MEET THE TEAM
The Dorset Heaths Partnership core team is made up of 16 people, plus seasonal wardens employed to help engage with the public during key times.
Head Office is on the edge of Upton Heath at the Urban Wildlife Centre, Beacon Hill Lane, Corfe Mullen, Dorset, BH21 3RX
Paul Attwell
Team Manager of the Dorset Heaths Partnership (DHP)
dorsetheaths@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Paul has worked in countryside management and conservation farming in Somerset and Dorset for over 25 years, starting as a countryside ranger in the 1990s and working in Public Rights of Way for over 10 years before joining DHP in 2008.
Sarah Allen
DHP Education Coordinator
dorsetheaths@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Sarah studied for a BSc in Geography and Zoology and then an MSc in Environmental Analysis before becoming a secondary school geography teacher. She taught in both the UK and South East Asia before joining DHP in 2016. Leading the education team combines her love of teaching and the natural world, believing that experiential, discovery-based, outdoor learning is the best way for young people to connect with their environment and encourages environmental stewardship. In her spare time Sarah enjoys busy family life, biking, ballet and books.
Lisa Clayton
DHP Education Officer
dorsetheaths@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
After graduating with BSc (Hons) in Ecology, Lisa fell in love with environmental education whilst working as a seasonal warden. She went on to complete her teaching qualification and taught A level Biology for 12 years. She specialised in Environmental Biology and loved getting her students out of the classroom as much as possible! She has since worked as a heathland mitigation ranger in Bournemouth and now enjoys educating children of all ages out on the heathlands in Dorset. Her hobbies include yoga, knitting and gardening.
Kate Carpenter
DHP Education Officer
dorsetheaths@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Since graduating with a Biological Sciences degree, Kate has volunteered with several environmental organisations, assisting with countryside management tasks and providing environmental education activities and is currently a joint leader for her local Wildlife Watch group.
She became a River Educator in 2022 and loves getting school children outside to learn about their local rivers so much that she is now doing the same for heathlands.
Kate enjoys spending any spare time with her horse, hacking around the New Forest.
Amy Gallagher
DHP Dorset Council Mitigation Warden and Education Officer
dorsetheaths@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Amy has been working for the Dorset Heaths Partnership since starting as a seasonal warden in 2007. She now covers the historic Purbeck, west & north Dorset area as a heathland warden. Having grown up in Dorset, Amy appreciates the local landscape of her home county and after studying Countryside Management at Kingston Maurward College she completed a degree at Aberystwyth University. Her hobbies mirror her job, as she looks after the family’s small herd of cattle carrying out heathland conservation grazing nearby.
Heather Radice
DHP Campaigns Officer
dorsetheaths@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Heather joined DHP in 2020 as their project support officer and in 2023 she took the new role of campaigns officer.
Heather has a background in art and design and working in wildlife conservation. She moved to Dorset in 2008 and has a passion for our countryside and wildlife. In her spare time Heather enjoys trail running and riding her horse, and can often be found competing at dressage and show jumping at the weekends or running around Dorset’s rights of way.
rachel boyd
DHP Project Support Officer
dorsetheaths@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Rachel grew up on the Dorset coast and has always loved exploring new places in her home county. She has a degree in Ecology and has spent time volunteering for wildlife organisations in Dorset and Sussex. After completing her teaching qualification, Rachel worked as a primary school teacher in Weymouth before being drawn back to her love of nature! She enjoys the variety of the role as she supports everyone on the team with their many ongoing projects.
Outside of work, Rachel enjoys walking, cycling and playing netball.
Chloe Lewis
DHP Monitoring Officer
dorsetheaths@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Chloe joined the DHP team in 2017 after graduating from university with a Master’s in Ecology. Her role involves collecting and collating data on visitor numbers and understanding how Dorset’s heathlands and greenspaces are used. This information can then be used to help manage and protect our heathlands.
When she’s not at work Chloe loves to crochet, play netball and explore our beautiful countryside.
Sophie Clegg
DHP Monitoring Warden
dorsetheaths@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Sophie is finishing an MSc in Biodiversity Conservation at Bournemouth University, having studied undergraduate Town Planning. She’s interested in the relationship between people and nature in and around towns, and loves taking time to notice wild flowers and insects in the streets around her home in Poole. She loves being outdoors and has worked as a ski instructor in New Zealand, Forest School leader, and community trainee for the Wildlife Trust in Oxford. In her spare time she takes every opportunity to explore the local countryside and coast with her family, and enjoys drawing, yoga and wildlife gardening.
Anneke Kempton
Dorset Dogs Senior Project Officer
dorsetdogs@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Anneke has a degree in Zoology and an MSC in Wildlife Biology and Conservation specialising in heathland conservation management. She was part of the management team of a busy outdoor environmental education centre, served as a Police Officer (SPC) in London and worked as a professional dog walker. Anneke has been studying dog training and behaviour for the last 8 years and has always had a love for the outdoors, wildlife and of course dogs which makes this the perfect role.
Caitlin Tweedle
Dorset Dogs Area Project Officer
dorsetdogs@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Caitlin has a BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, graduating in 2019 with an interest in dog behaviour and learning theory. She loves to be outside, come rain or shine and when she’s not partaking in dog-related activities you can usually find her out at sea, sailing or scuba diving. During her time at the University of Plymouth she became the Sustainability & Environmental officer within the sailing club, developing a mindful outlook of the impact our activities can have on nature. Her role perfectly combines her love for dogs and the natural world and she looks forward to meeting you soon.
Mollie Taylor
Dorset Dogs Hengistbury Project Officer
dorsetdogs@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Mollie joined DHP in June 2021. For the past 3 and a half years she has been working at Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve in a range of roles; from ranger to wellbeing and educational engagement. Mollie is local to Dorset, with a BSc in Animal Behaviour, MSc in Biodiversity Conservation and a strong passion for nature and wildlife. Border collie, Bodhi, accompanies Mollie around Hengistbury, so make sure to say hello if you see them out and about!
Kyri Blackburn
Dorset Dogs Area Project Officer
dorsetdogs@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Kyri has been lucky enough to spend her whole life around Dorset’s heathlands, which has led to a real passion for the wildlife on these sites. She is particularly keen on our native reptiles! Prior to joining the Dorset Dogs team, Kyri completed her countryside worker level 2 apprenticeship while working for the ranger service at Avon Heath Country Park. She has just spent the summer as a seasonal warden for the Dorset Heaths Partnership, engaging with the public and sharing her love and knowledge of the heaths. She loves a good chat, so is looking forward to meeting lots of people and dogs who enjoy our local landscape and getting more familiar with the sites she hasn’t been to before.
Linda Kettley
Firewise Communities Assistant
firewiseUK@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Lin’s role within the Firewise project involves encouraging communities living on the urban/heath interface to work together to reduce the risks to homes posed by the wildfires that the heaths often suffer from. Lin spent 25 years with Essex County Fire & Rescue Service working in the 999 control room and then with Safer Communities directorate. She moved to Dorset in 2016 and gained the role of Firewise communities assistant with DHP. Lin loves being part of such a diverse team, working to make communities safer and enjoys walking her dog on the heath.