James Westfield
PhD Student
Profile
Biography
James is a Human Geography and Environment PhD student in the Department of Environment and Geography, co-supervised by Environment’s Prof Lindsay Stringer and Biology’s Dr Elizabeth Wandrag. His research interests lie at the intersection between people and the environment in the Anthropocene, particularly concerning how environmental and cultural heritage continue to shape today’s society and the importance of encouraging improved human-environmental interactions that benefit both nature and society.
James received a BSc (Hons) in Geography from the University of Exeter (Cornwall Campus), where his work focused on the importance of providing people with good access nature and the role of good land management through conservation grazing at encouraging native flora to thrive in Cornwall. He then went on to complete an MSc in Environment, Politics and Society at University College London (UCL), where his research focussed on farmer engagement with conservation land management and the significance of using nature in railway advertisements for promoting better young adult engagement with, and access to, the countryside.
Career
- PhD Human Geography and Environment – University of York, 2021-present
- MSc Environment, Politics and Society – University College London, 2020-2021
- BSc (Hons) Geography – University of Exeter, 2017-2020
Research
Overview
James’ PhD research is looking at how historically useful, but now invasive, plant species could be controlled by putting them back into productive use. Initially this research will focus on a case study of gorse to create a decision support tool that can be used by a variety of land stakeholders but, with time permitting, the tool will then be tested on other, less iconic invasive flora to broaden its useability.
Projects
Working title: Reviving historic plant use for contemporary land management: producing a decision support tool for stakeholders.
Abstract: Invasive plant species are problematic for the biotic and abiotic components of many ecosystems. There is an expansive literature on non-native invasives, species which have been deliberately introduced, for ornamental or practical uses, or accidentally spread, through transportation. Non-native invasives tend to thrive in their new location due to a lack of control species and better climates and so need to be heavily controlled by human intervention. Far less literature deals with native invasives, species which can spread uncontrolled even in their native domain, providing beneficial ecosystem services but also shading out smaller plants. Gorse (Ulex) is invasive both in its native domain in the United Kingdom, and its non-native domain in Australia, where it was introduced as a hedging plant in the mid-1800s. Gorse is a historically useful species, once being used for animal fodder, fuelwood, clothing dyes and brooms, amongst many others. As gorse thrives on poor soils, the decline in agriculture and direct land use since the Industrial Revolution has meant gorse now spreads very easily. This project will use mixed-methods of archival analysis (to consider historic land use changes), GIS (to understand the spread of gorse since the Industrial Revolution) and interviews and focus groups (to recognise the problems with controlling gorse today and learn about potential 21st Century uses) to create a decision support tool that can be used by a variety of land stakeholders to advise on whether productively using gorse to control its spread is suitable on their land culturally, environmentally and economically.
