He worked in the local parks department when he left school, and then studied horticulture and landscape architecture at Wye College, University of London.
Through most of the late 1980s and early 1990s, Baines focused on television broadcasting, and presented The Big E, Saturday Starship, Pebble Mill at One and several other networked series.
Also in 1987, Chris recorded an album, The Wild Side of Town, with the folk-rock Albion Band and then toured the U.K., raising money for the British Wildlife Appeal.
He led the fight to prevent cable television and other utility companies chopping through the roots of urban street trees.
[2] In 2004 he was presented with the RSPB's annual Medal of Honour for his contribution to nature conservation[2] and sustainable water management.
Baines works as a self-employed freelancer, and advises government ministers, local councils and senior executives in major water, minerals, finance, construction and housing companies, on environmental practice.
In 2010 he worked in the Gulf state of Qatar with the Boston Consulting Group, producing the twenty year forward strategy for that country's urban environments.
In the 1990s he established the Greenleaf Housing Awards for the New Homes Marketing Board, and chaired the national judging panel for 15 years.
(incomplete) Royal Horticultural Society Companion to Wildlife Gardening, 2015 (ISBN 9780711235472) Winner, UK Charitable Film Awards as presenter of The Living Thames