Becca studied Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Aberdeen. After working for the National Trust as an apprentice forester, Becca did her PhD with Forestry Commission Scotland on the health potential of Forest Schools. Becca then worked for Forest Research, part of the Forestry Commission, on various aspects of the social values of trees, woods and forests to individuals, communities, and society as a whole. This was followed by work with small environmental NGOs developing social forestry in the South West.

Becca focuses on evaluating, synthesising and translating evidence of the links between nature and health for policy and practice. This is a role which allows her to continue investigating, and communicating the myriad ways in which we experience, engage with, and (potentially) benefit from nature. Hopefully also helping strengthen the arguments that we need to step up our protection of the natural world.

Taking a multi-disciplinary approach Becca works on better understanding ‘what works’ in nature based interventions and nature renewal activities; contributing to the evaluation of the large scale policy evaluations of nature based intervention implementation; and to delivering randomised controlled trials and realist evaluations of nature on prescription. She works with a range of organisations, from national Government and it’s delivery agencies and bodies, through to Local Authorities, NGOs, and community groups. Becca also co-leads the University’s Masters programme on Environment and Health, and a CPD programme on Nature and Health.