I'm an ecological researcher based on Dartmoor, with a background in restoration ecology, citizen science and community-based land stewardship. My Fellowship will explore how traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and agroecological practices in Europe can support more resilient, biodiverse and culturally meaningful landscapes, particularly in National Parks and commons.

Through visits to social-ecological landscapes, research centres and restoration areas in seven countries, I aim to learn how communities balance farming heritage with ecological restoration. I'm particularly interested in the human-nature relationships that underpin effective land care; how values, beliefs and identity shape our landscapes. Can humans become - and be seen as - positive ecosystem engineers? How are our land stewards supported and celebrated by public perception, policy and finances?

This project builds on my research into public perceptions of 'wilderness' and my practical experience supporting woodland restoration and scrub regeneration on Dartmoor. I hope to share what I learn with land managers, researchers and rural communities working towards more regenerative futures.