Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Green Light Trust
"Building Health, Hope and Happiness through the Power of Nature"
  • Search
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Donate
Menu
  • About us
    • Our guiding principle
    • Our impact
      • Case studies
      • Annual Reviews
      • Our Impact Explained
    • News
      • Latest news
    • Locations
    • Who we are
      • Staff
      • Trustees and patron
      • Founders
      • Our Volunteers
      • Associates
    • Policies
  • Forest School Training
    • What Forest School Training & CPD do we offer?
    • Forest School Events & Booking Forms
  • Corporate events
  • Adults
    • Activity descriptions & Enquiry form
  • Children & young People
    • Activity descriptions & Enquiry Form
  • Support us
    • Where your money goes
    • Donate
    • Appeals
    • Fundraise
      • Fundraising ideas
      • Fundraisers & Fundraising events
      • Set up a fundraising page
    • Legacy
    • Volunteer
    • Corporate partners
    • Funders and Supporters
  • Vacancies
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • founders
  1. About us
  2. Who we are
  3. Founders

Founders

The story of Green Light Trust spreads far beyond the shores of Suffolk, and far deeper than the wild woodlands which we now own and manage in the heart of our much loved county.

In fact, the journey began in 1988, when the inspirational and nature-loving pairing of Ric Edelman and Nigel Hughes visited the Hunstein Range Forest, deep in the Upper Sepik region of Papua New Guinea.

It was as part of their trip, meeting tribe folk, recognising the power of forest preservation activity on communities, and being somewhat ‘challenged’ to take this centuries’ old attitude of care for the environment back to British turf, that the Trust’s early seeds were first sown.

Naturally, one of the best people to share an insight into that story is co-founder, Nigel Hughes:-

“It’s so true that you can’t tell what direction of travel the world will take you at times, and certainly we never expected to be in the early stages of conceiving a Suffolk-based environmental charity, when we first set off for our Papa New Guinea experience.

"With our theatrical backgrounds, we became heavily involved with local people and established three environmentally-based ‘performances’, which, believe it or not, we took on tour by canoe.

"During our time there, we learned how the eco-system of 2000 square miles of pristine forest was to be lost to logging, so we worked with the local people to help them save their homeland.

"What followed was something of a call-to-arms from the tribe, wondering why we wouldn’t also want to do something back in the UK to preserve woodland and wild spaces for future generations.

"Inspired, we returned to the UK and established Green Light in 1989 as an environmental charity based at Lawshall. Our goal then was to educate and inform the UK public on environmental matters. 

"What we established grew quickly. In 1993 a small group of people living in Lawshall decided to create their own woodland. This became known as ‘Forest for Our Children’ and started life in a two acre field, with the first trees planted by the Chief of the tribe we’d met on our travels.

"Today, I’m proud and delighted to say that vision has grown into three woodlands owned by Green Light, over 60 community spaces managed by our Wildspace group, and some 6 million trees planted so far.”

Back to top

Latest

  • Casual Well being in Nature Facilitator - Central Suffolk

    Casual Well being in Nature Facilitator - Central Suffolk

    Casual Central Suffolk role: £12.73/Hour Are you able to support people in a non-judgmental, open and compassionate way? Do you have an accepting and caring manner that helps you to build trusting relationships with people from a wide range of backgrounds? Do you find inspiration in nature? Are you able to focus on people‘s strengths in order to help them build confidence and self-esteem? If you are answering yes to these questions then perhaps this role is for you!

  • Participant Engagement Coordinator for Children and Young People - East Suffolk

    Participant Engagement Coordinator for Children and Young People - East Suffolk

    We are looking for someone who is passionate about working with young people and can support them during their time at the Green Light Trust. You will work closely with our health partners in West Suffolk, as well as other partners, schools, and families to engage young people in interventions that support their mental health, wellbeing and development. Full Time £25,521.51 per annum

  • Participant Engagement Coordinator - East Suffolk

    Participant Engagement Coordinator - East Suffolk

    We are looking for an individual who is passionate about people and supporting their journey of recovery. Your role will be to effectively work with partners and participants to ensure a seamless onboarding to GLT and will manage the participant experience whilst individuals are on programme and when they progress to further opportunities. Full Time £25,521.51 per annum

  • Castan Appeal

    Castan Appeal

Most read

  • EARTH: Rebuild & Support

    EARTH: Rebuild & Support

    Our EARTH Rebuild and Support activities are for adults who are experiencing poor mental health or wellbeing. delivered across all of our beautiful locations in Suffolk and Norfolk.

  • AIR courses

    AIR courses

    Nature inspired online wellbeing courses for anyone dealing with mental health issues. Find out more:

  • Our Impact Explained

    Our Impact Explained

    How do we use the power of nature to support mental health? Find out here, as well as the impact we've already had. We're experts in using nature to support good mental health.

  • Castan Wood

    Castan Wood

    Castan Wood - a 26 acre site in Martlesham, on the edge of Ipswich

  • Frithy Wood

    Frithy Wood

    Ancient SSSI semi natural woodland in Lawshall, just outside Bury St Edmunds

  • Volunteer

    Volunteer

    Our volunteers come from such a cross section of the community, and bring hugely varied experiences to their engagement with our Trust activity.

  • EARTH: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

    EARTH: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

    Provision for adults and young people with additional needs due to learning difficulties, long term health conditions and/or disabilities

  • The Foundry

    The Foundry

    Serving as our office headquarters, and based in Lawshall, The Foundry is an award-winning venue in its own right

  • Green Light Trust

    Green Light Trust

    Donate to Green Light Trust - help us to help adults and children facing barriers to wellbeing and life progression

  • Corporate events

    Corporate events

    Bespoke team building or corporate event days for your organisation held in one of our beautiful woodlands

Join our mailing list

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])
  • My details
  • Log out

Contact Details

  • 01284 830829
  • [email protected]
  • The Foundry, Bury Road, Lawshall, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP29 4PJ
  • The Office is open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (Excluding Bank Holidays)
  • Contact us
  • Full sitemap
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Accessibility

Green Light Trust is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales under number 02550866 and registered as a Charity number 1000977
Registered office The Foundry, Lawshall, Bury St Edmunds, IP29 4PJ