Meet The Team

James Chubb, Countryside Team Manager

James first joined the Countryside Team in 2003 as Education Ranger on a three-year contract funded by Natural England. The role was made permanent after that initial period and he enjoyed eight years working with local schools and groups, enthusing them with the fabulous wildlife and wild places of East Devon.

After a short period working in agricultural roles locally, he returned to the team as Sites Team Leader in 2016 and was thrilled to be back at the council with the remit of looking after the council's incredible Local Nature Reserves. James transitioned into the role of Countryside Team Manager at the beginning of 2022 and has really enjoyed having an overview of all aspects of this multi-disciplined team.

Dave Palmer, Countryside Ranger

Dave has been working in the team for so long he really is part of the countryside furniture! Whether leading a volunteer task force on Seaton Wetlands; repairing a broken boardwalk in the teeth of a February storm, or strimming the South West Coast Path in the searing heat of summer, Dave is a consummate countryside professional who knows the local landscape like the back of his hand.

Dave leads a weekly volunteer group at Seaton Wetlands, carrying out vital habitat and infrastructure repairs and improvements. With so much of the wetlands being constructed from timber, it's a full time role keeping on top of it all!

Jon Gardner, Nature Reserves Ranger

Jon has been with the team since 2019 and oversees the site management of all of the Local and Community Nature Reserves away from Seaton Wetlands.

His East Devon Conservation Volunteers group gather every Thursday to take on varied challenges throughout the district. They are an integral part of our operations, and their hard work and time given is highly valued by the team. 

Jon really enjoys working across the broad range of habitats that our reserves encompass as it helps him to see and learn about a wide variety of nature - his true passion. He does however have a particular interest in wildflowers and taking pictures of things that can’t run away!

Penny Evans, Education Ranger

Penny joined the team in 2013 as maternity cover for the Education Ranger role. She subsequently took on the position as a job share, with a multitude of interim contracts and project work keeping her busy on top of this.

In 2022 her contract was made full time as Education Ranger, but her strong links with other teams here at EDDC, and other partnership organisations means that her work across the District continues to be enjoyed by a wide audience of children and families. Penny’s background in Forest Schools means she can create a wide range of engaging and educational outdoor activities and many of the team’s events are sell-outs because it’s a “Penny Event” and her faithful crowd line up to attend!

Amelia Davies, Engagement & Participation Officer

Amelia joined the Countryside Team after a five-year spell as Wildlife Warden on the Exe Estuary and Pebblebed Heaths. She is a great communicator and has taken the team’s online presence to the next level since joining us in November 2021.

She loves meeting people and sharing her passion for the natural world. She has developed new events and as well as running the rule over our nature reserves to ensure the visitor experience is at its absolute best at all our sites.

Ben Morgan-Brown, Nature Reserves Ranger

Ben joined us as Assistant Ranger in 2022 after volunteering with the Countryside Team. Promoted to Nature Reserves Ranger in 2025, Ben is overseeing the creation of our Clyst Meadows Country Park and manages production and sales of our Nature Reserves charcoal.

His two passions are hedgelaying and bats. He often leads volunteer hedgelaying tasks and competes - and sometimes wins! - in hedgelaying competitions, and he monitors bat boxes at Seaton Wetlands under the supervision of our District Ecologist as he works towards his bat license.

Ben runs our popular Bat Walk events and our Spoon Carving for Beginners course, and he looks forward to taking on responsibility for new sites as they come into the Countryside Team’s management.

Fiona Coope, Countryside Assistant

Fiona Joined in May 2023 and is working with the team in developing both the role and her skills. Fiona graduated in 2019 with a BSc (Hons) in Animal Conservation Science at the University of Plymouth and since has gained skills working for wildlife charities and local Ecological Consultancies, as well as volunteering abroad in Canada and Cyprus. Through this, Fiona has developed skills that have made her a great addition to the team.

Fiona’s biggest passion is wildlife (especially water voles and beavers) and loves nothing more than inspiring people about our nature reserves. Within this role, Fiona has focused on all Social Media channels, aiding the volunteers, and engaging with the public on site at Seaton Wetlands.