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A day in the life of a LWT Trustee

Our Council of Trustees play a vital role in the success of your Wildlife Trust. Vice-Chair, Hazel Ryan, tells us about the role of a Trustee, how a love of nature began in her childhood and how she gets involved in our work.

As a child growing up in Great Harwood, I remember being in a primary school competition to find wild flowers. In the 1960s, the idea was to pick the flower and press it in a book. How things have changed! Now the right thing to do is to take a photo and leave the flower, looking beautiful in the landscape where it sits.

Looking for flowers involved many happy hours with my mum wandering around the woods and fields near our home, seeing what we could find. That childhood experience inspired a lifetime love of nature.

The work that our Wildlife Trust does to connect people with nature and protect it for future generations is the reason I joined the dedicated band of volunteers who support the work of the Trust in so many different ways.

Hazel LWT Trustee

A lifelong love of nature inspired Hazel to become a Trustee

I became a Trustee after answering an ad in Lapwing magazine, which is the publication received by members of Lancashire Wildlife Trust three times a year. It was one of the best things I have ever done. Being a Trustee of such a welcoming organisation, working with enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff and volunteers is a privilege.

I have learned so much about the beautiful countryside across our region, from the limestone outcrops on Warton Crag to the lowland raised bog of Chat Moss. I have interesting and informative conversations and debates with my fellow Trustees, staff and volunteers, knowing I am making a positive difference to wildlife. It is very rewarding.

The role of Trustees

So what does being a Trustee involve? The Council of Trustees play a key role in the strategic direction of the Trust, which is particularly important in these uncertain times. We direct how it is managed and run and we appoint the Chief Executive Officer, as well as making sure the charity is carrying out the purposes for which it was set up.

We also take reasonable steps to guard the Trust's assets and reputation, and in these difficult times we make sure that it does not over-commit, which we do by reviewing the business plan and budgets.

It is important to understand that we do not carry out day to day management of the Trust - that is down to the Chief Executive Officer and his team.

A spectacular starling murmuration at Brockholes

A spectacular starling murmuration at Brockholes

As a group, the Council meets five times a year, usually at Brockholes. Whilst we discuss finances or policies, we can see wonderful wildlife outside the window, such as spectacular starling murmurations during the winter!

Many of us are also part of other committees and sub-committees which oversee key areas. For example, our Treasurer chairs the Finance sub-committee which does a deep dive into the detail of budgets and accounts.

In addition to my main Trustee position I have a number of other roles, such as being a member of the Appointments sub-committee that recruits potential new Trustees. I am also the Chair of the Risk and Governance sub-committee which oversees the risks facing the Trust and how those risks are being managed.

A day in the life

So, I can take you back to a day in March when unusually I spent all day at Trust headquarters at the Barn. I was lucky enough to get a lift with Tom Burditt, our Chief Executive Officer, and we had a good chat covering lots of things, from the results of our employee survey to discussing brass band competitions.

I then went to share an office with Monica, the Company Secretary, where we talked about a couple of upcoming committees. The first of the day was the Quality Management Committee, which is working to improve the communication and ease of access of policies and procedures across the Trust.

Next up came the Risk and Governance sub-committee. We had a presentation and discussion with one of our project teams working with different external organisations to access new biodiversity funding. We also discussed a new policy for accepting donations. All in a day’s work!

Hazel trustee

In another life I was a solicitor, so the skills I bring to the Trust include experience of risk management and compliance, and an understanding of contracts and legal terms. My fellow Trustees bring a broad range of different skills and experiences. We have a Trustee who founded a travel business, one who ran a housing group and others who taught at universities.

They all contribute in different ways, whether that is supporting on the human resources side or being a link with the Youth Council. Whenever any of us come to the Barn or to other Trust offices, we are always guaranteed a warm welcome and a cuppa and a biscuit!

Butterbur by Vernon Hyde

Butterbur by Vernon Hyde

Interested in becoming a Trustee?

We usually recruit each year for new Trustees, because after nine years most Trustees will step down. At the annual general meeting in October two of our Trustees will retire, so we are currently recruiting for new skills. If you are interested, then please take a look here to find out more. You will be joining a passionate and committed bunch of people, who will welcome and support you in your early years as a Trustee. It is fascinating, rewarding and inspiring!

To go back to my flower competition, the final flower which went on the board was the Butterbur, which I found on a damp bank. It has large heart shaped leaves and in days gone by, butter was wrapped in the leaves to protect and keep it cool. The memory of that flower has stayed with me, a true testament to the enduring power of nature and its ability to inspire. We can all play our part to protect something so precious.

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