Ruth has been the National Landscape Association’s Policy and Advocacy Manager since 2022. She drives forward the development of policy positions and advocacy activities for the network and the Association and supports the National Landscapes to develop a collaborative and consistent voice through participative policy decision-making. She works with colleagues across all the different policy areas relevant to National Landscapes to communicate strategically, manage feedback loops with government and other stakeholders, and aims to generate evidence-based, future-proofed improvements for National Landscapes and other protected areas.

Ruth enjoys living in Bristol, equidistant between the Cotswolds, Mendip Hills and Wye Valley National Landscapes – but grew up on the northern edge of the North Pennines National Landscape - within rambling distance of the Solway Coast National Landscape and the Northumberland and Lake District National Parks. Ruth has a background in research communication and environmental policy, previously communicating international development research with the Overseas Development Institute, before delivering projects for the European Commission, Wellcome Trust and others with the Science Communication Unit at UWE Bristol. She has Master’s degrees in English Literature and in Environmental Law and Sustainable Development, and is currently a part-time PhD student in environmental sciences at University of East Anglia. She has a passion for environmental community-based decision-making, and a deep interest in balancing competing demands for land-use.