Who We Are

About EcoSentience

A Charitable Incorporated Organisation dedicated to protecting ancient woodland through the partnership of human stewardship, artificial intelligence, and nature's wisdom.

EcoSentience CIO

EcoSentience is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered in England and Wales (Charity No. 1210865). We exist for a single purpose: to protect and restore ancient woodland ecosystems using every tool available — from traditional conservation stewardship to cutting-edge artificial intelligence.

Founded in late 2024, we are at the beginning of our journey. We have no paid staff. Every pound donated goes directly to conservation work, research, and the development of tools that serve nature. Our team is entirely volunteer-driven, guided by three trustees who bring together expertise in conservation, technology, and governance.

Our work is guided by the Triquetra Principle — the conviction that human guardianship, AI capability, and natural wisdom must operate as equal partners. We reject the idea that technology should extract from nature. Instead, we build systems where intelligence feeds back into protection.

Founded with a focus on Mickley Wood and the broader ancient woodland landscape of Northumberland, EcoSentience brings together conservation practitioners, technologists, researchers, and local communities. We believe that the best conservation outcomes arise when diverse perspectives are woven together — much like the mycelial networks that sustain the forests we protect.

Charity Number

1210865

Structure

CIO (England & Wales)

Staff

Volunteer-Run

Leadership

Our Trustees

EcoSentience is governed by three trustees who volunteer their time to guide the charity's direction and ensure good governance. Our trustees bring diverse expertise spanning conservation science, technology development, and organisational management.

As a CIO, we are committed to transparency and accountability. Our trustees meet regularly to review progress, ensure resources are used effectively, and keep the charity aligned with its founding purpose: protecting ancient woodland through ethical technology.

Paul Harold is one of our founding trustees. His background in computing and cognitive psychology, combined with three years of hands-on development of the Aurora system, informs our approach to technology in conservation.

Steve Raybould contributes expertise in software testing, ensuring our systems are reliable and robust.

Fiona Morrison contributes expertise in security and financial management, supporting good governance and sustainable operations.

Governance

Shared Stewardship

Aurora is designed to keep humans "in the loop" at crucial junctures. We reject full automation where ethics are concerned. Our governance model reflects the Triquetra Principle — balanced oversight, transparent processes, and accountability at every level.

Consent Gates

No high-impact action occurs without recorded human authorisation. All operations require consent and oversight by a human curator or operator.

The Curator Role

Humans review and curate Aurora's memory, ensuring knowledge evolves under wisdom. AI agents may propose; human curators approve.

Audit Trails

Every decision is logged with full lineage and citations, ensuring transparent auditability and accountability.

Our Values

No Hype, No Spin, Just Solid Science

We ground everything in evidence. Our claims are measured, our methods are transparent, and our results speak for themselves.

Rejection of Extraction

We do not mine nature for data. We feed intelligence back into protection. Every interaction with the woodland must leave it better, not diminished.

Ecological Efficiency

"Do no harm." We minimise our resource consumption and carbon footprint. Local-first computing, data sustainability, and impact metrics as core system attributes.

Responsible Innovation

Technology is a powerful enabler, but human wisdom and natural processes remain crucial guides. We steer a middle path between reckless techno-solutionism and reluctance to innovate.

Work With Us

We are looking for partners, collaborators, and supporters who believe in a future where technology heals rather than extracts.

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