Stanwick Lakes has appointed Helen Sillitto as its new Chair of the Board of Trustees, bringing with her nearly a decade of specialist environmental legal experience and a personal connection to the site that stretches back over ten years.
Helen joins the Trust with nine years’ experience as an environmental lawyer at the Canal & River Trust, and a background at the Environment Agency before that. Her expertise spans the protection of wild birds and their habitats, the conservation of wetlands, and the management of complex ecosystems — areas that sit at the very heart of what Stanwick Lakes exists to protect.
Trust Director Billie Passchier believes the appointment is a natural fit: “Helen not only understands the challenges we face managing such a delicate environment, but she is also personally invested. She recognises the importance of protecting areas of conservation and heritage, alongside the many benefits for visitors in connecting with nature — and it is clear that the site means a great deal to Helen personally.”
For Helen, the role is as much personal as it is professional. She moved close to Stanwick Lakes in 2013 with a two-week-old daughter and, not knowing anyone in the local area, quickly found the site becoming a cornerstone of family life. “Taking part in events became part of our annual routine, particularly the Solstice Walk and the Viking Festival,” she explains. “For over a decade I have felt a part of Stanwick Lakes, watching it evolve and develop. When I was offered the opportunity, I felt I ‘owed’ the site — a huge sense of responsibility and opportunity to give my experience in exchange for the countless hours of pleasure it has given me and my family over the years.”
Helen sees clear parallels between the challenges facing Stanwick Lakes and those she navigated at the Canal & River Trust, and is determined to ensure the site continues to deliver environmental and community benefits across the region.
As an internationally important wildlife site and cherished community green space, Stanwick Lakes protects rare habitats, preserves significant heritage, and provides accessible outdoor experiences for thousands of visitors each year. With Helen at the helm of its Board, the Trust is well placed to safeguard this protected landscape for future generations.
For more information about Stanwick Lakes, visit www.stanwicklakes.org.uk
Image: Helen Sillitto (left, new Chair of the Board of Trustees) and Billie Passchier (right, Trust Director) outside the Stanwick Lakes Visitor Centre and Café.
