Jim Mitchell
“Especially in the UK, the history and the wildlife on most sites are really inextricably linked.”
Jim Mitchell
Jim Mitchell is Access and Learning Manager at the New Forest National Park Authority. Here, he highlights the importance of interpretation in fostering community engagement and managing cultural and environmental challenges. He discusses his roles at AHI, including as chair during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jim talks about the importance of nature interpretation for health and well-being and highlights the historical roots of national parks in the UK, noting their dual purposes of conservation and public access. He notes increased environmental awareness and the increased integration of natural heritage into the heritage sector.
These interviews were recorded in 2025, our 50th anniversary year, by oral historian Dr Rosemary Hall and with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The full interviews are available to researchers on request. Contact us for more information.
More Oral Histories
David Masters
“One of the underlying purposes of good interpretation is actually to encourage people to slow down a little bit.”
Read more
Jackie Lee
“Being in AHI, people say these things - ‘I found my people’ well that is exactly what it is.”
Read more
Martin Orrom
“We wrote a nature trail for Grizedale. I think it was the first in Britain.”
Read more
Susan Cross
“The way we tell stories normalises or not different experiences.”
Read more