Ellie Jones
Head of UK Wetlands
Contact details
About me
My journey as a conservationist started with a childhood passion for wildlife, coupled with a fascination with natural processes and landforms. Following a first degree in Geography from Cambridge University, I volunteered on practical conservation and research projects in South Africa, Botswana, Mongolia and various parts of the UK before completing an MSc in Ecology at the University of Aberdeen.
I have worked in the ecology and conservation sector for nearly 20 years, firstly in ecological consultancy and then with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, where I was responsible for managing a portfolio of nature reserves, including the internationally renowned Clattinger Farm SSSI/SAC, which supports some of the finest floodplain meadows in Europe. I have been at WWT since September 2021.
My professional interests and experience are hugely varied, but I'm a particular fan of evidence-led, landscape-scale conservation.
My role
I lead WWT's UK Wetlands department, which has the remit of driving and influencing wetland conservation that delivers resilient and wildlife-rich wetlands at our sites and within their wider 'Waterscapes'. The department comprises three teams - Reserves Management, Waterscapes, and Conservation Breeding - all of which contribute towards this brief.
My role is to provide direction and leadership to the brilliant people within these teams; lead and support the department in the strategic management and delivery of WWT's wetland recovery ambitions; and guide and oversee the development and implementation of a portfolio of impactful wetland conservation projects.
Skills
- Team leadership and development
- Strategic and tactical planning
- Project development and management
- Compliance and risk management
- Practical conservation delivery
- Monitoring and biological recording
Publications
Hosie, C., Jones, E., Rothero, E.C, and Wallace, H. (2019) 'Restoration of a floodplain meadow in Wiltshire, UK through application of green hay and conversion from pasture to meadow management'. Conservation Evidence, 16, 12-16.
Young, M., Grounds, S., Jones, E., Tarr, E., Wandrag, E. and Patterson, A. (December 2008) 'Recent developments in the conservation of rare species of Zygaena (Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae) in Scotland'. Les Cahiers du Musée des Confluences - Vol 2: L'Expérimentation. Actes du Xe Symposium International sur les Zygaenidae, 93-112.
Young, M. R., Grounds, S. and E. A. Jones (2007) 'The presence of suffused confluent forms in the Scottish colony of the New Forest burnet moth, Zygaena viciae'. Entomologist's Gazette, 58 (4), 266-267.
Young, M. R., Grounds, S. and E. A. Jones (2007) 'Hybrid matings between Zygaena filipendulae and Z. viciae in Scotland in 2006'. Entomologist's Gazette, 58 (3), 185-187.