New Chair to drive Doubling Nature in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough

Natural Cambridgeshire  has announced Professor Martin Doel CBE as its new Chair. Martin, who takes over following the eight year stint of former Chair Richard Astle, does so at a critical time for the organisation as it takes forward major projects for the County, including:

  • The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fund for Nature which will provide £1m to deliver sustainable nature projects across our nature-depleted county, including support for large landscape-scale natural capital projects alongside capital funding for small-scale community nature projects. The funding will also leverage in additional private, public and charitable funding committed across the priority landscape areas identified by Natural Cambridgeshire.
  • The Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, which Natural Cambridgeshire have been asked by Cambridgeshire County Council to support the creation of as the Council undertakes this commission on behalf of the CPCA; and where Natural Cambridgeshire will play a lead role in engaging landowners, developers and communities in connecting up key habitats and supporting species recovery across the County and beyond.

Natural Cambridgeshire brings together key natural environment partners from government departments and local authorities, to environmental charities such as the Wildlife Trust and RSPB, to landowners and farmers, to work with a common aim of putting nature at the heart of the county, and doubling the amount of land managed for nature in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Martin said:

“This is a critical time for nature in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, with the county facing threats to our biodiversity and the impacts of climate change. For our scale of population, we also have one of the smallest proportions of land managed for nature across the country; and this impacts not just on nature, but also on people’s opportunities to access it, and the benefits we know that can provide to mental and physical health and wellbeing.”

“But with the projects Natural Cambridgeshire are taking forward, and the strong partnership we have in bringing together key influencers, advocates and delivery partners, we also have a unique opportunity now to drive forward our ambition to double the amount of space managed for nature, and connect those spaces and places for the benefit of all. I am both excited and humbled by challenges ahead in this role, and deeply grateful to have a strong team and committed Trustees to work with as we take our vision into delivery”.

Martin joins Natural Cambridgeshire with a wealth of experience from a career in the RAF serving at Wyton, Brampton and Henlow, before becoming Director of Training Policy for all three armed forces. On leaving the RAF, he took up the role of Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, representing and supporting further education colleges across the UK. In 2016 he was appointed as the first professor of leadership in further education and skills at the Institute for Education University College London, where he now has visiting professor status. In 1998 he was appointed OBE in recognition of his support to operations in the Balkans and his contribution to Anglo-German relations, and in 2016 as appointed CBE for his service to further and higher education. Having served in various national roles, Martin is now keen to drive forward Natural Cambridgeshire’s commitments to the place in which he and his family have made their home for more than 30 years.

Martin’s first role will be to Chair Natural Cambridgeshire’s Partnership Forum on 13th September which brings together the organisation’s wider stakeholders to explore issues and progress, and Mayor Nik Johnson will talk about the Combined Authority’s commitment to nature. Martin will formally take over as Chair at Natural Cambridgeshire’s October Board meeting. Richard Astle will continue to serve on the Board as a Trustee.