Three Decades of Nature Recovery with Craig Ralston | Senior Reserve Manager, Natural England

What can three decades in one wild place teach us about conservation?In this episode, we sit down with Craig Ralston - Natural England Senior Reserve Manager at Yorkshire’s Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve - to explore his remarkable 30-year journey of restoring landscapes, inspiring communities, and navigating change.Craig shares his reflections on the importance of long-term thinking in conservation, and why reconnecting people with place is at the heart of his work. Whether you’re just starting out or decades in, this episode offers powerful insights into what it means to hold the line for nature.It’s a reflective, real-world, and deeply inspiring conversation.Enjoy.🟢 Subscribe to the Conservation Careers Podcast for more inspiring interviews: https://www.conservation-careers.com/podcast/📌 Learn more about careers in conservation: https://www.conservation-careers.com/🔖 Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 02:10 – Craig’s journey into conservation 08:30 – Three decades in the Lower Derwent Valley 18:15 – Career lessons and managing teams 35:00 – Hope, people, and place 42:10 – Craig’s advice for conservationists🔗 Useful Links: • Lower Derwent Valley NNR – Natural England • Conservation Careers Courses🎧 Listen on all podcast platforms. 👍 Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more inspiring conservation stories.🎯 Tags: #ConservationCareers #CraigRalston #NatureRecovery #WildlifeConservation #Burnout #Rewilding #NatureRestoration #ConservationPodcast #Wetlands #ConservationJobs #ConservationSuccess #CareerSwitchers #EnvironmentPodcast