To begin our Big Nature Day celebrations, we are delighted to be hosting an evening symposium at Nettlecombe Court on Saturday 30th May. This year, we will explore the hugely important topic of inclusion in nature.
Our keynote speaker for the night will be Dr Mya Rose Craig:
Mya-Rose Craig is a birder, race activist and environmentalist campaigning for equal access to nature, to stop biodiversity loss and climate change, and to ensure global climate justice, all of which she believes are closely interlinked.
When Mya-Rose was 11, she started her popular Birdgirl blog, and at age 14, she launched the charity Black2Nature, which focuses on engaging Visible Minority ~Ethnic communities with nature. At age 17, she became the youngest person to see half the world’s bird species, and also to receive an honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Bristol in recognition of her pioneering campaigning work.
Mya-Rose also connects people to nature so that they care about fighting the climate crisis. She campaigns against palm oil and plastic pollution and fights for the prioritisation of the human rights of indigenous peoples.
After Mya’s talk, we will be bringing together a panel of speakers to further explore and discuss what needs to be done to promote inclusive access to nature, so people from all communities and regions feel welcome and are able to visit and connect with wild spaces. Along with Mya, we are delighted to welcome the following to our speaker panel:
Sophia Brown: Founder of Bristol Steppin Sistas
Sophia Brown is the founder of Bristol Steppin Sistas, a walking group aimed at empowering women of colour to explore nature, improve wellbeing, and foster community. Recognised by Sport England for her impact, she promotes safe, inclusive outdoor activity to improve mental health. Driven by her own love for nature and walking, Sophia founded the group to provide a supportive environment for women of colour to experience the mental and physical benefits of the outdoors.
Laura Williams: Journalist and Editor
Laura is a journalist and Editor turned charity communicator and campaigner. She’s written for The Times, Telegraph, Spectator, Independent, Metro, BBC Countryfile Magazine, and currently runs Pier Journal in her home county of Dorset. Currently leading comms and campaigns for The Rivers Trust, she’s previously worked in similar roles with National Trust, WWT, National Parks Partnerships, National Trails UK and Campaign for National Parks – where she launched the National Parks: New Perspectives initiative. In 2023, she joined Exmoor National Park Authority as a Secretary of State Appointed Board Member to give back to her favourite National Park, visiting Exmoor every month.
Nick Bruce-White: CEO of Devon Wildlife Trust
Nick joined Devon Wildlife Trust as CEO in September 2023. For the 22 years prior to that, Nick worked for the RSPB in a variety of operational roles. After beginning his career on the Dorset heaths, Nick established the RSPB’s flagship Rainham Marshes nature reserve alongside the Thames in East London. He then went on to manage the RSPB’s nature reserve estate in Northern England, before moving to Devon in 2015 as Regional Director for the South West and then Southern England. Immediately before joining DWT, Nick was acting Director for RSPB England. (Image taken by Matt Austin).
James Grischeff, Director of Nature Recovery for Somerset Wildlife Trust
James’ journey in support of nature recovery started in Australia, where he grew up experiencing the excitement, freedom and tranquillity of the bushlands and coast, which he then studied at the University of Queensland, focusing on soils and water catchments. Having moved to England in 2000, James started working with farmers negotiating Countryside Stewardship agreements in Devon, Dorset and Somerset through the Rural Development Service that merged into Natural England in 2005. For the last seven years with Natural England, he developed a farming and conservation strategy, was seconded to Defra to help create new environment schemes, worked with the lottery to develop the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, and finally supported the national delivery of the England-wide Nature Recovery Network.
Sarah Gordon, Head of Impact Investing and Philanthropy at the UK Government’s Office for Investment
We are delighted that Sarah Gordon has kindly agreed to moderate the evening. Sarah is Head of Impact Investing and Philanthropy at the UK Government’s Office for Investment, and is also a Visiting Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics’ Grantham Research Institute on climate and the environment. She was previously the founding Chief Executive of the Impact Investing Institute, and spent nearly 20 years as a journalist at the Financial Times, including as Companies Editor and Business Editor. Sarah grew up on Exmoor and now lives in Withiel Florey.
The symposium will be held at Nettlecombe Court, Williton. Arrive from 6.30 pm to enjoy welcome drinks before Mya’s talk begins at 7.00 pm, followed by a Q & A session. From 8 pm, we will begin the panel discussion. At the end of the event, Mya-Rose will be selling signed copies of her new book.
Tickets cost £5 for members of The Exmoor Society and £10 for non-members. Please book your place via the form below.
Choose how many tickets you’d like by tapping the + and – buttons next to your option. When ready, click ‘Get Tickets’ to add them to your basket.