Youth Council

23/24 Youth Council Group Shot

The Youth Council is a group of young people aged between 13 and 25 who live across Lancashire, Manchester, and North Merseyside. They are volunteers who are dedicated to improving the Trust and it’s offering for young people. This includes helping to tailor the campaign calendar, giving input on the marketing plan, creating events and volunteering opportunities specifically for under 25’s and so much more.

The Youth Council are passionate about protecting the local environment, inspiring other young people to take action and to create positive change across the region and beyond.

MFON Youth Council pledge tree

Youth Council

What the Youth Council have achieved since 2020:

Attended COP26 alongside Metro Mayors and Dr Amir Khan
Presented at The Chester Zoo Youth Symposium on Youth Governance in Conservation.
Met with politicians on the importance of youth voice in environmental decision making.
Appeared on a BBC Northwest Tonight feature - What matters to young people (environmental) in the lead up to local elections.
Featured on BBC Radio Manchester discussing the importance of peat restoration.
Featured on BBC Asian Network discussing how vital nature is.
Appeared on the Pangolin Podcast
Raised £1000 for a pond dipping platform.
Helped to organise Manchester Festival of Nature
Attended Manchester Pride
Joined the Youth Delegation and went to 10 Downing Street to deliver a petition calling for changes to the Environment Act

What the current Youth Council have achieved so far:

Attended a Dirtworks session that included fire building and roasting marshmallows
Pulled ragwort at Brockholes Nature Reserve
Created activities including making a bird feeder, a bird song quiz and creating a pledge tree
Planned and manned a sucessfull stall at Manchester Festival of Nature
Helped to organise a Parlimentry event taking place in October 2023
Handed in a open letting to Downing Street regarding HS2
Written to DEFRA in support of a peatland project

Meet our 2024 Youth Council

Lauren - Graduate Ecologist and Youth Council Chair

I am a keen birder and a competent bat surveyor. In my spare time I like to run a moth trap at home as well as partaking in citizen science projects! I have a newt license which I use for voluntary purposes at a local nature reserve and look forward to gaining more skills and accreditations while on the Youth Council.

Euan at the edge of the water and shoreline.

Euan - Youth Council Assistant Officer and MSci Natural Sciences student at Lancaster University

I have a great interest for all things wild and have done for my whole life. I am particularly interested in the ideas behind regenerative agriculture, insects (most notably bees) and coastline habitats. Through my role I seek to provide opportunities to young people, like myself, to get stuck into conservation and ecology.

Rose – MSci Ecology and Conservation student at Lancaster University

I am professionally trained in soil sampling and analysis, completing my undergraduate dissertation on the use of cover crops in Spanish vineyards. I’m fascinated by the connections within ecosystems, particularly concerning the effects of soil activity on plant growth. In my personal life, I’m an artist who loves all things craft, especially crochet and digital illustration.

Miri - Palaeobiology student at the University of Manchester

In my degree I am learning a lot about the diversity of life on earth and how it evolved. I am passionate about combining this knowledge with an understanding of current ecosystems, and using the past to see how biodiversity can be protected in the modern day.

Amy - Earth and Environmental Science student at Lancaster University

I have been volunteering and working in nature-based activities for almost seven years, including roles such as Park Ranger and Conservation Volunteer at Rivington Terraced Gardens and Cuerden Valley Park. I am really passionate about wildflowers, ancient woodlands, and hedgehog and red squirrel conservation. Through my experience, I've learnt many skills in hydrology, geolofy, tree ID, conservation machinery use, bird ID, and biodiversity surveys.

Lilia with a wildflower field and trees in background.

Lilia - Wildlife Ecology and Conservation student at Bangor University

My skills and passion are wildflower and moss ID, and learning about marine life and the interconnectedness of ecosystems. Recently I have enjoyed studying lichens and pond dipping to identify freshwater invertebrates. I love getting my hands dirty with practical conservation tasks and trying different methods of habitat management.

Isobel witj a black sheep species behind her in a field.

Isobel - Ecology and Conservation student at Keele University

I am interested in wildlife and landscape recovery and conservation. Alongside pursuing my degree, I have explored this interest through working as a monitoring assistant on a landscape recovery project, and volunteering with my university on projects such as planting a wildflower meadow.

Monty smiling at an indoor event with a curtain in the background.

Monty - Upper sixth form student at Winstanley College

My big thing is birding! My favourite bird is the Kingfisher - it’s such a bright and tropical creature shouldn't be found in Britain! I have been an active Lunt Meadows volunteer for the past three years, and I did my year 10 work experience with LWT at the Seaforth reserve, where I helped with a Tern bird survey. I’ve also spent a week over the summer on the Isle of Arran doing conservation, from which the highlights were assisting with the reforestation efforts in Glen Rosa, and a wild flower survey on Goat Fell – where I learnt that there are three species of heather!