Jill Perry is 53, was born in Copeland and taught languages there for 18 years. She now works at Wild and Fruitful, a highly successful small jams and preserves business. Perry is married with two grown-up children. She has been co-ordinator and energy campaigner with West Cumbria Friends of the Earth for 20 years, leaving only to take up work with the Green Party. She is a parish councillor and was a member of the Lake District National Park Authority. Perry is currently involved in fighting plans for a nuclear waste dump and three new nuclear power stations in the constituency.