Meet the Team
We need helpers to help us reform the land
Derek Gow
Derek is an author and farmer turned nature conservationist. He wants to make a difference and therefore is in the process of rewilding of his 300 acre farm.
Derek has played a significant role in the reintroduction of the Eurasian beaver, the water vole and the white stork to England. He is currently working on a reintroduction project for the wildcat.
Taylor Davies
Tay is a Naturalist and Conservationist who is happiest when outside looking for birds, fungi, moths and butterflies.
After completing an MSci in Ecology & Conservation at Lancaster University, Tay volunteered at Creag Meagaidh NNR in the Scottish Highlands and at Rutland Water when at home in Leicestershire. Having developed his practical conservation skills, alongside a love for the Scottish Highlands, Tay moved to Inverness to research the conservation requirements of the dark bordered beauty moth, present at only a handful of sites in Scotland. Tay went on to work two seasons at Aigas Field Centre as a wildlife guide, conducting tours of the Highlands, monitoring species, and looking after the captive wildcats.
Tay joined the Rewilding Coombeshead team in 2022, where he hopes to see nature flourishing in years to come.”
Hayley Pavis
Hayley has been working as the Project Officer for Derek Gow Consultancy since March 2025. She assists Derek with many tasks vital to the reintroduction of native species across the UK, including helping with beaver licence applications and reintroduction feasibility studies, alongside funding, outreach and leading tours of the Rewilding Coombeshead site.
Hayley holds an MSc in Conservation and Biodiversity from the University of Exeter, where she developed a strong interest in UK rewilding through specialist field modules.
She brings broad experience from across the conservation sector, having previously worked with the Zoological Society of London, the Westcountry Rivers Trust, Cornwall Council and most recently with Wild Sun Rescue Centre, contributing to the research and rehabilitation efforts for wildlife releases in Costa Rica.
Tom Humphreys
Tom is our Outreach Manager at Rewilding Coombeshead, and is a big fan of bringing nature and people a bit closer together.
Over the last 15 years Tom has been based at numerous UK field centres including Sayers Croft in the Surrey Hills and Skern Lodge on the Torridge Estuary, developing experiential learning programmes and leading groups of all backgrounds into the outdoors including Geography fieldwork students, nature-based wellbeing interventions, through to corporate developmental expeditions.
More recently Tom coordinated locally-led nature recovery and community climate resilience with the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere, and led the Nature Recovery Plan for Towns and Villages. Former national Chairman for Field Studies with the Institute for Outdoor Learning (IOL), Tom is current Chairman for the Network for Environmental Educators in Devon (NEED) which champions nature education across the county and also sits on the Board for the Local Nature Partnership (LNP). Tom is keen to welcome you to Rewilding Coombeshead and codesign your next visit.
