The Moor Barton Wilding Team

Iain Beath Steering Group Iain has 20 years experience in renewables and having developed several solar farms, is now involved in development of large battery storage projects to help balance supply and demand on the grid. He has a passion for nature recovery and co-founded the wildlife charity Beaver Trust. As a member of the Steering Group, Iain is a part of the Beavers, Keystone, Survey & Ecology and Funding workspheres.

Emma Beard CIC Director and Steering Group Emma has been inspiring young people of all ages for more than 25 years, first at a nursery then working with young people who don't fit into to mainstream education. Her empathy, kindness and joy for life have touched many people leaving lasting impressions. For the last 15 years, Emma has been a Forest School Leader, teaching nature connection to local school children. Through song, play and storytelling she encourages reciprocity with the land and the more-than-human world. At Moor Barton Wilding, Emma is part of the Volunteers, Community & Media and Heathkeeping workspheres. With her warmth and empathy and enthusiasm, Emma is often the welcoming face at our Seasonal Community Rewilding Weekends.

Trix Bernberg Steering Group Trix first joined Moor Barton as a volunteer in 2023, she quickly fell in love with the land and the community and joined the steering group later that year. Trix came to Devon in 2022 for a training in Nature Recovery at Ambios after a career change from lighting design for theatre. She was incredibly inspired by the education and work at Ambios and South Devon and decided to dedicate her time to further study on the Apricot Centre’s Regenerative Land Based Systems Level 3. She now works as a Community Forest Ranger and Project Officer at Ambios. Trix is inspired by land use change, reinstating functional ecosystems, tending the wild, permaculture and rewilding people, and improving access to nature. She loves meeting new people and sharing knowledge around rewilding. At Moor Barton Wilding, Trix has masterminded putting up of 100s of wildlife boxes. She is one of the Networking anchors for the project and part of the Survey & Ecology worksphere. ​

Robin Bowman Founder, CIC Director and Steering Group Robin has run nature connection, wilderness skills and awareness events and camps with a variety of organisations, charities and schools for over 20 years. He shares his skills, knowledge and experience with deeply engaging stories, an infectious passion for nature and playful humour. Robin’s lifelong love of nature and wildlife, beginning with a fascination with birds as a child, has called him to the cutting edge of the rewilding movement in Britain. He teaches on the subject at Embercombe, Schumacher and the The Old Way Immersion and, around 10 years ago, founded Moor Barton Wilding. Robin anchors the Beavers and Hunting & Gathering workspheres and is a very active member of the Woodland Management and Infrastructure workspheres.

Peter Cow Steering Group Peter is an experienced permaculture designer, teacher and consultant, passionate about supporting wildlife and specialising in regenerative culture design for humans, based in the 8 Shields map.  As well as his own programmes, Peter often facilitates Moor Barton Wilding courses, including our popular 'Beaver Safari and Wild Recovery, our one day introduction to rewilding. He is also the anchor for the Steering Group Keystone worksphere and a member of the Wildlife Boxes, Woodland Management and Hunting & Gathering workspheres. Peter lives on a farm on Dartmoor, and loves wild running and swimming, birdsong, harmony singing and sleeping out on beaches.

Abi Jones Steering Group Yoga teacher and sommelier, Abi, is the most recent member to join the steering group. With her deep connection to nature and mischievous, playful spirit, she is the perfect person to engage kids - and particularly teens - in the work and play happening at Moor Barton Wilding. At our Community Rewilding Weekends, Abi is often the bridge between the adults and the teens, ensuring that the young people have a fun and inspring time while also feeling that they are a valued part of the Moor Barton community. As well as being unofficial 'teen liason', Abi is part of the Volunteers, Community & Media and Hearthkeeping workspheres. ​

Angus Lyons Steering Group Resident fixer, mechanic and builder, Angus is often described as a keystone species of Moor Barton and has been involved in nearly all of the infrastructure projects on the land. Angus anchors the Infrastructure worksphere as well as co-anchoring Woodland Management with Lee. He is also part of the Beavers and Hunting & Gathering workspheres. ​

Josh Parker Steering Group With an abiding passion for the natural world, Josh is the Moor Barton Wilding's resident ecological encyclopedia. Josh's expertise covers a vast range of flora and fauna and he shares his knowledge with warm, generosity and humbleness. Along with Helen, Josh anchors the Survey & Ecology worksphere.

Brad Prenzlau Steering Group Builder Brad got involved with Moor Barton Wilding in 2021 when he came to the land to take part in The Old Way programme. He fell in love with the land and the project and, since then, has contributed much time and his significant skills to supporting Moor Barton Wilding. He began by building a wood fired sauna (a blessing after long days working on the land!) and more recently, masterminded the building of the new Hearth space. Brad is also involved with Hogchester Farm, a conservation and rewilding project specialising in wildflower meadows. He supports the cross pollination of knowledge and expertise between Hogchester and Moor Barton, as well as supplying Moor Barton Wilding with Hogchester seed to increase the abundance and diversity of wildflowers on the land. At Moor Barton Wilding, Brad is part of the Keystone, Woodland Management and Infrastructure workspheres.

Lee Walther CIC Director and Steering Group Lee has been a ranger for 15 years with the National Trust, wandering landscapes and working alongside the more than human world, tending and learning. Lee is an avid reader, absorbing knowledge and sharing beautifully what he has learnt with others. His care, passion and reciprocity for the land is contagious. Lee fell in love with Moor Barton the moment he stepped onto the land in 2019. Since then he has used his practical, management plan and grant writing skills for the project, with great success. He anchors the Funding worksphere, co-anchors the Woodland Management worksphere with Angus and is also a member of the Keystone worksphere. Lee and Emma are married with two boys who share their love of the landscape.

Annie Watson CIC Director & Secretary and Steering Group Annie is a mother, small holder, land steward and facilitator of spaces for nature connection, way of council circles and grief tending. She holds the metaphorical hearth of Moor Barton Wilding, taking care of the admin and site bookings for the CIC as well as the marketing and comms, supported by a previous career as a press officer for an international NGO. Annie is passionate about access to wild spaces for all people. She is usually the first port of call for volunteers and other visitors wanting to get involved at Moor Barton Wilding and, at volunteer events on the land, she can often be found holding the literal hearth, helping to create a space which is welcoming, supportive and inclusive. Annie anchors the Volunteers, Community & Media and Hearthkeeping workspheres and is part of the Infrastructure and Funding workspheres.

Tony Whitehead CIC Director ​ ​Tony lives and works on Dartmoor. He has a passionate interest in the natural world and nature conservation and is an environmental campaigner. Tony was recently involved in setting up the Dartmoor Nature Alliance (DNA) a collective of ecologists, landowners, farmers, and park users dedicated to amplifying an independent voice for nature’s recovery on Dartmoor. In his capacity as Director, Tony supports and advises Moor Barton Wilding on a range of issues concerned with enhancing biodiversity and restoring ecosystems and is involved in all major decisions.

Helen Williams Steering Group Helen joined WRT in 2024 to assist farmers in slowing and storing water within the farm landscape, protecting against periods of drought and deliver water resource efficiency. She has a background in the water industry and is passionate about biodiversity. Survey & Ecology worksphere) ​ ​ ​