Meet Sophie Hawkridge our South West Lincolnshire Warden

What made you want to work in conservation?

I've always loved being outdoors and knew I didn't want an office job. When applying for university courses at sixth form I read about the environmental degrees and they really interested me. 

Did getting into the conservation industry ever feel more challenging being a woman? 

I haven't ever felt I had to jump through extra hoops to be a countryside warden and I haven't experienced sexism from anyone who works in conservation either. 

Working while pregnant was probably the main challenge but Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust were very supportive. Sarah Craythorne our Nature reserves officer , used to do my job and has done practical work while pregnant, so she was great to get advice from.

What would your advice be to anyone wanting to get into the industry?

My advice to anyone who want to get into practical conservation would be go for it, but try volunteering first to make sure you like it. It is physically demanding, but you build up stamina. There’re many times where I've had to use brain over brawn, so you get good at problem solving. 

Is there a woman/women that perhaps inspired you or still inspires you to do what you do?

My mum and grandmothers are the ones who inspired me because I knew they believed in me. Politically, Jacinda Ardern the Prime Minister of New Zealand is very impressive, especially how she led her country through Covid.

Meet Ruth Taylor our Outer Humber & Coast Assistant Warden

What made you want to work in conservation?

I’ve had an interest in the natural world from a young age. I had pet snails in the garden and was fascinated by ladybirds. When they moved I used to excitedly tell my parents they were ‘working’ (a bit like a clockwork toy!). My Mum tells me I used to imitate coots and when I was older I visited nature reserves with my parents and grandparents with my own pair of binoculars. My interest grew after leaving university and starting work. I was in various office administration roles and craved the outside world. Holidays revolved around nature and I started to volunteer at my local nature reserve Far Ings NNR at a weekend. After a couple of years of volunteering I realised I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life at a desk and started to look for opportunities in conservation. The post of residential volunteer was advertised at Far Ings, I applied and was lucky enough to get the position. I left my job, jumped in with both feet and haven’t looked back since. Best decision I’ve ever made!

Did getting into the conservation industry ever feel more challenging being a woman? 

I am the fourth generation of women in my family who have wanted to work outside but the first to have had the opportunity to do it, which hopefully is a reflection on how things are changing for the positive. My whole conservation career has been with the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and at no point have I felt that ‘being a woman’ has held me back. I know that several other people applied for the same post as me, we were interviewed and I got the position because I was able to demonstrate I was the right person for it. I am now very much part of the field staff team. Each of us has different strengths, weaknesses and knowledge regardless of our gender and all are always happy to offer help and advice.

Is there a woman/women that perhaps inspired you or still inspires you to do what you do?

I’m not sure there is one particular woman who has inspired me, it’s more a collection of women who have stepped outside the boundaries of the societal norm for their time, and not been afraid to stand out and be different. Women such as the Brontes, Beatrix Potter, Mary Shelley. I really like the saying ‘she believed she could so she did’, and that is very much how I try to lead my life now. I am also lucky to be surrounded by very supportive and encouraging family and friends. I also think growing up watching ‘The Really Wild Show’ had quite a lot to do with it too!

What would your advice be to anyone wanting to get into the industry?