The team
Meet the people at the Woodland Trust who run nature detectives :O)
Danielle Evans - chief nature detective
Danielle joined nature detectives in 2008 and took over from founding member Shaun at the start of 2010. Her favourite part of the job is making fun stuff to inspire kids and adults about the outdoors - it's even better to hear people say it's fun when they do it!
"We had a big garden at home and when we were kids we used to spend all our time in it - getting muddy, treasure hunting, making dens, potions and all sorts of silly stuff.
This is where lots of my wacky ideas come from!"
From former lives, Danielle has experience of journalists, volunteers, dealing with grumpy people and media and communications.
Favourite tree
Rowan (because of the teethy leaves and colourful red berries).
Favourite download
Fungi trump cards (because they're ingenious, great fun and you can even stick them in your pocket to identify fungi when you're out and about :O)
Bev Gormley - deputy chief
Bev joined the team in March 2010 and brings tons of ideas with her. She is enthusiastic and passionate about encouraging families to get out and enjoy nature.
“My uncle had a farm in Shropshire and as a child I loved having adventures in the woods and sploshing around in the brook in my wellies. I once tried to pole-vault over it using a fallen branch which broke and I ended up very wet and muddy. Brilliant fun!”
From former lives, Beverley has lived in the Scottish Highlands near to the Moray Firth dolphins, where she helped people to set up their own business. She loves history, heritage and photography, and takes part in geocaching as a hobby.
Favourite tree
Oak (I love to think about what some of our mighty oaks have seen over the centuries since they were little acorns).
Favourite download
Trails to summer treasure (because I love making trails for my kids to follow).
Sarah Nicholson -
Sarah is in the Customer Care team, and answers your e-mails, telephone calls and letters. She joined the team in October 2009 and has had so much fun since she started :O)
"I love being outside in Autumn, crunching through piles of crispy leaves and collecting shiny brown conkers.
Spring is also an exciting time of year when everything starts growing again after the long cold winter."
Favourite tree
Oak (when I was little my Granddad gave me one he had grown in a pot, it’s been brilliant watching it grow as I’ve grown and now it is really big!)
Favourite download
Song of the wood (it's great doing this in spring and summer and hearing the different sounds of the woods).
Shaun Nixon - founding member
and honorary president :O)
Shaun saw a job advert in the Guardian, joined the Woodland Trust in 2004 and nature detectives was born. It's been a labour of love creating a website, printable materials and children's club that have been used by over 2 million people so far.
"I was inspired by loads of people as a kid - there are too many to mention here. Needless to say it started at primary school, but it was certain people who provided materials, projects, space, opportunity and - most of all - time, that I can thank for my passion for the environment and getting children involved in fun activities, wherever they live and whatever their situation.
I'd like to think that one day, some kids will think back and thank the Woodland Trust for nurturing that spark of enthusiasm for the world around them."
From former lives, Shaun has experience of assisting in primary school classrooms, website design, marketing, tourism, customer service, journalism, pantomime and international environmental politics (he has no comment on the comparison between the last two!).
Shaun is now working his magic on the Woodland Trust's other websites and digital outputs, inspiring even more people about woods and trees.
Favourite tree
Beech (they're great to climb and they change all year round).
Favourite download
Leaf bag (because it was one of the first ones I made).
Say cheerio to Shaun
He's not gone far, but without Shaun
nature detectives wouldn't be the
fun-packed adventure it is today :O)
So if you'd like to say a big thanks
send him a message