The team
New Life on the Old West was coordinated by a specialist team that brought their love and knowledge of wildlife to deliver the project’s vision. Below is a timeline showing everyone who was involved.
Legal
Delivered by
Will Birkin
Project Officer, 2018—19
Will led the development of the New Life on the Old West Heritage Lottery Fund project, working with partners to deliver habitat improvements, community engagement, and a learning programme across the landscape. He managed consultancy contracts, established project processes, and created a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the impact on both wildlife and local communities.
Will also worked closely with local schools, developing activities that connected children with their environment, including an inspirational oral history project. In addition, he supported skills development by mentoring a Project Assistant, providing hands-on experience in project management and delivery.
Howard Jones
Project Manager, 2021—23
Howard was responsible for delivering more than 90 individual wildlife habitat enhancements throughout the project area, as well as providing overall project management and working closely with our multitude of project partners.
A former solicitor, Howard completed an Environmental Conservation & Management MSc in 2012 and then worked as a Project Officer with the Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales and a National Trust Area Ranger in Pembrokeshire.
After relocating to Norfolk, Howard continued as a Ranger before managing Orchards East, an East Anglia-wide Heritage Fund-supported project, researching and restoring the region’s orchard heritage. As project lead for New Life on the Old West, you’re likely to see Howard out and about in the fens – sharing his exceptional knowledge on the species that we’re looking to support.
Jamie Deakins
Project Manager, 2025
Jamie holds a BSc in Biology from Newcastle University and a MSc in Ecological Economics from Leeds University, with a strong focus on regenerative agriculture. He has hands-on experience working on organic farms at market garden and field scale, has co-ordinated volunteers on community growing projects, and hosted events bringing together local authorities, academics, and members of the growing community to explore ways to better utilise public land for growing food.
Jamie previously worked as a Field Team Leader and Operations Manager on a catchment and wetland restoration project in Queenstown, New Zealand, co-ordinating riparian planting across 10,000 hectares of freshwater habitat.
Laura Allen
Natural Heritage and Communities Officer, 2021—22
Laura was responsible for our programme of public events designed to enable local communities to engage with their natural heritage, as well as improving habitats and monitoring species across the Old West landscape. Laura also works closely with programme volunteers, a hugely valuable resource who collectively help to deliver the project’s aims.
With a BA (Hons) in Geography from Keele University, Laura is also studying for an MA in Heritage Management at Bath Spa University. She is passionate about natural heritage, the need to protect and enhance it and the positive values of connecting with it during a time of biodiversity decline. While at university, Laura was a Hedgehog Champion responsible for recruiting volunteers and instigating hedgehog-friendly changes on campus. As part of this, she organised and led campaigns to raise awareness of this iconic but declining species within the local community.
Olivia Boult
Natural Heritage and Communities Officer, 2023—24
Olivia was responsible for our programme of public events designed to enable local communities to engage with their natural heritage, as well as improve habitats and monitor species across the Old West landscape. Olivia also works closely with our hugely valued programme volunteers, landowners, and other project partners, who collectively help to deliver the project aims.
After completing a degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge in 2016, Olivia worked for the science journal Nature and then as an Editor for Life Science and Medicine books at Cambridge University Press. She is passionate about nature and the importance of conserving and connecting with it, and has experience working on local projects, including mapping trees in woodlands around Cambridgeshire and promoting food sustainability as an intern with Cambridge Sustainable Food.
Tate Oulton
Natural Heritage and Communities Officer, 2024—25
Tate managed habitat improvements and species monitoring across the Old West landscape, keeping conservation at the centre of the project. He also organised a programme of public events that gave people opportunities to discover, enjoy, and learn about their natural heritage. Alongside this, Tate worked closely with volunteers, landowners, and partner organisations, building strong relationships and encouraging others to play an active role in protecting the landscape. His work brought communities and nature together and helped ensure the long-term success of the project.
Karen MacKelvie
Natural Heritage and Communities Officer, 2024—25
Karen is an Environmental Biologist by degree (St Andrews University), a therapist by diploma (Warwick University) and a community engager by nature. She has lived and worked on the peaty soils of Shetland for 25 years, working creatively to link people with wild spaces, for the benefit of their health and wellbeing and for the benefit of nature. Her internationally acclaimed Nature Prescriptions project (RSPB Scotland) is an example of the innovative way she likes to work.
Karen started with New Life on the Old West in 2024. Glad to be back on peaty soils again, after a stint as a ‘Nature Recovery Ranger’ at a hospital in North London, she looks forward to inviting people back into deeper connection with the wonderful wildlife of the fens.
Toby Frith
Digital Marketing Apprentice
Toby was involved in a wide range of marketing activities, from managing social media campaigns to creating content and analysing website performance. It was incredibly satisfying to see the impact of his work in real time and know that he was contributing to an organisation that supports communities across the county.
Support team
Plus oversight from senior managers, Kirsten Bennett, Alison Brown and Hayley Neal, throughout this period.
Delivered by