1960 - 1988 Cardiff Uni

Mary spent 25 years at Cardiff University, first as Staff tutor (1962 -1968) and then Senior lecturer (1968 -1988) in Biological Sciences, within the Extramural Department. Mary was given free reign to design the courses and teach the subjects that she thought were valuable and interesting. This was an opportunity that suited Mary down to the ground as she was able to spend her time discovering beautiful, interesting and exciting places to visit, and then design courses that enabled her to talk about a particular subject and lead groups out to see that subject in person.

During this time Mary was also very active with the Cardiff Naturalists' Society (becoming President in 1974-1975) and the Glamorgan Naturalists' Trust, and she co-founded the Merthyr Tydfil & District Naturalists' Society with Jack Evans.

Through the auspices of these organisations Mary worked to facilitate the change in landscape use from one of industry to nature and was involved in the creation of nature reserves or the protection of natural heritage in places such as Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, Clydach Vale Country Park, Coed y Bedw, Coed y Bwl, Dare Valley Country Park, Darran Park, Forest Farm, Flat Holm, the Howardian Local Nature Reserve,​​​​​​​ Lavernock Point, Llyn Fach, ​​​​​​​Pwll Waun Cynon, Taf Fechan Nature Reserve and many, many more.

Mary also continued to travel widely during this time visiting Australia, Austria, the Bahamas, the Channel Islands, Corsica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Ghana, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Turkey, USA, Yugoslavia (now Slovenia), Zambia, Zimbabwe as well as England, Scotland and Wales and the Channel Islands!