Janine Bickerstaff Membership Officer Expand Specialist areas: My main aims are to recruit members for Friends of the Lake District and make sure all our members are made to feel welcome and valued. I love talking with members and am always impressed by their passion and commitment to this beautiful place. I love nothing better than tramping about the Lakes and Dales with my husband, two young boys and our dog Patch. Sledging in Winter and open water swimming in Summer are particular family favourites. I work part time, Monday-Friday 9am-3pm
Rachel Damms Fundraising Officer - 4 days a week Expand Specialist areas: I am primarily responsible for grant and trust fundraising and for our fundraising events. I also manage our merchandise and landscape gifts. I have come from a hospice fundraising background and love talking to members or supporters so please do get in touch if you’d like to talk about a fundraising idea or just to say hello. I moved to the Lake District in March 2017 from the Peak District so I am currently spending most of my free time exploring this beautiful landscape. I am passionate about travelling and seeing new places, and I’m looking forward to all the new adventures the Lake District has to offer for me. I generally work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Jan Darrall Policy Officer - 4 days a week Expand Specialist areas: Agriculture, common land, uplands, land management, research, water, environmental improvement grants and management of High Borrowdale, Little Asby and Mazonwath. Favourite things: chocolate, cake, open fells, swimming in lakes, dogs, gin and tonic and being outdoors in our fantastic Cumbrian landscape. Working days Monday to Thursday.
Nicola Estill Community Engagement Officer, Westmorland Dales Hidden Landscapes Partnership - 2.5 days per week, usually Monday to Wednesday Expand My role is to support the development of the round 2 Heritage Lottery Bid, to be submitted in July 2018. I will be working with volunteers, local community groups, schools, churches and the farming community during the development phase of The Westmorland Dales Hidden Landscapes Partnership Scheme. I am from North Lancashire and have lived in several villages in and around the Westmorland Dales for the last 10 years with my family and other animals! I love wildlife and the great outdoors.
David Evans Development Officer, Westmorland Dales Hidden Landscapes Partnership Expand Responsible for the development and submission of the round two bid to the Heritage Lottery in July 2018 for the Westmorland Dales Hidden Landscapes Partnership scheme, on behalf of Friends of the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and other partners. Born and bred in Somerset, and trained as a landscape architect, I have spent most of my working life in the north west of England although the past five years have been spent in the Avalon Marshes in Somerset. Outside of work I am a keen walker and occasional cyclist, and am enjoying exploring new areas of Cumbria. My sporting days are over but I still enjoy watching sport, particularly rugby league and union.
Marianne Kitchen Finance Administrator - 2 days a week Expand My role focuses mostly on income and expenditure entry, reconciling the bank and Gift Aid claims. Outside work I love spending time with my family and dogs. We are always busy walking the Fells, tending our allotment, and relaxing in the garden in summer. In winter I go skiing as much as possible. I work part time, usually Monday and Thursday.
Christopher James Communications Officer Expand Areas of expertise: - Publications, public relations, - Website management, - Magazine and e-newsletter editor.
Cat James Finance and Office Manager Expand A keen artist and fell walker since childhood I share a love of the outdoors with my husband which led us to the decision to move to the Lake District in 2000. When I am not sitting in front of a computer immersed in finances and figures I still love to walk the fells along with my dog and sketch pad. I work 4.5 days a week.
Dawn Groundsell Communications Officer - 2.5 days a week Expand Specialist areas: Publications, public relations, website management, enewsletters and social media. I enjoy cycling, walking up hills, salsa dancing, and being outdoors as much as possible all year round, although I much prefer it in sunshine. I work part time, usually Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Clare Hucknall Company Secretary - 2 days a week Expand I am responsible for supporting the Board of Trustees and governance. I’m a keen hill-walker and love nothing more than being on top of a Lakeland mountain and spending time with my family enjoying the Lakes – whether on a bike, in a kayak, in the water, or tramping up a track. I work part time.
