Susey Bamber

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Busy bee: Bath Spa alumna Susey helps farmers to keep biodiversity booming

Monday, 2 October, 2023

Bath Spa University BSc (Hons) Environmental Biology (now BSc Hons) Environmental Science) graduate Susey Bamber explains how she went from studying for her degree, to working as a Severn Trent Senior Agricultural Advisor, helping farmers to create wildflower mini-meadows that can aid biodiversity, prevent flooding and improve soil quality. 

Having grown up in the countryside, protecting the environment was something that came naturally to Susey but her passion was cultivated at university. Susey said: 

“My time at Bath Spa really helped to shape my career by supporting my passion for the environment, and developing my inquisitive nature of wanting to learn about systems, and ways to monitor and protect our landscape. I truly enjoyed the small campus experience set within a countryside location with city facilities just a bus trip away.” 

Fast forward more than a decade later and Susey has taken the skills she developed at Bath Spa and is using them to solve real-word problems. Speaking from a wildflower mini-meadow near Malvern, Worcestershire, Susey said:

“In here we have butterflies, bees, ladybirds, you can hear the grasshoppers… it is full of pollinators. They are good for everybody, because they help produce our food. 

“The wildflowers are great for people to see while they are using the footpath nearby, great for well-being. The tufty grass may attract small mammals, in turn attracting owls dwelling in the nearby trees. The whole food chain is here.” 

It is through meadows just like these and her work as part of the Severn Trent Environmental Protection Scheme (STEPS), that Susey helps farmers to prevent pesticides, nitrates and cryptosporidium from reaching rivers, watercourses and groundwater – both to protect drinking water quality and the wider environment. 

As part of her job, Susey helps farmers to realise the benefits that applying for grants can bring them and their farms. She helps farmers make the most of what is available, such as, putting on an arable enterprise, putting in a pesticide washdown, field margins or a cover crop option to protect the soil over winter and biodiversity options such as, annual pollinator flower option or planting a herbal ley. 

Through Susey’s work and that of her colleagues, according to Severn Trent, ‘STEPS has so far awarded over 2,160 grants to farmers for a wide range of projects which have led to many environmental benefits, including the creation of more than 4,600 hectares of new habitat. The habitats support insect and mammal populations that can attract birds to the area which, in turn, supports the natural predator population – all helping control crop-damaging aphids and slugs.’ 

Susey, who covers the Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Staffordshire catchments, has helped farmers like Tim Smith. 

Tim said:

“STEPS has totally changed the way in which I farm. If I had not done these STEPS options I would not have seen the benefit and increase in wildlife which they bring and would not have entered the whole of the farm into a combination of wildlife schemes. 

“I have learned a lot about establishing and maintaining these areas - which is totally different from arable farming - by doing small areas over several years...Farming, like a lot of industries, is facing challenging times at the moment. That is why schemes like STEPS can provide a valuable alternative income stream, especially on unproductive areas of land.” 

Susey added:

“Lots of people I work with believe they are the custodians of the land. They want to leave it in the same or better condition they received it in and are sad they lost their wildlife from when they were little.” 

Explaining what it is like to spend a day in her shoes, Susey said:

“An important skill in this role is you must be able to talk and listen to people. You are front of house, like in a restaurant, so you must be able to communicate. An everyday farm visit is different, so you have to be able to adapt to the type of farm and challenges of that farm business. 

"We have a brilliant, fully qualified and knowledgeable team. I’m really proud to work for Severn Trent and I want to leave a positive legacy behind me. I feel my job is helping me leave that legacy.” 

Reflecting on how the support she received during her degree at Bath Spa University helped her on her journey to where she is today, she said:

“The lecturers were supportive and approachable; and the dyslexic support I received whilst reading Environment Biology with electives in remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS), was one of the most fabulous and valuable developments for my career journey.  

“I received excellent one-to-one dyslexia support; I met a number of fabulous support teachers who in essence taught me the foundation of written English and how to write concise professional reports. The teachers supported me in such a kind, gentle style – I am very lucky and feel very privileged to have worked with and learned from all the teachers and lectures at Bath Spa.” 

When asked what advice she has for others looking to follow in her footsteps, Susey said:

“The pathway through your working journey can be challenging, you may not take the fastest route but if you keep going, one day you will hopefully get a job you enjoy, where you feel valued, helpful and know that you making a difference. 

“I want to make a difference to help the farming community and support our amazing diverse habitats and species. Every job, or knock back, makes you, you; and ultimately that makes you a great candidate for a job that you really want. There is plenty of learning out there and I keep learning every day!”