On Stage
David spent over 45 years in business, living and travelling around the world. In his spare time, he campaigns on environmental and human rights issues; in 1992-93, managed a Prosthetics Project in Cambodia for landmine victims, also supporting mine clearance organisations. 25 years ago he bought a derelict, rubbish-strewn 20 acre farm in Suffolk and has gradually created a nature reserve of diverse habitats, including traditionally-managed woods and hedgerows, ponds, orchard and meadows.
He is on the Leadership Team of the Suffolk Tree Warden Network (a registered charity), and 5 years ago started the Suffolk Black Poplar Project, to return this iconic tree to the Suffolk landscape. He is also leading the current Whole Genome Sequencing Project for the National Black Poplar Group, in co-operation with the European Black Poplar Project. He is a Trustee of Rise Together, a charity funding trauma surgery in Ukraine.
David will be speaking as part of Martha Kearney’s special day of nature writing events at the Bookshop on the Friday of the festival.