In brief: I’m a multi-media journalist based in Glasgow developing content across newspapers, radio, online and occasionally TV. My specialism is the outdoors and environment, including land reform, invasive species, rewilding, outdoor activities and the outdoors movement.

More about me

My specialist area is broadly the outdoors and environment and my journalism is informed by 40-odd years of interest in such issues and 14 years of being involved in and writing about them in Scotland.

Topics covered in recent years include deer management, red squirrel protection, invasive rhododendrons, salmon farms, basking sharks, Lyme disease, estate management, national parks, community land buyouts, marine pollution, footpath maintenance, the management of Ben Nevis, grouse shooting, renewable energy, tourism, cycling, climbing, the outdoors movement of the 1930s, and outdoor education.

My volunteer work in a food bank led to a regular Herald Online blog and an hour-long documentary on the topic on BBC Scotland TV, and I have also written about the Men’s Shed movement.

I have worked as a sub-editor and a radio producer mainly for the Herald and Times group in Glasgow and BBC Radio Scotland, where my expertise in my specialist subjects brings added value to my work. I now primarily produce news and features for Scottish and UK media on my specialist subjects, including BBC Radio 4 and Radio Scotland, The Herald, The Ferret website,  the Sunday Post, BBC Countryfile magazine, and lots more, including some international radio such as Deutsche Welle and CBC. I also produce and edit content for a range of third-sector organisations.

Originally from Liverpool, I started work as a reporter in local weekly newspapers in Manchester and then progressed to regional newspapers in the south-west of England as a reporter, sub and news editor. I switched to local radio in the north Midlands, working in Nottingham, Derby, and Stoke, then freelanced at BBC 5Live before moving to Glasgow to work for BBC Radio Scotland during and after its move to Pacific Quay.

Since then I have subbed and written, produced two radio documentaries, worked as a freelance radio news producer,  researched and developed TV programmes seen on BBC Scotland, and undertaken other projects such as helping write and edit a guide to sustainable development for community groups.