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A young man stands on a rocky mountain top, with mountains in the background. He smiles and gives a thumbs up.

James

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My name is James, I am a current university student from Lymington with a passion for hiking, conservation and exploring the numerous sites the New Forest has to offer and the species found within. 

  

Favourite thing about / place in the New Forest? 

I particularly love the diversity found throughout the forest in terms of landscapes, habitats and the species you might be lucky enough to see. Moreover, there are endless new places to explore, each one providing opportunities to disconnect from reality and recharge a while. 

It is impossible to pick one favourite place, but I love going up to Crockford Clump, especially at either sunrise or sunset, and going for a walk. There are always plenty of different birds to see along the tops of the gorse and, on occasion, I have even been lucky enough to see some of the different deer species that live within the forest. 

  

What are your areas of interest and passion? 

On a species level, I am especially passionate about the UKs herpetofauna so the fact that all six native reptiles reside in the New Forest is of great interest to me. Looking broader, I am also interested in how people interact with, and make use of, the National Park especially in terms of engagement in conservation activities. As part of this, I am keen to build on my understanding of young people’s relationships to nature and where disconnects may lie, as this group will be prominent in shaping both the future of the New Forest and the wider environment. 

  

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

I am currently a university student working towards a degree in ecology and conservation, so I am developing an ever-growing skillset covering topics from policies to practical conservation methods. Moreover, this provides opportunities to engage with other young people to discover broader opinions and new angles to contemporary topics. 

  

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

I am keen to work alongside and learn from like-minded young people to work towards the goal of protecting the New Forest. As part of this, I am looking forward to developing my skills in communication and public speaking as well as establishing a deeper understanding of the inner workings of the forest in terms of the impact of policies and decision-making. Finally, I think this is a great opportunity to develop connections within the forest and work towards contributing a positive impact, alongside the other members.