Tag: gardening

How did you decide to move from Virginia to Wellfleet?

We have owned a summer house in Wellfleet since 2007 and lived on a farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.  In 2023 we decided it was time to downsize and Wellfleet became our home. 

Tell us about your conservation efforts in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

When we renovated our old farm house we discovered it was built around a prerevolutionary log cabin which we restored.  We placed the farm in a conservation easement and over the years we removed invasive species, promoted wild flowers and native plants, created trails and conducted wildlife surveys with the Smithsonian Institute.  As a Virgina Master Naturalist, I volunteered to preserve Virginia’s natural habitat including as a National Park volunteer to protect rare native plants in the Shenandoah National Park.

What is your educational and professional background?

I am an economist/econometrician by training. I worked for 27 years with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC and before that in London at the Bank of England and Treasury, and in Basel Switzerland, specializing in finance. I now teach on the financial effects of climate change and bio diversity loss.

Who and/or what got you interested in the Wellfleet Conservation Trust?

My wife Pat and I are gradually finding our way in the Wellfleet community and we were looking for volunteer opportunities.  I thought the WCT would be a good fit and I am very appreciative to have been selected as a trustee.

What are your interests and experiences that you bring to the W.C.T.?

What I learnt in Virginia is that conservation is not just a question of protecting land.  Stewardship of the land and education is a vital part of conservation. I hope my background will allow me to contribute on that.

What are some early influences that inspired your interest in nature/conservation?

I grew up in Northern Ireland surrounded by open country side. My family were from farming stock. It was part of growing up to appreciate and spend time in nature.  

What Cape and Wellfleet activities and places do you especially enjoy and why?

Swimming in Great Pond and sailing my catboat for the peace and tranquility.

What Wellfleet or Cape organizations do you belong to?

We are members of Mass Audubon, the Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore and Nauset Newcomers.

Tell us about your family members.

My wife Pat of 48 years is an avid gardener.  My eldest daughter lives in Brooklyn, my second daughter lives in Switzerland with our three grand-children and our son lives in Scotland. Spending time on our farm in Virginia instilled them with a love of nature. Our son is a marine biologist.

What is something surprising about you that not too many people know?

I am a fan of minimalist music.

Bonus question – What is something else you would like to say to our readers?

The WCT will only be able to conservation a relatively small amount of land.  To preserve our habitat, the conservation effort must be much bigger and depends on you.  Start by creating a home environment to attract the birds, butterflies and bees — plant natives and remove invasives.