The ‘Coast Care’ initiative area is the coastal landscape from Amble in the south, to Berwick in the north, stretching west as far as Lowick, Belford and Alnwick. It supports trains and resources volunteers so that local people, communities and visitors are able to contribute to the management, conservation and development of our amazing natural and cultural heritage.

Volunteers look after the sweeping sandy beaches, rolling dunes, historic buildings, village greens and community spaces, farmlands and grasslands that make up our stunning coastal environment.

The initiative team is based at Seahouses it is supported thanks to money raised by National Lottery players through a grant of £522,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and is organised by the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, the Northumberland Coast AONB partnership and Seahouses Development Trust.

Kristian, who hails from Shabbington in Buckinghamshire, was educated at Long Crendon Primary School and Lord Williams’s Schools in Thame and Newcastle University’s School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, before volunteering in the USA, Oxford University Natural History Museum and Wildfowl Wetlands Trust London Wetlands Centre.

Following his time volunteering, he joined the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) one of the world's largest and most respected wetland conservation organisations, working firstly at the Slimbridge Wetland Centre in 2012 on the Great Crane Project and Spoon-billed Sandpiper Breeding Project, before moving to the London Wetland Centre in 2013 as Grounds and Aviculture Warden.

In 2014, Kristian headed back to the North East to take up the role of Collection Manager at the Washington Wetland Centre, a position he held until joining the Coast Care initiative in January 2019.

Talking about his appointment, Becky Waring, Coast Care Initiative Manager said: “Kristian is a great addition to the Coast Care team.  As the initiative delivers a huge range of opportunities, helping people access training and skills development, and resourcing and supporting existing volunteer groups, his own experience as a volunteer will prove to be invaluable, coupled with his knowledge and enthusiasm for environmental and wildlife conservation. 

“As the initiative goes from strength to strength with more volunteers joining up, Kristian is looking forward to working with the volunteers on some fantastic project across this amazing stretch of coastline.”  

Kristian will be leading conservation tasks throughout the course of this year, so why not sign up for one of the tasks by visiting www.coast-care.co.uk or pop along and meet him at one of the monthly coffee mornings held in the Seahouses Volunteer Centre.

You can also follow the Coast Care initiative on Facebook www.facebook.com/Coast-Care-Northumberland.