Eva

Meet New Forest Youth Board member Eva from Lymington/London. 

Favourite thing about / place in the New Forest? 

The peace and tranquillity! I love wandering around the woodlands and being totally absorbed in it; taking photos, listening to the birds and appreciating the sights. I have also loved seeing just how many amazing volunteer and community groups there are in the New Forest. The passion for protecting and enhancing this amazing place from local people never ceases to impress me! 

What are your areas of interest and passion? 

I enjoy engaging with and educating people about nature and climate related issues, particularly young people and those who face barriers to accessing green space. I’m always keen to participate in conservation and environmental projects and have particular interests in sustainability, circular economy and community led projects. 

What skills do you have that could benefit the Youth Board? 

Through volunteering with a number of different organisations – from conservation to repair cafes – I have gained experience in working and communicating with a wide variety of people. My degree in Geography helped me to understand the complexity of environmental issues that are affecting the New Forest, and the importance of balancing the needs of people and nature. 

What do you want to get from being a New Forest Youth Board member? What skills and knowledge would you like to develop? 

Through the Youth Board, I aimed to develop my confidence in leadership and public speaking. I have already seen an improvement by speaking at meeting and panels, and look forward to chairing a meeting soon. As someone not originally from the area, would also like to gain more knowledge of local politics and governance from other board members to enhance my understanding.