When I took on the role of Youth Representative for The Living Coast Biosphere, I did not expect the extent to which it would shift my perspective regarding both the place I live in and the people working to protect it. Over the past year, I have had the chance to get involved in a wide range of projects, connect with people across sectors and gain a better understanding of how environmental action really happens on a local level.

Here are some of the key moments and reflections from my time in the role.

Highlights from this year include:

• The National MAB Conference in March was a definite highlight. It was hosted right here in The Living Coast and brought together biosphere teams from across the UK and Isle of Man. We spent two packed days exploring projects around land management, biodiversity and water use. It was brilliant to see the breadth of work happening in The Living Coast and to feel part of something much bigger than myself.
• We also hosted the first UK and Isle of Man Youth Network meetup at the University of Brighton’s Wild House. This was an amazing experience that featured idea-sharing, celebrating regional initiatives and shaping shared visions for youth involvement across biospheres in UK, Ireland and Isle of Man.
• Through social media, I have been able to share some of the work happening locally and highlight different projects and people. It has been a useful tool for making the biosphere feel more accessible, especially to other young people.
• One of the most valuable parts of the role has been meeting people across the region, including individuals, businesses and council staff, who are working towards positive environmental change. It’s easy to assume these efforts happen in silos, but there’s a lot of collaboration happening behind the scenes.

Whilst in this position as Youth Representative, I have been studying a Masters in Food and Development at the University of Sussex and Institute of Development Studies. Naturally, I have been most drawn to the work the biosphere does in agriculture and sustainable land use themes. It has been particularly rewarding to see how academic work relates to on-the-ground projects. Learning about land use on the Downs, along the edge of the city and it’s links to local food systems has been especially interesting. Within the biosphere there are also some amazing food initiatives happening like Sussex Surplus, the Real Junk Food Project and the Land use project, which I was able to engage with this year. These charities make a huge contribution to food poverty and sustainability in the city, and under the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership umbrella, it is incredible to see the impact that grassroots organisations can have. I’ve also enjoyed following the Aquifer Partnership Project, especially the changes happening in Wild Park, which I pass every day on my way to university. Seeing visible progress in a space you move through regularly is a good reminder that environmental work is all around us.

The University of Sussex has been really supportive throughout my time as a Youth Representative. The role gave me a reason to connect with departments and staff I wouldn’t normally engage with and has shown me how important inter-disciplinary collaboration is when it comes to environmental work, both in research and in action. The flexibility of this role also meant I could complete a work placement alongside my studies, I found many skills that I have developed with The Living Coast overlapped, from communicating with stakeholders to actioning systems and lateral thinking.

Overall, this year has helped me pay more attention to the green spaces in and around Brighton & Hove urban areas, even the small patches of flora and fauna you spot within the city are critical to our biosphere. The role has also shown me how much thought and effort goes into protecting and improving our Living Coast, whether this is through rewilding, pollinator projects or water conservation. There are so many individuals and groups making things happen quietly but consistently and seeing this in action has been one of the most hopeful parts of this experience.

Looking ahead, I am so excited that our biosphere has been re-inaugurated for another 10 years, it is great that youth voices will continue to have a role in the biosphere’s upcoming work. As this year comes to an end, so does Bodh and I’s roles as Youth Representatives. In November, there will be a recruitment process to find two new representatives.

If you are considering applying, I advise to just go for it! Before this, I had never held an official role in anything environment or climate related and I worried that might hold me back. However, I have learnt so much about the sector, and truly believe that if you care about nature, people, and making a difference in your local area, you definitely have what it takes. This role has given me insight into the environmental sector, taught me a lot about local action, and made me more hopeful about what’s possible.