Mike is a Youth Project Manager in West Cumbria with a background in education, ranging from classroom teaching and Outdoor/ Environmental Centre management, to further Education lecturing. He remains very much a practitioner himself as well as educating others on countryside access. His background has always been a blend of the outdoor activities/adventure theme with the environmental and these have been brought together whilst carrying out ecological surveys, environmental impact assessments, leading expeditions and national bird survey work.

As an active canoeist Mike has spent more than a decade as BCU Regional Access Officer and member of the British Access Committee which he describes as an amazing experience on the front lines of access issues! He has also been a member of the Adventure and Environmental Awareness Group which has spearheaded many themes bridging the gap between users and conservation issues.

Mike has a fascination for Access matters which he can trace back to his earliest influences. He is constantly amazed at people's attitudes and behaviour in the countryside and their lack of understanding. He sees educating people out of this situation as a way forward. He hopes to make a positive contribution and to continue with an active involvement himself while creating opportunities for others to journey with a touch of adventure!