About
Tim is a mature, part-time PGR @RiversandPeople
Through the lens of cultural ecosystem services and cultural dis-services, Tim is investigating our relationship with chalk stream headwaters called winterbournes (in their dry, ponded & flowing phases) & chalk aquifers / groundwater.
Tim has adopted Grounded Theory as his approach, and enjoys using inductive participatory methods e.g. situated walking interviews, solicited diary, Q-method in his studies.
Funded by the Environment Agency, and the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust on behalf of the Test and Itchen Catchment Partnership.
Research
Research groups
Research interests
- - chalk stream winterbournes / temporary rivers
- - relational and intrinsic values
- - participatory methods
- - cultural ecosystem services / nature's contribution to people frameworks
Current research
The headwaters of chalk streams naturally range in time and space between flowing, ponded and dry phases in response to seasonal fluctuations in groundwater levels, giving rise to their name – winterbournes. To better understand our relationships with winterbournes, Tim is conducting walking interviews with local people, alongside or sometimes even in winterbourne streams. With particular regards to wellbeing, he is asking what feelings (positive and/or negative) and relational and intrinsic values these ever-changing places stir in people.
Tim has recently kicked-off a new study into our relationship with temporary streams. Foregrounding relational values, and exploring two theoretical concepts, subjective affective well-being and Attention Restoration Theory, Tim is using solicited diary method to investigate how and why winterbournes affect our lives, relationships, feelings, and activities near or in winterbournes over the course of a year.
Publications
External roles and responsibilities
Biography
Away from his research, Tim is passionate about the conservation of our native wildlife, our landscape, and natural processes, for its own intrinsic value, because it makes life worth living and because it makes life possible. An award-winning chalk stream champion working for several wildlife trusts and now the Environment Agency, Tim has 37 years of rich experience as an ecologist in nature conservation, protecting, restoring, and enhancing our natural heritage. He strives to make our natural environment more accessible, socially inclusive, and positively contributes towards human wellbeing, so everyone benefits.