Meet the staff: Richard Black

Emma Chaplin
, 04 September 2023
Meet the staff: Richard Black
Richard Black © Emma Chaplin

Emma Chaplin talks to Richard Black, Senior Land Advisor for Wilder Horsham District

Tell us a bit about yourself

I was born in South East London. My grandfather became a forester after he left the army and my formative years were spent in the family woods in Kent.

Thanks to early morning birding trips with my dad, I’ve always been interested in Natural History but I accidentally left out the “Natural” part and did a History degree at University. Not being quite sure what to do with it I decided to work in sunnier climes. Among other things I worked with refugees in Azerbaijan and for a charity that promotes human rights and sexual health in Tanzania. I was living in the middle of the African bush which was an amazing experience and prompted me to stay on in Africa to work for an eco-tourism company. This in turn led me to a realisation that I was an naturalist at heart and a return to England to do a degree in Zoology. Following that I was fortunate to work with conservation organisations in Chile (on Darwin’s Fox, probably the world’s rarest canine) and Mauritius (on Mauritius Kestrels, formerly the world’s rarest bird of prey, down to four known individuals at one point). I did a PhD in Evolutionary Ecology at Imperial College and met my wife, who is a botanist and who grew-up in Sussex. Whilst doing my PhD field work in the South Pacific I became convinced that conservation was the most important, and urgent, thing in the world and so finally found my career.

My wife was working at Wakehurst Place so we moved to Sussex and I got a job with the RSPB. We now live in Hassocks with our two daughters.

After more than 10 years with the RSPB I was looking for a change, saw this job and applied for it, and love it. It's so varied and I meet so many interesting people and am privileged see so many fascinating places in the District.

Rich Black and Steve Tillman © Emma Chaplin
Rich Black and Steve Tillman removing Himalayan Balsam © Emma Chaplin

Tell us about Wilder Horsham District

It's a five-year partnership between Sussex Wildlife Trust and Horsham District Council working to deliver a Nature Recovery Network for Horsham District. We work with local communities and landowners, and our aim is to reverse the decline in species and habitats and enrich the natural environment for all residents and visitors. Our team is me, Steve Tillman, who offers land advice alongside me, and Chloe Harrison does admin and social media.

We have over 60 volunteers, who are amazing. Our usual working parties are 8-12, but the biggest one we've had was 25 people.

What are your favourite places in Sussex?

So many. I’ve become a real Sussex convert and I love the county but the South Downs and Ashdown Forest are particular favourites

I’m just in love with all these three:

'The Weald and the Marsh and the Down countree.
Nor I don’t know which I love the most,
The Weald or the Marsh or the white Chalk coast!'
Rudyard Kipling

Goldcrest © Dave Kilbey
Goldcrest © Dave Kilbey

What's your favourite species?

In the UK, probably the Stone Curlew and Goldcrest.

How do you relax?

I go birding. I cycle. I play touch rugby. I try to learn more about botany. 

Tell us something about you people won’t know

I once had a picnic in the pitch-black in no man's land between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Find our more about the Wilder Horsham District project.

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