In this post we introduce you to Ranger Helena, our newest member of the Bird Wise North Kent team and her trusty sidekick Ranger Dog Suki.

“For those of you that I haven’t had the privilege to bump into yet – nice to meet you, I’m Ranger Helena.

For those who’ve already met me out and about on the North Kent coast – hello again!

As some of you may know, I’m the newest addition to the Bird Wise North Kent ranger team. Joining me is my faithful sidekick, Ranger Dog Suki.

A brief introduction to me: I’m Helena and I was born and have lived all my life in Gravesend, at the western-most point of the Bird Wise North Kent range.

I recently finished my Master’s degree in Oceanography, which has put me in good stead to understand the goings-on of our beautiful Kentish coastline. In fact, my dissertation was all about the Quaternary geology of the Thames-Medway River system, and how that’s evolved over time. Basically, I was looking at what the estuary, seafloor and sediment can tell us about how this landscape has changed in the last half a million years, and how it might change in the future.

I’ve been spending lots of time patrolling with Julie, Mel and Hayley (and Jasper of course!), and seeing lots of new faces. I’ve seen plenty of waders and wildlife so far: egrets, herons, curlew, redshank, turnstones and oystercatchers to name a few… I’ve even been lucky enough to see kingfishers, peregrine falcon, and a stoat!

I look forward to meeting plenty more new faces along the way, and I hope you’ll join me in welcoming (from a distance, of course) our winter migrants onto our shores as they feed and rest after their long journeys to get to this very special part of the world. See you around!”