Tom Brown CEO Expand Tom joined Green Light Trust at the beginning of 2013 to manage the Heritage Lottery Funded "Restoring the Repertoire" project. Having previously run his own arboriculture contracting company; he went on to eventually run the Arboriculture and Forestry department at Otley College. Tom also has experience of writing woodland management plans, and has written occupational standards for a number of awarding bodies. A member of the national Forestry Skills Forum, he has recently contributed to the development of the new Forestry Trailblazer apprenticeship. After almost six years at the Trust, and with the full approval and enthusiasm of our founders, Tom took over as CEO.
Mandy Horne Head of Partnerships Expand Mandy joined Green Light Trust in May 2019 from a similar role with The Missing Kind, a charity currently based in Norfolk, having previously set up her own community interest company. Mandy brings with her experience from many years in the corporate sector, leaving a senior operational role with Hiscox insurance in 2015. Mandy’s particular areas of interest include youth opportunity and emotional wellbeing support.
Alison Bone Finance Manager Expand Responsible for maintaining and developing the finance function of the Trust, Alison joined us late in 2018. Returning to Suffolk after several years away from the region, she has previously worked in the North East of the UK for a Health & Wellbeing charity. An AAT Qualified Bookkeeper, Alison has wide ranging and practical experience gained whilst working in different UK locations for charities, accountancy firms, as well as from running a small business with her husband. With a keen interest in the countryside and mental wellbeing, she is enjoying rediscovering West Suffolk and finding inspiration for her photography hobby.
Rebecca Edgar Office & Administration Manager (Company Secretary) Expand Having previously run her own Complementary therapy business, Bec is particularly interested in the impact nature has on improving confidence and self-esteem, reducing anxiety, and improving mental health. She has been involved with Green Light Trust in various roles since joining the steering group for our very first Community-owned Wild Space project – 'Forest for Our Children' – in 1999. After completing her PTTLS course (preparing to teach in the adult learning sector) in January 2009 and her Level 3 Forest School Practitioner award in August 2014, Bec delivered a variety of GLT courses for several years working with all of our communities of interest. Bec became Office & Administration Manager and Company Secretary for the Trust in October 2018.
Andrew Brooks Delivery Manager - West Suffolk Expand Andrew joined our organisation after several years of training in Countryside Management, and brings a wide range of environmental skills and knowledge. From a part time role with the Trust, he stepped into his full-time remit in the Autumn of 2013. Andrew is responsible for the operational management of all programmes delivered in the West of Suffolk.
Jack Pynn Delivery Manager - Central & East Suffolk Expand Jack manages all of the activity at our central Castan woodland, and in the East of Suffolk. Prior to working for Green Light Trust, Jack worked as an Arborist, advising on and carrying out tree management operations for a wide range of clients. His career experience also includes time as an FE Lecturer in Forestry and Arboriculture at Easton and Otley College. Whilst there, Jack taught both practical skills and arboriculture theory. Jack is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience of trees with others.
Mell Harrison Delivery Manager - Forest School & Education Expand Mell joined the Green Light Trust in 2016 and has been facilitating Nature Connection work for over 15 years. She has worked with all ages and abilities, facilitating through the theories of Forest School, Earth Education, Nature Connection and Environmental Education. After many years of environmental campaigning, Mell started to work within this field believing that if people felt connected to the natural world, they would more readily take an active role in fostering the sustainability of the planet. In 2014, she was shortlisted for Learning Outside the Classrooms national award for ‘Most inspiring Educator’. Mell was a co-creator/director of a small school, ‘Wild Meadows’, for home educated children. Together the parents and children built a straw bale building as a classroom, then developed the space and facilitated activities for families to learn together in a child led and child centred way. In 2018 Mell was given Recognised Trainer Award status by the National Forest School Association. In her free time, Mum of five Mell likes adventuring with her husband and children.
Debra Glendinning Schools Emotional Wellbeing Coordinator Expand Debra has a background in teaching and education, and is passionate about promoting the wellbeing of young people and their teachers. She also has a Master’s degree in Psychology, and extensive experience delivering psychologically informed interventions including mindfulness and Compassion Focussed Therapy. Debra is currently undertaking doctoral study with the University of Derby researching the impact of brief mindfulness training for school staff. She has also trained with the Mindfulness in Schools Project and is enthusiastic about building a mindful culture within schools. In April 2019 Debra joined the Green Light Trust as Coordinator of the Vision and Voice Partnership Wellbeing in Schools Pilot. In her spare time Debra enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, particularly climbing, kayaking and sea swimming.
Michaela Woollatt Participant Keyworker Expand Michaela has spent her career working in the environmental sector - formally as Chief of Operations for Europe’s biggest IT recycling company. More recently she had the role of Education Editor for a grassroots environmental newspaper. Michaela is a keen advocate of raising awareness of the benefits of the natural environment on mental health. Having worked with several of Green Light Trust’s client groups, including young adults with special needs, primary school intervention groups, PRU teenagers and adults recovering from mental health issues, Michaela is now engaged by GLT as a participant keyworker.
Lorna Collins Environmental Education Delivery Team & Norfolk Keyworker Expand Lorna joined the Green Light Trust in March 2015 as an Environmental Education Team Leader and currently runs Woodland programmes at RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve. Prior to this post, Lorna worked with Suffolk Wildlife Trust for 13 years, running two education centres in West and East Suffolk. Having established solid working partnerships with key agencies like YMCA Training and MIND, Lorna ran tailored environmental programmes to encourage self-development and practical skills in young people.
