Julian Roughton

Julian Roughton is a British wildlife expert and conservationist. He is the current managing director of Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

In February 2009 Roughton commented on foxes which had been found in a tree in Suffolk during a cold spell, "They are good climbers when they need to be but this is certainly not normal behaviour." In the summer of 2009, he was present when the Sizewell B Power Station became the first power station to receive the Biodiversity Benchmark. At the ceremony Roughton said, “The Suffolk Wildlife Trust has enjoyed a very good working partnership with British Energy since the 1990s. Once neglected wildlife habitats have been transformed into a matrix of secluded grazing marshes, reedbed, wet woodland and heathland. This diverse site is one of the best wetlands in East Anglia for wildflowers and a stronghold for otter, water vole and kingfisher. In summer the dykes are alive with an incredible 17 species of dragonfly while birds like wigeon, snipe and shoveler are attracted to the flooded marshes during winter."

In July 2010, Roughton convened with MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, Dr. Daniel Poulter at Foxburrow Farm near Melton, where the trust has one of four education and visitor centres. Roughton said of the meeting, “The aim of the visit is to communicate to Dan the breadth of what we do, from working with schools and farmers to managing our own nature reserves. In all areas a huge contribution is made by volunteers and a thriving team work alongside staff at Foxburrow Farm helping with school visits, doing admin and carrying out practical conservation tasks." He appeared on BBC Radio Suffolk in December 2010 discussing the recent developments of the trust. In July 2011, Roughton and the trust opened the new £135,000 Bradfield Green Oak Centre covering 177 acres (72 hectares) at Bradfield Woods near Bury St Edmunds. In January 2012, Roughton and the trust bought a Knettishall Heath for £100,00 from Suffolk County Council for a new wildlife reserve. In March 2012 he was outspoken about the drought in the UK saying, “This winter, nature reserves that have usually flooded have not done so, resulting in a loss of wetlands for wildfowl and waders; long-legged wading birds. This year it is very likely that these will dry up before the chicks fledge, which will be disastrous for them."