I have always been passionate about supporting nature. We have a responsibility to future generations to safeguard our green spaces, reduce pollution and protect wildlife - locally, nationally and globally.
My family and I try to do our bit - cycling, solar panels, environmental charities - but beyond that, I have been active running campaigns that make a broader contribution.
In 2019, as a Councillor on Canterbury City Council, I was made Chair of the Council's Climate Change Group, working to reduce our emissions and cut pollution. We have made a swift start on this, with initial work started on the electrification of buses, the move to a low energy council office and the build of a hydrogen manufacturing plant in my own ward, Greenhill. I'm also a member of the Conservative Environmental Forum, which provides excellent ideas for nature-based solutions which we can put into practice in Kent and nationally.
Also, since 2017 I have been Chair of the Energy & Environmental Forum at Bright Blue, a leading Conservative think tank. In this role, I organise regular discussions on key environmental topics between industry experts and those with a keen interest in policy making. Recent topics have included:
- Where next for animal welfare standards in British agriculture?
- Decarbonising transport to reduce emissions and air pollution
- Energy tariffs - will the Government price cap help or hinder UK households from getting a better deal?
Closer to home I have also run my own environmental community group, organising 20 events which cleaned and greened the local environment. This included river clean-ups, litter picks, converting abandoned land into new green space and building a community allotment.
I'm an active member of Kent Wildlife Trust and the RSPB, fortunate to have so many fantastic wildlife reserves helping protect the natural environment of this beautiful county.