Working in WILDLIFE

Three women share how they give their time to protect the world in which we live

- JENNY JEFFERIES

'I want to help future generations'

Janet Marshall, 69, is a wildlife artist, illustrator, calligrapher and web designer, and founder and chair of Clean Coast Outer Hebrides on the Isle of Lewis. Janet also conducts whale and dolphin observation and research for ORCA, Orca Watch and Whale and Dolphin Conservation. She lives in the Outer Hebrides with her husband Dave, 69.

Simply looking at the sea recharges my batteries, and I don't think I could move away from the coast, despite having lived inland until my 30s. I became deeply concerned about the growing issue of plastic waste, and its effect on the coasts of the Outer Hebrides - marine litter poses many risks to wildlife through entanglement and ingestion - so I established Clean Coast Outer Hebrides (CCOH) in 2018. It became a registered charity in 2019, and has been supported by international nature conservation charity Fauna & Flora since 2020.

This year, I've been giving illustrated talks in schools and to other groups, and I feel immense joy from working with children and young people. Here at CCOH, we are setting up Future Coast Outer Hebrides for over 10-year-olds, and seeing the improvement that a small, determined group of people can make to a shore is very heartening. Having observed and worked with wildlife groups for many years, I have seen - and have photographic evidence of the harm that marine litter causes.

I studied for an MSc Managing Sustainable Rural Development, so not only am I familiar with the theory, but actively campaign, educate, inform and inspire about many environmental issues, including sustainability, as well as trying to practise it myself. Sustainability is essential!