Defra extends terms for Natural England board trio

Defra has extended, for up to nine months from 12 March 2024, the terms of three members of the Natural England board: Rt Hon Lord Blencathra, Catherine Dugmore and Henry Robinson.

Conservative, Lord Blencathra, chairs the Statutory Instruments Select Committee and is a member of the Political Affairs Committee of the Council of Europe. He was formerly Minister of State at the Home Office and a minister at the Department of the Environment in the 1990s.

Dugmore is a qualified chartered accountant.  For over 20 years, she has worked for public, charity, and healthcare organisations. Since 2012, she has worked in acute, mental health and community settings in the NHS and is a board member of not-for-profit provider of retirement living and extra care for older people of modest means, Housing 21. She was formerly a trustee of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and WWF UK, as well as vice chair and trustee of Action for Children and chair of Victim Support.

Robinson has farmed in the Cotswolds since 1978. He has had various roles at the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), and stepped down as president in 2015. He is also currently a trustee of the Hawk and Owl Trust, and chairman of Trustees at Rendcomb.