Biography of Lucy

Lucy Bowyer is the Community and Wildlife Officer for Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. She always wanted to work in conservation and she studied Wildlife Conservation and Practical Habitat Management at university. She initially imagined doing a ‘glamorous’ job such as counting leopards in Africa but after doing a practical course at Agricultural College – which included learning how to manage habitats for wildlife – she discovered a love of the British countryside and its wildlife.

Her first job was at an Environmental Education Centre managing the grounds but she soon began working with children. Since then she has worked in the education side of conservation, always with a focus on teaching young people about wildlife and the environment.  The benefits of nature should be for everyone, she says.

In 2009 she applied for the post at Rye Habour and has worked there ever since. “This reserve keeps giving. You can never learn all there is to learn about this place.” She works with family groups, schools and community groups and she leads a team of Community and Wildlife Officers. Rye Harbour’s New Discovery Centre was opened at the end of September 2021. The opening was delayed because of the Covid epidemic. Lucy Bowyer helped put together a successful Lottery grant for Discovery Rye Harbour.

Lucy has two primary school aged children. She sometimes struggles to balance work, family life and a social life but is lucky to be able to work flexible hours. She also runs an after-school Wildlife Club at her children’s school. She was also able to return to work after eleven-months of maternity leave. She feels that working in Conservation is a difficult industry to get into and that if she had taken a longer absence of leave, she would not have been able to continue in a similar role.  

Audio of interview with Lucy