Protecting wildlife for the future
Wildlife Trusts Wales acts as the bridge bringing all the Wildlife Trusts in Wales together.
The six Wildlife Trusts in Wales employ over 100 members of staff and have over 2,000 incredible volunteers. Our work would not be possible without our dedicated members. To protect wildlife in your area, become a member of your local Wildlife Trust.
Our Staff
At Wildlife Trusts Wales we have a small but impactful team.
We work hard to deliver our objectives and work closely with our Wildlife Trust colleagues across Wales and beyond.
Get to know us
Rachel Sharp, CEO
Rachel has worked for the Wildlife Trusts for 25 years and became the CEO of Wildlife Trusts Wales in 2011.
Her previous roles include Head of Biodiversity at Avon Wildlife Trust and CEO of both Hereford and Brecknock Wildlife Trusts. Her career has enabled both a deep understanding of the importance of protecting wildlife for its intrinsic value but also for people’s well-being, its role in climate change adaptation and its importance in tackling social inequalities. She is now a leading advocate for nature recovery in Wales. She is an external advisor on Welsh Waters Independent Environment Advisory Panel and a trustee of the Wales Environment Link. She attends Welsh Governments European Advisory Group and Rural Affairs Roundtable to advise on the implications of Brexit on the Welsh environment.
As a qualified scuba diver and sailor, Rachel has a particular love of all things marine. She is also an avid walker and does her best thinking when walking in the Welsh mountains.
Carys Evans, Communications and Campaigns Officer
Carys joined Wildlife Trusts Wales in January 2021 having worked in communications teams at both The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and The Wildlife Trusts previously. She manages the Trusts communications and is also leading on the communications and campaigns for the youth climate change project, Stand for Nature Wales.
In her spare time she is Creative Director at A Focus on Nature, a youth conservation organisation aimed at inspiring and equipping young people with the skills and knowledge they need to start a career in conservation. On weekends she can often be found exploring her local mountains and nature reserves.
Contact her (in English or Welsh) about all things communication, marketing and youth engagement!
Tim Birch, Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer
Tim joined the team in August 2021 to work on advocacy, policy, and campaigns and help us with Nature’s Recovery across Wales.
Previously Tim worked as Director of Nature’s Recovery for Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. This involved leading a large team working on planning issues, landscape restoration projects, making national parks wilder, beaver re-introduction, bird of prey persecution and connecting people to nature. Before joining the Wildlife Trusts Tim worked for many years overseas with Greenpeace International based in Amsterdam, Australia and Vancouver. He has extensive campaign and advocacy experience working at both the national and international levels. He has led international delegations for Greenpeace International to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Wales is a country close to Tim’s heart where he has spent a lot of time since he was a young boy. He knows the west coast of Pembrokeshire particularly well which is where he will be living very shortly with his family and which he is very excited about. He has a deep love of the islands of Wales in particular and knows Skomer, Skokholm, Ramsey, and Bardsey Islands very well having spent many happy hours (and days!) over the years watching puffins, Manx shearwaters, Atlantic grey seals, and choughs in these fantastic wild places.
Tim is very active on Twitter and you can find him at @TimBirchWild
Rory Francis, Youth Engagement Officer
Rory has worked as an environmental campaigner in Wales for over thirty years, for Friends of the Earth Cymru, the Snowdonia Society, the Woodland Trust and Wales Environment Link. He joined the Wildlife Trusts Wales in August 2021 as Youth Engagement Officer with the Our Bright Future project, which aims to help young people aged 11-24 gain vital skills and experience while acting as catalysts for delivering change for their local environment and community; whilst contributing to a greener economy.
In his spare time Rory is a member of the Ffestiniog Town Council and is Chair of the Dref Werdd environmental project in Ffestiniog. He is a keen cyclist, canoeist, photographer and mountain walker. He is a Welsh speaker and has often contributed to radio and TV programmes on environmental issues in Welsh and English.
Get in touch with Rory for all things advocacy and youth work!
Our Trustees
Our Trustees are a group of volunteers who hold the financial and legal responsibility for everything the Trust does.
Our Trustees bring a wide range of knowledge, expertise and experience to the charity and are responsible for approving our strategic plans, annual budget and Annual Report & Accounts.
Find out what we've been up to
Youth Manifesto calls for action on climate change
Young people from around the UK want to see urgent action to tackle the climate and nature emergencies.
Wildlife Trusts Wales concerned about lack of urgency and ambition in Welsh Government Net Zero Carbon Plan
Wildlife Trusts Wales respond to the Welsh Governments recent Net Zero Carbon Plan announcement.
Wildlife Trusts funded to restore Nature's Cathedrals
The Wildlife Trusts in Wales are delighted to be awarded £2,746,600 from the Welsh Government’s Nature Networks Fund in partnership with…