Sue Walker

Copywriter and interpretation services for wildlife and heritage organisations

My curriculum vitae

My name's Sue Walker and I'm a freelance writer and interpretation consultant, based in Central Scotland. I specialise in writing about natural history and conservation issues. As an interpretation consultant for conservation, environmental and heritage organisations I also research, write, design and produce articles, leaflets, interpretation boards, newsletters, magazines, web text, publications and reports. 

I have an honours degree in English and European literature. I began my career in newspaper and magazine publishing, and for 12 years worked on local, national and commercial titles as a journalist and production editor. I did voluntary work in my spare time to build up experience in conservation and the environment – where my real passion has always been.

Before turning freelance in 1999 I worked as Development Manager for Essex Wildlife Trust, and then as Head of Marketing for Wiltshire Wildlife Trust - two of the largest wildlife trusts in the country. I was responsible for raising the profile of the Trusts, developing their identity and ensuring that members and visitors to our reserves understood and were sympathetic to our objectives. This work included editing their magazines, and being responsible for the design and production of the Trusts’ interpretation – which included six visitor centres, interpretive panels, leaflets, and a website. I co-ordinated events from local guided walks to Royal visits, and worked with a range of communities, businesses and other organisations.


When I became freelance I decided to focus on working with conservation and environmental organisations, because of my experience and also because of my personal interest in those fields. I have worked on interpretation projects with a wide range of conservation, environmental and heritage organisations, including Scottish Natural Heritage, Butterfly Conservation, Cairngorms National Park Authority and the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.  I also have experience of working on partnership projects, for example, with the Scottish Lowland Raised Bog Partnership, and more recently, with Garden For Life.