Meet the Trustees: Morwenna Trevena

Meet new Sussex Wildlife Trust Trustee Morwenna Trevana (she/her)

Tell us a bit about yourself

I'm a Brighton-based assistant ecologist at a Sussex consultancy, and I feel so grateful that I get to travel around the county through my work, and meet so many people who all have a connection to this beautiful place. When I'm not working, I love taking my dog Connie on long walks (only to dog-friendly reserves, and keeping her on the lead in wildlife-rich areas!), reading, knitting, watching movies, and plundering Brighton's many charity and vintage shops.

What drew you to becoming a Sussex Wildlife Trust Trustee?

I've been involved in the Trust in various ways for a while, from being a Youth Ranger, to joining the BIOSCAN volunteer team (shout out to Abi, Pip, Colin and Sam), to helping out with the online retail operation over Christmas. I believe deeply in the power of the Trust to reunite people with nature, and being part of the team having those conversations was very exciting to me.

Do you have a particular area of interest (in management of the Trust and /or wildlife in general)?

I find it very hard to pick a favourite type of wildlife! But birds, particularly birds of prey, never fail to thrill me. I love how everyone seems to feel the same excitement seeing a Kestrel hovering from a car window. I also love butterflies, as they're so often a ticket for people into appreciation of the natural world. Related to that, I think the area of Trust management that interests me the most is community and public engagement. I believe that it is innate in everyone to feel a connection to nature, and that means we need to foster that innate love in children, but also try and wake it up in adults, where it may have been dormant for years.

What is your favourite wild space in Sussex?

It would have to be Chanctonbury Ring. The combination of the quiet wildness and being surrounded by the work of ancient people is amazing - I love sitting in the trees on the hillfort, taking in the views, and testing out my binoculars.

What would be your ideal Sunday afternoon?

It would definitely involve some kind of pastry, knitting, and silly TV - I'm finally watching Peep Show at the moment and loving it!

Tell us something about you most people won’t know

I've just started taking aerial circus skills classes! It's exhausting but very fun.