Johanna Korndorfer Dark Skies Officer Expand My role is to develop and deliver Dark Sky Reserve accreditation for Lake District National Park. The project will raise awareness of the preciousness of our dark skies, its benefits to humans and nocturnal wildlife, and effect ways to mitigate light pollution through sensitive light management planning. Previously I lived in the South West for over 20 years, where I worked for an arts and environment charity. I have lived in Cumbria for just over a year now, and enjoy exploring the heritage, culture and landscape of the Lake District, often via leisurely cycle rides and walks.
Ruth Kirk Landscape Engagement Officer - 4 days a week Expand Specialist Areas: My role focuses on reconnecting people with the landscape through, among other things: our mass-volunteer Fell Care Days which highlight the value of our upland landscapes and inspire people to take part in practical conservation work to protect them; our Leader’s Landscape Training programme which educates outdoor practitioners about Cumbria’s upland ecology and the pressures on it; our annual rural skills competitions in Hedge Laying and Dry Stone Walling; leading conservation work parties with volunteers at the Helm and in the woodlands we own and many other events and opportunities to get people out and about immersing themselves in our spectacular countryside. Favourite things: I always, always prefer to be outside rather than in (whatever the weather), and can often be found road cycling through the stunning Eden valley or traipsing across the fells with my daft boxer dog, Zebedee. I work part time, 3 or 4 days a week if there is a work party. Days vary each week.
Karen Mitchell Fundraising Manager Expand I’m responsible for our fundraising overall – ensuring that we inspire and enable people, Trusts and Foundations and businesses to help protect the landscapes of the Lakes and Cumbria through donations. I love the natural world and have run campaigns and fundraised to help protect and enhance it both nationally and at a more local level for several years. I find it incredibly uplifting to see how much love there is out there for this wonderful place. Kendal is my adopted home - a great base from which to explore Cumbria on two wheels or on the water in my kayak, preferably with a tea and cake stop en route.
Amanda McCleery Overhead Wires Officer - 1 day a month Expand As the Overhead Wires Officer, my main role is liaising with Electricity North West, National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty over their allowance (from Ofgem) to underground electricity poles and wires. Away from work I love trail running by myself and fell walking and cycling with my family. I work part time - just one day a month but I can look at emails in between.
Lorayne Woodend Wall Planning officer Expand As Planning Officer, my main role is to consider and respond to planning applications, Local Plan consultations and consultations on national planning policy changes, although I‘ll get involved in other areas of work too. I’m very proud of being Cumbrian with strong local ancestry. Outside work, I enjoy exploring the less-frequented parts of Cumbria and love bagging a trig point or milk churn stand, discovering local history and finding hidden or quirky local facts and features. I can also be found enjoying classic car events, snooker tournaments or Jo Nesbo novels or planning an overseas adventure – Japan is a firm favourite!
Claire Wickham Office Administrator Expand I joined in October 2017 after a family sailing sabbatical in the Mediterranean. My role as Office Administrator is to help the organisation function smoothly on a day to day basis. Welcoming visitors, responding to general enquiries, supporting staff with general admin, processing merchandise orders and ensuring we never run out of anything are just some of my responsibilities. I like logistics and operational planning, and latterly have enjoyed roles as Festival Organiser at Kendal Mountain Festival and General Assistant at Howbarrow Organic Veg Box Scheme. I am passionate about the environment and am an active member of South Lakes Action on Climate Change and Westmorland and Lonsdale Green Party.
Kate Willshaw Policy Officer - 4 days a week Expand My specialist areas include energy and nuclear government policy and major infrastructure projects, the impacts of climate change on Cumbria’s landscape, sustainability, natural capital/ecosystem services and biodiversity. I also manage Friends of the Lake District's digital mapping system. Favourite things: playing the ukulele, weekends away in my campervan and outdoor swimming in rivers and lakes in Cumbria and France. In between I look after an allotment and an overenthusiastic border collie called Luba who really appreciates living near so many great dog walks. He and I can often be found up The Helm at lunchtime.
Holly the Dog Office Dog - part time Expand Specialist Areas: facilitator, team builder, de-stress puppy, walks guide. Favourite thing: sandwiches - lots thereof and therein!