To celebrate International Women’s Day on Saturday 8th March 2025, we’re taking a look at the role women have played in fieldwork throughout our organisation’s history and how that looks today.
A quick look through our archives and the vital importance of women in the success of this charity is obvious and was frequently acknowledged, albeit in terms that we wouldn’t necessarily use today!
The early pioneers just got stuck in, dealing with the challenges of turning old buildings into welcoming Field Centres, including Flatford Mill in Suffolk, which was our very first Field Centre to open back in 1946.
Women stepped up to the challenge, by providing centres with food during periods of rationing and had to deal with uncertain water and power supplies. They did what they could to ensure children and all those that stayed at our centres were comfortable whilst learning outdoors.
Looking back through our archives, we can see evidence that “the wives” (as they were referred to in some archive material) also offered advice which prevented us from buying totally unsuitable buildings. They certainly had their say and it had a huge impact on the decisions that were made at the time.
What the records also show is that women were readily employed as teaching staff, carried out scientific research and got it published during their time with us. We have heard from some women that their experience of a field trip with us was what set them off on their chosen career path. Patricia de Hann (photographed here) recently returned to visit Preston Montford a number of years later and told us of her long and distinguished career.
The ‘Meres and Mosses’ week-long residential course she attended at Preston Montford, back in the 1960s, cemented her passion for the natural world. So much so that Patricia very kindly gifted us £10,000 to help fund our Young Darwin Scholarship, which offers 75 young people each year the opportunity to learn a range of practical environmental fieldwork skills that they may need to access a variety of green careers. She’s a prime example of women inspiring the next generation of scientists.
A look at women in fieldwork now, at Field Studies Council
Coming back to the present day, we have hundreds of women working within the organisation who share the same passion as the pioneers before them did, for fieldwork and education.
Right across the charity, and in every team, we work alongside a whole host of inspirational women who are trying to make a difference when it comes to offering all children the opportunity of outdoor learning.
We’re also excited to now have our very first female Royal Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, who kindly agreed to take up the role this year.
We asked just a few of the women within Field Studies Council on their experiences, what they love most about working in the sector and for their advice for women thinking of a career in education and fieldwork.
Jo Harris,
Education Manager
What do you love most about working in education and fieldwork?
The satisfaction I get from seeing learners of all ages become engaged with and inspired by the natural world; whether it is finding a fascinating fungus or suddenly feeling where the thalweg is in a river, it is the real world learning I am able to facilitate that gives me the most enjoyment. Students who previously might never have jumped in muddy puddles, held a crab or heard a cuckoo have this magical look on their faces all because of what we do, and that is a privilege to be a part of.
What are your top tips for other women thinking about entering the sector?
Get out there and build your own love and knowledge of nature. Fieldwork is about how we understand the world around us, it is the curiosity, creativity and questioning of the natural world, its landscapes and the people in it. If you can show learners your passion, enthusiasm and love for learning, you can inspire the same in them.
Jennifer Lewis,
Education Team Leader, Amersham Field Centre
What do you love most about working in education and fieldwork?
Being outdoors and in touch with the natural world, especially the changing seasons. I love being able to talk to children and young people about nature and their enthusiasm for it.
What are your top tips for other women thinking about entering the sector?
Get some relevant work experience working with children, such as volunteering with uniform groups, helping at local nature reserves or wildlife watch groups.
In addition to this, I think everybody belongs outdoors and I wish there had been movements such as ‘Every Body Outdoors’ when I was starting my career 20 years ago, as it often felt like you could only work outdoors if you hiked up mountains every weekend. Back then, even getting suitable outdoor clothing for plus-sized bodies was difficult. They promote gear, clothing and representation of plus-sized bodies outdoors.
Helen Robertson
Head of Education and Operations (National Programmes)
What do you love most about working in education and fieldwork?
I’ve been working and volunteering in the outdoor education sector for over 30 years and I love it! Every day is different as we meet so many young people from so many different backgrounds and with very different experiences. One of my favourite days was working with young people in Newham Park, really looking at nature and them being so enthusiastic about earwigs, something they had never seen before. It highlighted how disconnected young people can be to nature and how my work can connect young people to greenspaces, so they value and appreciate them, and will look after them in the future.
What are your top tips for other women thinking about entering the sector?
For women entering the sector, there are so many opportunities, and they do not all involve teaching. I would encourage women to find out more about the opportunities available, sign up to a job alert to see what opportunities there are. Join an environmental educators’ network, to meet others and learn from them.
When applying for a role, don’t undersell yourself, all experience is valuable, highlight your transferable skills.
Pippa Cowley
Senior Tutor, Blencathra Field Centre
What do you love most about working in education and fieldwork?
I enjoy the variety and spending most of my life outside.
What are your top tips for other women thinking about entering the sector?
Do it because you want to, not for the trends.
Emma Camp
Freelance Tutor, Blencathra Field Centre
What are your top tips for other women thinking about entering the sector?
Just do it, just get stuck in, doing something towards it is always better than doing nothing and surround yourself with like-minded people.
Grace Phillips,
Senior Tutor/Education ArcGIS and Digital Training Officer, Slapton Ley Field Centre
What do you love most about working in education and fieldwork?
I love working with students outside of the classroom, allowing them to understand the world around them and make real life connections. Often seeing things, they wouldn’t usually see or be exposed to! Hearing students say, ‘ahh that’s actually really interesting’ will always make it fun!
What are your top tips for other women thinking about entering the sector?
Be brave and do what makes your heart happy and don’t take it too seriously.
Alexandra Lowe
Tutor, Blencathra Field Centre
What do you love most about working in education and fieldwork?
I love being able to work outdoors most days in the sun or rain, which has helped my mental health. When teaching groups, I think I get to learn just as much, so I feel I am developing my skills every week.
What are your top tips for other women thinking about entering the sector?
If you don’t ask, you will not receive, a rejection is better than missing out on an opportunity.
Faye Hindley
Trainee Tutor, Blencathra Field Centre
What do you love most about working in education and fieldwork?
I like working in the outdoors because it works well with my ADHD. Also, I like being an example of a woman working outdoors to show students they can do it too which makes the field more accessible.
What are your top tips for other women thinking about entering the sector?
Don’t box yourself in, doors will open that you didn’t know existed.
It’s clear to see that there are plenty of inspirational women in fieldwork, back when our charity began, all the way through to the present day.
Happy International Women’s Day to all of the women within our organisation, the wider sector, and beyond!