How National Parks helped shape my career

Published: 7 November 2024

Originally published in our Viewpoint magazine (Issue 85 Autumn/Winter 2024) as part of our New Perspectives project.

My journey with National Parks started in my twenties, now in my early thirties, I look back on the wonderful experiences they gave me. Aged 23, I completed my first mountain walk in the Lake District. Before this, I’d had little exposure to these wild spaces. However, from this initial experience, my eyes were opened to an array of new opportunities — some that I still enjoy to this day, and others that weren’t my cup of tea. But that’s the beauty of exploring new things, you can find something that you truly enjoy. 

I found wild spaces, habitats and wildlife to be my real passion. I’ve seen the elusive pine martens, an array of bright and beautiful insects, and heard the increasingly rare cuckoo — I hold onto memories of the wildlife I’ve encountered across the National Parks. 

After finding what I love, I spent a year on a placement in Eryri (Snowdonia), which combined my passion for wildlife with outdoor activities and education. It enabled me to share this with the younger generation, which became really important to me. Today, I’ve combined my love for nature and outdoor learning into a marketing and communications role. As part of my role, I share articles, blogs, and educational content which encourages others to learn about wildlife and wild spaces across the UK — the more that people understand and appreciate them, the more they will want to protect them. 

Tips to start exploring National Parks 

Seek out new experiences – look for courses, or guided activities to experience new things. Some you may want to do again, and others you might not — and that’s okay! 

Connect with communities – finding others who have the same interests helps you discover new things. Groups on social media share events, free guidance and bring individuals together to enjoy the outdoors. 

Tap into opportunities – you can research organisations and local companies that are based in National Parks. They often offer free opportunities and events such as wildlife walks or guided hikes.