[S]taff and volunteers at Cumbria Wildlife Trust are saying a sad farewell to Anne Powell OBE who is stepping down as Chair after ten years in the role, whilst welcoming John Farmer who steps into the job.
Dr Powell’s time at Cumbria’s wildlife charity has been a busy one. Even though it is unpaid voluntary work, the job entails a wide variety of tasks from chairing the board meeting, to representing Cumbria Wildlife Trust in Lake District Partnership. Dr Powell was the first chair of The Wildlife Trusts England Committee and in 2015 the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts awarded her the Christopher Cadbury Medal for Outstanding Achievement.
Although an all-round naturalist and conservationist, Dr Powell is a freshwater biologist first and foremost and led a pioneer group called FreshwaterLife – the first electronic database for freshwater organisms. She has been a Trustee of WWF UK, a council member of English Nature and continued to play a major part in freshwater science and conservation in parallel with her work for Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Her services at national level were recognised by her being made OBE in 2001.
Peter Bullard, Director of Cumbria Wildlife Trust says: “Looking back, I am sure that Anne will take pleasure especially in concrete achievements that have stood as milestones along her path of service as Chair of Cumbria Wildlife Trust: the reintroduction of water voles; the restoration of Foulshaw and Meathop Mosses; the restoration of upland peat mires; the purchase of Eycott Hill and a major effort to secure Marine Conservation Zones in Cumbria.”
“On behalf of myself, our Trustees and our 15,000 members I’d like to thank Anne for the huge amount of time she has put into our organisation and to congratulate her on her achievements.”
“At the same time, I would like to welcome our new Chair, John Farmer, who has already volunteered for many years as a Trustee and Treasurer.”
John Farmer is an active volunteer and campaigner on behalf of wildlife and spent several years as Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Treasurer and lately its Vice Chair. He owns a small holding in the heart of the Lake District and plays an active role in his community including as a member of the Lake District National Park Authority.
Mr Farmer, Chair of Cumbria Wildlife Trust says: “I’m looking forward to the challenge of leading this successful charity that is doing so much for the wildlife of Cumbria. We will face increasingly difficult times with pressures on biodiversity, global warming changes and the continuing financial pressure including likely changes because of Brexit.”
