MEET THE TEAM
The Langholm Initiative
Joyce Ireland
Joyce is our Office Manager, bedding down a sound footing for the organisation and looking in the future, to develop the sustainability of The Langholm Initiative. Joyce joined our organisation in February 2021, which makes her the longest serving member of staff in this relatively new team. She arrived in Langholm over 34 years ago and during that time has been an active volunteer with many organisations within the town.
Previously Joyce worked for a leading High Street bank for over 30 years, so her background was in finance and administration.
This is her first time working in the charitable sector and enjoys working with the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve Team, as everyday is a learning day and a wealth of discovery, helping with the four pillars of People, Nature, Climate & Sustainability.
Post funded by: The Scottish Government , with mentoring support and administration of the grant by DTA Scotland.
Office Manager
Yuliana Murray
​
Finance Admin
​
Yuliana joined our team in December 2023. She is our finance administrator ensuring our financial record keeping is accurate and up to date. Yuliana also deals with preparation of periodic financial reporting, VAT returns, financial and accounting operations. She works on a part time basis 2.5 days a week.
Tarras Valley Nature Reserve
William Nixon
Shepherd
William is our Shepherd and oversees all of the operations at Cooms Farm in the Upper Tarras Valley, looking after our flock of hefted South Country Cheviot Sheep. William has been a shepherd all his life and farming is in his blood. William has a long association with Cooms Farm over several generations, his father was born there!
Cooms was part of the Northern Estate that transferred over to the community of Langholm from Buccleuch Estates in November 2022. We are so lucky he agreed to move from employment with Buccleuch to us, with his knowledge of the land and farming, he is a real asset to our team.
Inigo is also part of the new team established by the Langholm Initiative to oversee TVNR’s digital media efforts, including the website and social media. Responsibilities include creating and curating shareable content; determining which platform is best suited for each piece of content; building and managing our social media profile and presence and analyzing the performance of our campaigns; maintaining brand consistency across platforms; assessing SEO configurations; monitoring analytics; managing the digital budget and ensuring data and privacy is handled in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
​
Inigo is the UAV/Drones Operations Manager, which includes updating the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve’s Operations Manual and applying for license requirements as required. Inigo represents TVNR for all matters relating to UAV/Drone use like risk mitigation and endorsement, ensuring that all tasks are performed to the required standards, ensuring that the Tarras Valley remains compliant with the requirements of the UK CAA and procedures contained within CAP722 and the latest and current version of the Air Navigation Order and he is accountable to the CAA.
​
Inigo Alcaniz
Digital Media Manager
Angela is also part of the new team established by the Langholm Initiative to take forward the development of the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve. As Development Manager her role is to develop projects to ensure that the project is sustainable into the future.
​
Angela has worked for the past 20 years with community buyouts, initially with the Knoydart Foundation on the west coast and then for the last 2 years with the Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston Community Company.
​
Having originally trained as a Landscape Architect, she has a background in project development and implementation and fundraising in the voluntary sector.
​
Post funded by South of Scotland Enterprise
​
angela@tarrasvalleynaturereserve.co.uk/
Mobile: 07516 054717
​
Angela Williams
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
TARRAS VALLEY NATURE RESERVE
Jenny Barlow
ESTATE MANAGER
TARRAS VALLEY NATURE RESERVE
Jenny is part of the new team, established by the Langholm Initiative, who will take forward the development of the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve following the historic Langholm Moor community buy-out. She has a background in environmental projects, land management, community development and sustainability.
​
She has previously worked on landscape scale nature restoration projects for the Environment Agency to reduce the impacts of climate change and has diverse experience in sustainability roles across public and third sector. These have included community led design and planning, leading engineering with nature projects and low carbon construction and infrastructure schemes.
​
Post funded by Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
​
jenny@tarrasvalleynaturereserve.co.uk
Mobile 07763 409336
Kat is a part of the new team established by the Langholm Initiative to take forward the development of the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve. As the ‘Inspiring Engagement in Nature’ Project Officer, her role is to work with schools and the community to provide environmental education opportunities, as well as coordinating volunteers on the reserve. She is really looking forward to working with everyone in the local community.
​
This is her first full-time environmental role, following studying Ecology at university and undergoing Primary teacher training. She has spent the last decade volunteering with an RSPB Wildlife Explorers’ group, leading environmental education and practical conservation activities, and is also a licensed bird ringer, generally specialising in Barn Owls.
​
Post funded by The Holywood Trust and The Ewe Hill 16 Fund.
​
kat@tarrasvalleynaturereserve.co.uk
​
Mobile: 07763 486368
Kat Mayer
PROJECT OFFICER
