ABOUT US

Gareth has lived in Scotland since returning to the UK from Madagascar in 2008, when he joined the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Ranger Service. During his time as a ranger, Gareth has developed strong links with communities and schools, teaching environmental education and running the local children’s basketball club. 

With a BSc in Rural Resource Management Gareth’s career in conservation began with work as a ranger in mid-Wales before he moved to Mauritius to joined the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, working to save the critically endangered echo parakeet before becoming head warden on the Round Island restoration project. In 2004 Gareth travelled with his wife-to-be, Karen, to Madagascar to join the Madagascar Fauna & Flora Group, working to protect part of Madagascar’s eastern rainforest. Karen and Gareth returned to the UK in 2008 where Gareth continued his career in conservation with the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Ranger Service. He has played leading roles in conservation projects within the National Park, including Scotland’s first ever water vole reintroduction project. Karen continues to work with the Madagascar Flora & Fauna Group. Gareth established Kestrel Wildlife Safaris with the aim of giving people the opportunity to experience wildlife and scenery that they wouldn’t normally reach, well off the beaten track.

Gareth grew up in rural Somerset in England developing an interest in wildlife at a young age. As he grew up, he volunteered with the National Trust and the Quantock Hills Warden Service, now the Quantock Hills AONB Team. 

Gareth writes regular natural history articles on behalf of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs Ranger Service for The Villagers community newsletter and has contributed to BBC Wildlife Magazine. He has also worked as a guide for the BBC during the filming of Wild UK and for Tigress Productions during the filming of Loch Lomond: a Year in the Wild for Channel 5.