We are very excited to introduce Cathy Oldfield who has recently joined us as our new Water Champion for School and Young People. Here’s a little bit more about Cathy and her new role at WSRT…
Tell us a bit about your previous experience.
I trained as a Graphic Designer, then worked at several outdoor pursuit shops as a clothing buyer. After that my husband and I had several outdoor pursuit stores ourselves in West Sussex. I then took time out to have my three children and decided to train as a Primary school Teacher. I worked for several years in a variety of schools and as the Forest School movement took off in the U.K I trained as a Forest School Leader as well.
What is your new role at WSRT?
I am the Western Sussex Rivers Trust Water Champion for Schools and Young People.
I am committed to reaching out to children to get them to understand and appreciate their riverscapes and take action to protect them.
My role is part of the Downs to the Sea project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and focuses on:
Designing and delivering a programme of engagement, awareness raising and empowerment for primary and secondary schools, colleges and youth groups via interactive assemblies, curriculum-linked classroom learning and clubs, as well as practical work outside the classroom and on the rivers.
Delivering inspirational activities to raise awareness of the issues faced by our riverscapes and associated wildlife and empower young people to take action for change.
Inspiring local action to improve water quality and river health and get more people out in our riverscapes.
How have your first few days been at WSRT?
My first few days have been amazing and awe-inspiring. This team are so committed to helping the local rivers and watercourses, its exciting. I am managing to get out and about with the team, shadowing them to learn what they do, to help me understand my role more fully. It is wonderful to work with people who are all passionate about the same ideals.
What drew you to apply for the role, and what are you most excited about?
I have always wanted to work in an environmental role but felt I was underqualified. As soon as this role came up I went for it as I know I can do it!
I am enthusiastic about getting children animated about protecting our riverscapes, as we need the next generation to understand and advocate for our rivers.
I am about to give some talks to pre-school parents alongside my daughter, who is a nutritional therapist, about resilience in children and how to help them adapt in the face of adversity or stress. Through my educational and Forest School experience, I know that some children are lacking in resilience and give up easily. Therefore, we need to be creating a supportive environment, teaching emotional literacy and regulation.
What do you think are going to be the challenges of this role?
The only challenges to this role as I see are the admin; aligning dates to go to schools, people etc., most children are easy to inspire!
I will hopefully, also be trying to reach out to children who are school refusers to help them engage and become advocates for our rivers. Hopefully helping by being outside in the natural environment, to navigate difficult emotions and situations, whilst giving them a sense of calm and well-being. It’s well known that being beside a body of water helps install feelings of calm and tranquillity.
What’s your top wildlife spot to date?
I love the mountains, and I regularly go to the Alps or my favourite the Dolomites. I have hut-to-hutted several times in the Dolomites and the Alps (where you generally stay up above 2300m, hiking from mountain hut to hut each day). I have hiked alongside Chamois, Ibex, Eagles, Griffon Vultures and oh of course Marmots. I have walked amongst the most beautiful wildflowers, butterflies and invertebrates.
Do you have a favourite river memory?
There is a small hidden stream in my village where I played for hours with my children and now my grandchildren, at the end of Friday Street which goes through to a small lake. Friday street it is thought, got its name because in a Christian community they ate fish on Friday, and the street led the village to fishponds!
Mostly I enjoy a glacier, and have hiked alongside a few, for example; Mer de Glace in Chamonix, Mont Blanc, Marmolada, Italian Dolomites, Furgg Glacier at the base of the Matterhorn, Switzerland.
Outside of work what do you like to do?
Outside of work I enjoy riding my bike, I try not to use the car when I’m home. I walk my dog for miles (Bailey she’s a small Cockapoo) I’m a passionate gardener whether its tending my flower beds or encouraging my vegetables. I am also a voracious reader, mostly Fantasy genres and you can find me in my calm space, on my bench outside in the garden, rain or shine!
