Phil’s reason for becoming an individual Eurosite member is that he has had a long interest and involvement in the Eurosite network since the late 1990s: “I believe passionately in the benefits of sharing information, experience and skills about nature conservation management between European conservation professionals and I would like to support Eurosite in its important work.”

The organisation Phil works for, Natural England, is a corporate member of the network but as an individual member he will represent his own views.

EXPERTISE
In his long career in nature conservation practice Phil has worked as an advisor to farmers in the north of England on how to manage their land for wildlife. He became an expert in the implementation of the Wild Birds and Habitats Directive and in designating nature reserves through the UK’s national Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) legislation. His training is in botany and his passions in natural history, bird-watching and ‘botanising’ (identifying plants in the wild). Phil’s interests in habitat management include grasslands, woodlands and wetlands. “I also have a very keen interest in Wilding which is all about giving nature room to develop more naturally and is a very hot topic in the UK at the moment.”

Phil is experienced in workshop facilitation, having organised and led many events for Eurosite in recent years. He also has experience in setting up twinning arrangements under the Eurosite umbrella and is an experienced writer, copy editor and proof-reader.