Q and A with Jemma Findley, Cofnod's new Manager

Can you give us a short introduction to yourself?

I grew up in St Helens where I was strongly influenced by my dad’s love of nature. He would take us on long walks teaching us bird calls, showing us plants we could use for cooking or wine making and he had an allotment. He had a strong community-first outlook, which shaped both my personal values and the direction of my career.

I studied psychology in Leeds because of my keen interest in how people function and interact, and went on to train as a manager in my early career.

I’ve spent much of my working life at the intersection of management, education and the environment. For the past nine years I have worked with the Permaculture Association, supporting a global network of educators, designers and consultants who specialise in creating regenerative systems. Permaculture is grounded in ecological principles and draws from indigenous practices that integrate humans with nature in balanced ways that avoid excessive extraction of natural resources. Permaculture designers apply this learning to directly improve biodiversity and resilience. My role focused on developing learning programmes and accreditation, building partnerships and improving how knowledge is organised and shared across the network.

I currently live in Stockport with my husband and our two children, aged seven and four, but we will soon be moving to North Wales.

What are you looking forward to about working for Cofnod?

I’m really thrilled to be joining Cofnod. One of the things I’m most looking forward to is getting to know the people who make the organisation what it is - the team, the board, the volunteer recorders, ecologists and partners. In my previous role I invested a lot in building relationships that will last well beyond the job, so I’m really excited to continue this within the Cofnod community.

I’m looking forward to deepening my knowledge of ecology and nature protection. My previous work was grounded in ecological principles, but was more focused on the application of this knowledge for regenerative design. I see how essential the ecological data being collected is and how it informs planning, conservation and policy. I want to support everyone to get the most out of their contributions. And as I love Wales, I’m particularly excited to be contributing to protection of its landscapes and ecosystems.

Can you tell us more about your love for North Wales?

My family has deep roots on Anglesey with one side of our family being Welsh. My great-grandfather worked at Plas Newydd on the Menai Strait, and many of my relatives worked in service there. When my father was young he spent every summer at his grandparents’ farm on Anglesey. He passed his love for North Wales on to me and when I was a child we would holiday there almost every year, camping or caravanning and walking in stunning environments.

For a short spell in my late 20’s I was a gardener in the Ceiriog Valley and this deepened my love for North Wales. But for me nothing beats Snowdonia, where I love to use OS Maps to explore stunning new places. I now visit often and I plan to relocate permanently within the next year, living my life here, walking the beaches and mountains, watching birds and enjoying the warmth of the local culture. Because of this I have been learning Welsh for about 6 months and I’m taking to it quickly.

How did you become interested in wildlife?

We didn’t have a car so walking was our main family activity, which led to a love of wildlife. I have vivid memories of watching the seasons change; lightning storms and honking geese around the local mere, the vast sea of purple in the bluebell woods, the feel of certain soft furry leaves and observing birds and learning their calls on regular walks.

My mum remembers often being unable to move me along at age 3, as I was stuck watching and describing the life of a ladybird I’d found. I remember being at primary school and each year observing red soldier beetles in the long grass surrounding the playing fields. I now have them in my urban garden, alongside a wide range of other wildlife.

Do you have a favourite wildlife moment?

I think aside from the very first bird I identified by its song (a Willow Warbler whilst camping in the Lakes), my most wonderful wildlife moment was in the jungle in Laos where we were sleeping alone in a treehouse platform which we had to get into each day via zip line. High up on the trees, it was filled with the calls and yelps and rustle of jungle wildlife. One evening before bed an enormous stick insect was stepping across our ropes. I’d never seen such a huge and slightly ridiculous insect. It was beautiful, but surreal. This trip was the most immersive wildlife experience I’ve had, especially the ants in my trousers that were biting me all night.

What are your hobbies?

I’m a keen walker, bird spotter and permaculture food grower and gardener - I like making spaces for people and nature to enjoy. I love learning; reading, research and languages - Welsh and Mandarin Chinese currently and I used to speak BSL fluently. I like to stay healthy, cooking and eating delicious food, and I do circus acrobatics as well as regular yoga. I sew clothes, enjoy felting, and draw and craft with my kids. I also love festivals.

What’s your favourite way to spend a weekend?

My favourite way to spend a weekend is walking or hiking with my family, with my binoculars and stopping to eat delicious food. The last few weekends we’ve had some great walks: Swallow Falls in Betws-y-Coed, a slippery scramble with the kids to Gelert’s Grave along Afon Glaslyn, and we visited Bodnant Gardens - a regular place to go, this time admiring the magnolias and daffodils.