Michael Blencowe – Lost Woods Senior Community Development Worker

Ever since he was knee-high to a Speckled Bush-cricket Michael has been passionate about wildlife and conservation. His childhood was immersed in the Devon countryside, spending wild weekends clambering around rockpools and hiking the coastal cliff paths of the South Hams or wandering between the tors of Dartmoor in search of Ring Ouzels and Dippers.

Since moving to Sussex Michael has gained thirty years’ experience of the amazing diversity of wildlife and habitats found in this county. His pioneering work co-ordinating a five-year survey of the county’s butterflies has given him unique insight into the best wildlife sites and woodlands in the county and he went on to co-author ‘The Butterflies of Sussex’. Since then he has written a book on Extinction (‘Gone’) and collaborated with children’s author Julia Donaldson on ‘The Woolly Bear Caterpillar’.

Over the past fifteen years Michael has worked for a number of wildlife conservation organisations where he has led hundreds of events and helped thousands of people to understand and appreciate their county’s amazing wildlife heritage. Michael joined the AirS team in 2023 as part of the Lost Woods project and will be helping people to explore and enjoy their local woodlands.