Marrying Action with Conservation

Growing up in rural Northern Ireland, surrounded by a patchwork of emerald fields, lush woodlands, and lakeshores, I was immersed in nature from an early age. Whether admiring the cattle in the fields, collecting leaves and conkers on nature walks, marvelling at the secret world of minibeasts beneath the surface, or setting up bird feeders during the winter, my childhood was filled with the magic of the natural world. These moments were woven into the fabric of my early years, and from the start, I was captivated by wildlife.

One of my earliest memories is visiting the zoo when I was four. Sitting on my mother’s shoulders, I craned my neck to see the Barbary lion habitat. I remember being utterly mesmerised by their majesty, though I didn’t know then that this species was already extinct in the wild. The thrill of being so close to creatures I had only seen in books or on TV was a pivotal moment - one that ignited a lifelong passion for protecting animals.

By age ten, I began to understand that not all animals would be around forever.

I remember hearing about species going extinct, a concept that had once seemed reserved for dinosaurs. It was hard to grasp how creatures that shared our world with us could disappear. Something I had once taken for granted—the permanence of the world around me—had been irrevocably shattered.

As I learned more, I realised that human actions—habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change—were driving species to extinction. The idea of climate change took hold, and the animals I’d admired at the zoo, already threatened in the wild, seemed at risk of disappearing altogether. I soon realised that the zoo, far from just a place to see animals, was actually an ark—offering a lifeline for endangered species through breeding programmes and conservation efforts. This symbol of hope sparked my desire to contribute to conservation efforts and my decision to become a zoo biologist.

Today, my work focuses on ex-situ conservation, where I help preserve species and their natural behaviours through tailored behavioural husbandry and welfare programmes. This ensures that animals stay both physically and psychologically healthy, which is crucial for sustaining thriving populations of threatened species.

Every day, I have the privilege of connecting with visitors and helping them form emotional bonds with wildlife.

To truly protect nature, we first need to understand and care for it, which begins with education. When we care, we act. By inspiring visitors to make meaningful changes in their own lives, we bridge the gap between admiration and action. I hope to spark the same passion in others ignited in me as a child—a spark that grows into a lifelong commitment to protecting the planet. Through these connections, we empower individuals to actively participate in preserving the world we all share.

My fiancé, a wildlife biologist, and I share a deep commitment to sustainability. Together, we’ve woven our professional and personal lives around our shared passion for conservation. Last year, we had the incredible opportunity to witness the reforestation efforts at Masungi Georeserve in the Philippines firsthand, and we were completely awestruck by the scale of and the lasting impact of their work.

For our engagement photo shoot, we decided to undertake the Legacy Trail hike at Masungi (we might have underestimated the challenge of the seven-hour hike). However, the breathtaking views of the Sierra Madre mountain range and the experience of seeing 2,700 hectares of land actively reforested made it all unforgettable.

As we approach our wedding this year, we’ve chosen to celebrate with an intimate, sustainable ceremony at Masungi, surrounded by our closest friends and family. Masungi GeoReserve has come to symbolise everything we believe in—its unwavering commitment to preserving wild spaces makes it the perfect setting to honour our love for nature.

Every action matters in the fight against climate change. Whether it’s choosing sustainable products, supporting reforestation efforts through search engines like Ecosia (which plants trees with every search) or advocating for wildlife protection, every decision counts.

The fight against climate change is not about perfection; it's about doing what we can, when we can, and inspiring others to do the same. After all, we share this planet with countless other species, and our future is intertwined with theirs.