The Dales Slipper: Past – Present

Author Biography

As a child I had a fortunate upbringing; windowsills at home were often filled with worldly plants that my father grew. I took interest in his work in plant sciences and was taken on nature forays with Leeds Naturalists Union. I’m indebted to many of my fathers technicians, scientists and professors that I readily questioned at his work place; in particular, Albert Henderson, an incredible Lichenologist, who persistently encouraged me to look at life rather differently, usually through a lens. In consequence, by the age of sixteen I had gained an extensive knowledge and understanding of the differences between ‘higher and lower’ plants and the habitats in which they could be found. Though I was interested in most subjects at school, my mind and desires were always elsewhere, much because I remember staring out of the school window to fields and hedgerows. After undertaking conservation work for the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and a residential course in forestry skills in Lincolnshire I enrolled on a parks apprenticeship, with Leeds City Council. Passing all exams easily and with much enthusiasm, I became supervisor of plants at Tropical World, Roundhay Park, Leeds, before being offered a horticultural teaching role. Eager to learn more, in 1990 I enrolled at the Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh on a three year botanical horticulture diploma course, then recommenced teaching in local colleges. At the age of 33 I decided to retrain as a landscape architect, whereafter I took up various positions with corporate organisations, firstly as an architect, then as an environmental consultant. My depth of knowledge, particularly with plants was greatly appreciated, and it became regular that ecologists would approach me for advice. Despite my extensive knowledge of plants and expertise on botany and ecological matters, probably my greatest achievement at that time was designing many wind farms, particular Burbo-Bank offshore wind farm in Liverpool Bay. Expanding my education further I subsequently became a qualified teacher. Outside of work, my passion is with nature. In my adolescence I learned to love nature by climbing trees, sitting high on a bough, watching, listening, feeling and absorbing. It is, however, on the ground, amongst the herb layer, where I have specific interest. Orchids have always fascinated me, so it is during orchid season I’m always out finding new records or checking in on old ones I know of. In 2019, a month prior to my research for this book, I discovered the first known variegated Bee orchid (Ophrys apifera ‘Variegata’). More recently I discovered a new habitat with six species of orchid - far greater than some SSSI’s – Seeking new habitats is therefore a big thing for me. As a naturalist there are no bounds to enjoying the diversity on our planet; but as an environmentalist I am concerned about the continuous pressures of biodiversity being lost and its long lasting impacts on our health and well being. Many see fields being built on and trees, woods, hedgerows being removed at great pace, for homes. What, often, isn’t noticed, is the cumulative and longer term impacts those losses have, not just locally but across the country. As habitats diminish, the joy of seeing hardy orchids growing in unexpected places is certainly getting to be a more difficult pastime. When the British orchid season tails off, landscape photography is my other chosen serious hobby; the best days are when I can combine both.