Eloise Wilkinson Environmental Education Delivery Team & Forest School Tutor Expand A Forest School tutor since 2017, Eloise first joined the Trust as a team leader in the Autumn of 2016. She has a passion for nature and facilitating in a child-centred way. Always keen to create a space where children feel safe to explore and get to know themselves and the environment better, Eloise is a Forest School Level 3 Leader, Bushcraft enthusiast & Nature Connection Facilitator.
Peter Foster Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand A former organic farmer for some 20 years, Peter joined Green Light Trust in August 2014 facilitating a wide variety of our courses. Having graduated from Harper Adams Agricultural College in 1992, he delivered an on-farm training programme for children and young adults at risk of exclusion. This saw him win a Somerset Learning & Skills Council award. In late 2012, Peter moved to Suffolk, where he has focused his career on woodcraft and nature conservation.
Will Poyntz Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand A team leader for Green Light Trust since September 2016, Will previously worked as a bushcraft instructor with children and adults. Will spent three years leading residential bush craft trips for schools in an ancient forest, including nights in natural shelters, wild lake swimming and cooking game on the campfire. He then undertook a two-year apprenticeship at Woodsmoke bushcraft school in Cumbria, learning bow making, tracking, foraging and going on expeditions to learn from indigenous people in Namibia and Borneo. In the winter, Will carved wooden craft for sale and went snow camping in Sweden and Canada. He has also worked as a mountain leader and on a Pennsylvania summer camp, and is a qualified yacht skipper.
Alister Jones Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand Alister joined the Trust as a Team Leader in 2016. His interests include therapeutic horticulture, Forest Schools and bush craft. Ali particularly enjoys witnessing the natural environment being used to build confidence and self-esteem and facilitates a wide variety of our group activities for both adults and young people.
Ashley Parfitt Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand After graduating from a Countryside Management degree in 2015, Ashley began volunteering at Green Light Trust's Project Wild Haven in Great Yarmouth. After joining the payroll in 2017 Ashley now leads a variety of GLT courses and projects across Suffolk and Norfolk.
Pia Bennett Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand A member of the Trust team since 2016, Pia had spent a considerable part of her career working as a secondary school teacher, both in Geography and Media/English departments. Pia’s last teaching position provided her with the additional training needed to teach SEN students, who benefited from weekly farm visits. Alongside her teaching career, she pursues her childhood passion for the outdoors and the environment by working part-time as a consultant at Levington Laboratories, and has conducted post-graduate research within this sector. Experiences gained in environmental management, ranging from land surveys to the assessment of soil and water pollution, give her a broad understanding of environmental issues. Pia’s most enjoyable task working in this sector however, has been managing secondary school work placement students, preparing and organising field trips and wildlife surveys. Much of her spare time is spent with family and enjoying the countryside, as well as contributing to charity work, where she volunteers at local homeless shelters and overseas with Lighthouse Refugee Relief.
Connie Barnes Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand After completing her BSc in psychology, Connie began work as a teaching assistant at a local special school, then as a mentor for a local charity supporting young adults with learning difficulties. It was whilst supporting a young man attending GLT that she developed her passion for outdoor learning and the mental health advantages of working outside. Connie completed her Level 3 Forest School Practitioner Award with Green Light Trust in 2016. Having joined the Trust as a member of staff in early 2017, Connie now facilitates a variety of GLT programmes, as well as volunteering with the local Community Wild space Project Forest for our Children.
Ian Carrington Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand When Ian left BT in 2008, Green Light Trust offered him some part time work, predominantly with building and grounds maintenance, progressing to assisting and mentoring with a variety of groups. Having lived in Lawshall since 1985, he has had a helping hand in many activities and groups within the village including being Chairman of the local primary school PTA for 8 years. In 1994 Ian and a colleague started the Youth Club for the teenagers of Lawshall, which they then jointly ran for 10 years. It was during this time that Ian joined the local Community-Owned Wild Space group, Forest for Our Children. He is still a committee member and volunteers at Forest for Our Children woodland work parties.
Bryony Ryba Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand Bryony started as a volunteer with us in 2016, and received the Suffolk Adult Learners Health and Wellbeing Impact Award for her contribution to our work. With a background in working with Special educational needs, mental health and addiction, Bryony's special interests include mindfulness and nature connection to facilitate emotional and mental wellbeing for our project participants; she is also currently training for a level 3 Forest School Practitioner qualification. Bryony joined our delivery team in Sep 2018.
Briony Sones Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand Briony joined the Greenlight Trust in May 2017 after moving to Suffolk from Hertfordshire. Previously she worked with Hertfordshire County Council as a Secondary English teacher, then for 12 years in Youth Support roles working with vulnerable teenagers and young adults who were disengaged or NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training). During this time Briony gained an NVQ4 in Support for Young People and a Level 6 qualification in Careers Guidance. A lifetime lover of the countryside, wildlife and conservation, Briony has had many volunteering roles with BBO Wildlife Trust, National Trust, Chiltern Trust and the BTO. In 2015/16 she studied part-time to achieve a L3 Diploma in Countryside Management, which enabled her to change direction in career and join the GLT Team.
Sheena Gibbens Environmental Education Delivery Team Expand Sheena has a background in teaching with over 30 years’ experience working locally as a Nursery and Primary School teacher. Recently stepping away from the classroom to train as a Level 3 Forest School Leader with the Green Light Trust, Sheena used this time to gain experience with us as a volunteer. Having joined our staff in April 2019, Sheena is excited to be following her passion for nature and to explore its positive impact on learning and well being.