On behalf of all at the Ulster Farmers’ Union I would like to convey our deepest sympathies and condolences to Norman and the wider Fulton family. I have known Jennifer for many years both as a professional colleague and friend. Jennifer worked very closely with UFU during this period and always took a pragmatic approach to bringing the farming community and environmental groupings closer together. On many occasions she both arranged and participated in several joint study visits with UFU representatives to locations throughout the UK and Ireland on a variety of issues of mutual interest. Jennifer also had the knack of seeding ideas and getting subsequent buy in from others. The current joint UWT/UFU initiative for a joint ‘peatlands officer’ is a real example of this coming to fruition and provides yet another tangible outcome of the legacy that Jennifer has left. Life isn’t about when you enter or leave this world, it’s about what you have done in the time in between and Jennifer achieved a lot and made a real difference during her lifetime. She will be sadly missed by us all….

I first encountered Jennifer when she was a student at Queen’s. It was my first year as a newly appointed lecturer and in those days (early 1980s) there were weren’t many girls on the agriculture course. Our paths criss- crossed over the years after she started working for DARD. Part of her role as a Farm Advisor was the delivery of agri-environment schemes -then in their infancy-mine was in resarch on the management prescriptions for these. However it was when she joined Ulster Wildlife and encouraged me to be more actively involved in the organisation, that I really got to see that here was someone who had the vision, the background and the drive to bring farmers on board with addressing  the raft of environmental issues and regulations which we were all facing. This was Jennifer’s real strength. She had the respect of the farming community -she came from that background,-but she inherently knew what was coming down the track and that it was absolutely essential that the farming community should be a part of the solution to the problems. In my opinion Ulster Wildlife was extremely fortunate to have had that vision and example embedded into the organisation…

I was very sorry to be informed of the sudden passing of the Ulster Wildlife Chief Exexutive, Jennifer. I know she was very competant and passionate in pursing the aims of Ulster Wildlife and preserving nature across the wider community.  I have been a volunteer with Ulster Wildlife for many years and we did enjoy the occasional informative conversation.  I am sure that everyone who knew her is extremely shocked, especially her family and to them I extend my sincere sympathy.   May she rest in Peace….

Norman and family, I have just heard this unspeakably sad news on returning from a few weeks away. You are very much in my thoughts as you clearly have been in those of so many people who admired and loved Jennifer. I will always be grateful for Jennifer’s participation in the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission’s NI Advisory Group which she was involved with from the start in 2018. Although incredibly busy in her role leading Ulster Wildlife, she was always generous with her time and her talent. The three words I would use to describe Jennifer’s contribution are insightful, supportive and kind – it’s the last of these that I valued most and that she showed in so many ways. It goes without saying that she will be very much missed….

My sincere condolences to Norman, Sarah, Peter, James, your partners and wider family.  Jennifer spoke of you all often.  She was so proud of each of your achievements and had said to me on our last walk, what lovely partners each of her children had, and how much she had enjoyed all of you being around during lock down. I rarely remember Jennifer ever being ill, so her passing came as a huge shock and I am still struggling to take it in.   I got to know Jennifer originally through the Grassroots Challenge.  Jennifer’s vision and ‘can do’ attitude made everything possible!  Over the 5+ years of the project my respect and admiration for Jennifer grew.  Becoming an Ulster Wildlife Board member gave me another insight into the complex organisation Jennifer led with such ease.  Her knowledge on a wide range of subjects was incredible and I was often in awe of her ability to articulate such complex detail.  She had superb networking skills and so many became friends.  If she could help you in any way she did. I also learnt so much from Jennifer’s approach.  She believed in educating people and bringing them on the nature recovery…

I worked with Jennifer on the CANN project. When I visited Ulster Wildlife to verify expenditure, I always got the sense that Ulster Wildlife was a big family with Jennifer as “Mum”.  It was a pleasure working with Jennifer and the team from Ulster Wildlife on the CANN project.  Recently I had the pleasure of meeting with Jennifer through the development of a PeacePlus project, Jennifer was driving the project as she had a vision for the region.  Sincere condolences to Jennifer’s family and the family of Ulster Wildlife. …

First and foremost my deepest sympathies to Norman and the wider Fulton family. Jennifer was a real force for nature in Northern Ireland and her legacy will live on in the wild places she helped protect and create. …

