Kat joined Trees for Life in 2019 as our Community Engagement Officer. Kat’s passion for sharing knowledge and making access to nature more inclusive made her the perfect person to take on the role of Education Manager at the Rewilding Centre. Kat is now developing an education and activity programme for the centre’s launch next year, which will inspire people of all ages to get closer to Dundreggan’s regenerating landscape and cultural heritage. Nature discovery activities, storytelling, traditional crafts and self-guided trails will all help people to feel more connected to the landscape, and to appreciate their own place within it.
Here’s a window into the rewilding life of Kat Murphy.
Rewilding is basically about giving nature space to do what it does best. It means remembering that we are part of nature, just like trees, birds, bugs and other life all around us!
Some rewilders plant trees, others reintroduce animals, like beavers or red squirrels. Some prefer to leave an area to go wild all by itself. Our rewilding projects in the Scottish Highlands are about people too, and how we can work together with nature for a greener and healthier future. After all, we depend on nature for our food, water, air, clothes, houses - everything!
There are so many people and organisations out there doing amazing work. I’m inspired by people who dedicate their lives to a cause they believe in. Indigenous peoples fighting deforestation, those challenging damaging industries and pushing for alternatives, scientists spreading awareness of climate change and biodiversity loss, all the young people who are speaking out against social and environmental issues across the world. They’re all part of the same cause - to protect the planet we live on.
The best bit of my job is being able to spend lots of time outdoors learning from nature and sharing it with other people. I really do learn something new every day, it’s impossible to get bored! I’m always happiest when I’m outdoors, and I think everyone should have the chance to feel that way.
I am looking forward to welcoming people to Dundreggan to see what a beautiful and magical place it is. In just the three years I have worked there I have seen it grow more vibrant. It’s really exciting to be able to share the landscape’s cultural and rewilding journey with more people. I’ve found it really enlightening to learn about the cultural history of Dundreggan and the Highlands, and how nature and culture everywhere are inseparable. I think people everywhere can benefit from exploring that relationship.