience highlights how female contributions permeate every aspect of the Trust's conservation mission across the North West region.
