Helen has a degree in Agricultural Botany and worked as a plant breeder before becoming a lecturer in Further and Higher education.  Helen teaches environmental management at the University of Cumbria (formerly Newton Rigg) which includes aspects of countryside law and access issues.  

Her first involvement, other than as a path user, was in the early 1980's when she invited the RoW officer with Surrey County Council to talk to her students about the rights of way network.  In addition to this topic, Helen also teaches aspects of land use and biodiversity monitoring.  In her spare time she rides horses and is currently the voluntary access officer for Cumbria British Horse Society.