It is with deep sorrow that I offer my condolences to Jennifer’s family circle. Having worked with Jennifer for a number of years on the Ulster Wildlfe Board I came to appreciate what an exceptional person she truly was. Always full of energy and ideas on how to make a difference for nature whilst at the same time being sensitive to the needs of all those she interacted with. Jennifer’s smile and unquenchable spirit will be sorely missed by all that knew her.  …

It was with deep sadness that I heard of Jennifer’s death which was so unexpected. My thoughts are firstly with her family, she often spoke about how proud she was of her three children. Recently on a trip to the Netherlands Jenifer and I shared accommodation and she spoke of her daughter’s research into climate change – clearly a proud Mum who was always keen to talk about her family. I have known Jenifer for the last 10 years through my work with the Wildlife Trusts in Wales. Over this time we would meet virtually but also in person at conferences and our internal Countries Committee meetings. We would discuss political advocacy and our work on devolved matters. Jenifer was a tour de force on farming, soils and the European Union. She spoke with real authority and passion and I know her influence and knowledge will be greatly missed. I was speaking to a Scottish colleague recently and we have both been deeply saddened. Knowing Jenifer for so long although it is through work still makes you connected. The sudden loss of Jenifer has been hard to understand and I know this is being felt by many who knew…

What a legacy Jennifer leaves behind. In many ways it feels like the orchestra has lost their conductor. We were lucky enough to work with Jennifer over the last few years on all thing’s peat and from the moment we met we knew that, not only could you never really say no to her, but that Jennifer was a pretty astonishing driving force working her magic to develop and deliver hugely ambitious environmental projects. The loss we feel is nothing compared to her family and colleagues at UWT, who we send our deepest condolences to, but all at the Crichton Carbon Centre will miss her. Jennifer is not someone you can ever forget. Thank you Jennifer, I learnt a huge amount from you. …

The Northern Ireland Badger Group would like to offer their sincere condolences to Jennifer’s family, friends and colleagues. Just from reading these messages it is clearly evident that Jennifer was greatly respected by everyone that knew her, admired for her drive, passion and energy to protect and stand up for nature, particularly within N. Ireland.  As a nature group we have joined forces with Jennifer and Ulster Wildlife over many years in our shared goal of conserving and promoting the wildlife of N. Ireland. She will be sadly missed by so many like minded people but especially those closest to her. You are in out thoughts at this sad time. …

Jennifer’s passing has been such a shock to everyone who knew her, she was such a lovely vibrant positive and caring individual. It was an absolute pleasure in knowing Jennifer for forty years, and in the past decade to experience her passion for our natural environment, and her unique ability to mentor others for the long term betterment of society in general. As CEO of Ulster Wildlife, Jennifer was able to bring those who manage the countryside, the farmers, along with her and bridge a gap that many others have found difficult to do. Jennifer is sadly missed by us all and sincere condolences to Norman and her children who have lost such an inspirational lady. …

To the Fulton family and all at Ulster Wildlife.  Our sincerest condolences from all at Norfolk Wildlife Trust.  Standing with you in this difficult time…

Jennifer had a special passion for and dedication to Northern Ireland’s red squirrels and wider biodiversity. Her unique energy and enthusiasm was much valued by the UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA) partnership. I was always very grateful for her friendship and advice – especially her support and wisdom when I first started my UKSA role. Nature has lost a real champion and we have lost a genuinely lovely person. She will be missed by many. My thoughts are with her family and all those who loved her….

It’s clear from so many of the conversations I’ve been part of over the last week just how widely respected Jennifer was and how greatly she will be missed, not only by her close colleagues but by our wider sector and beyond. I last spoke to Jennifer, on one of our regular online catch-ups, on 3rd April. As always, the conversation was wide-ranging, honest, interesting and enthusiastic. Jennifer was always keen to find out about what was happening in Scotland, although frequently she already knew a lot from her own contacts and partnerships. We talked about me going over to Ulster later in the year to see some of Ulster Wildlife’s work. There was always so much to discuss, including when Jennifer and I went out for dinner in Edinburgh, which felt like a bit of an adventure, coming after all the lockdowns. I also remember Jennifer talking about the impact of her trip a couple of years ago to see the ice sheets in Iceland and Greenland. It clearly made a deep impression on her but, typically, Jennifer evidently made a lasting impression on others while she was there, as she told us about three polar explorers she’d…