Green Shores team
Dr Clare Maynard – Saltmarsh Specialist
Dr Clare Maynard began her career with a Ph.D. from the University of St Andrews, investigating the restoration of native saltmarsh communities around the fringes of the local Eden Estuary. Following on from her Ph.D., the University’s Green Shores initiative was devised by Clare as a Research Fellow, funded by NatureScot, in the Scottish Ocean’s Institute. Green Shores has gone on to create a strong and existing partnership of stakeholders, supported by multiple organisations and authorities, including St Andrews Links Trust, Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Scottish Government, Fife Council, and the Ministry of Defence. This support has been constant as the applied research progressed and Green Shores was highly commended in the MoD’s 2021 Sanctuary Awards for Environmental Enhancement. As part of her work at the University, Clare is also Biodiversity Advisor to a range of university led projects and sits within the Eden Campus team, a significant contributor to the University’s sustainability plans and the push towards carbon net zero. Spanning technological innovation and nature-based solutions, Eden Campus is in the vanguard of culture change at the University.
Dr Helena Simmons – Engagement Officer
Dr Helena Simmons is the Green Shores Engagement officer, co-ordinating the volunteer work and maintaining the social media for the project. Dr Simmons’ Ph.D. research focused on UV and blue light regulation of Chalcone synthase in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana. After continuing this research at Glasgow University, Helena moved on to outreach work, as a tutor for school visits at St Andrews Botanic Gardens, working with students and staff in the Edible Campus community growing project run by Transition University of St Andrews, and as Biodiversity and Community Outreach Officer at Eden Campus. Helena has also worked as a Garden Facilitator at the Ninewells Community Garden and is currently facilitating the development of the Forgan Arts Centre garden space to increase biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
Dr Haley Arnold – Conservation Science Officer
Dr Haley Arnold is the Green Shores Conservation Officer, helping to support and monitor the ongoing saltmarsh restoration initiatives. Alongside practical work, she assists in conducting research, and in designing and implementing long-term monitoring protocols for the Green Shores sites. Dr Arnold’s background is in ecology and biodiversity research having recently completed a Ph.D. from the University of St Andrews on biodiversity change over secondary forest succession in cacao agroforests in Trinidad. She has also had the opportunity to participate in a variety of other research and conservation projects from caring for sick and injured wild marine mammals in California and participating in marine research in Antarctica, to running community events and improving land management for nature in Scotland. Through her work, Dr Arnold hopes to contribute to our understanding of ecosystems and how we can be better stewards of the environment, and to foster appreciation for nature and inclusivity in environmental conservation.