Meet the team
From all walks of life, and with different motivations, our volunteer team are united in their love of the great outdoors and desire to play a part in creating a Forest to benefit future generations.
Meet the team behind it all
Jonathan joined the charity in 2019 and has been busy behind the scenes building and developing our volunteering programme.
“I love the opportunity to teach people new things about the natural world, and in turn get to learn from others - every day is a school day! I think it important to help others to interact with the outdoors and the Forest, something we can all benefit from in the modern, busy world.
Achieving the Queens Award for Voluntary Service is such a great reflection of our amazing volunteers, whose dedication and enthusiasm is helping us reach our ambitious goal of creating and conserving a 30,000 acre Forest.”
“I love the opportunity to teach people new things about the natural world, and in turn get to learn from others - every day is a school day! I think it important to help others to interact with the outdoors and the Forest, something we can all benefit from in the modern, busy world.
Achieving the Queens Award for Voluntary Service is such a great reflection of our amazing volunteers, whose dedication and enthusiasm is helping us reach our ambitious goal of creating and conserving a 30,000 acre Forest.”
Jonathan Saunders, Volunteer Manager
Kelsey joined the team in 2022 working alongside Jonathan.
“I really enjoy leading volunteer sessions. Each volunteer who arrives in a morning or afternoon is always happy and excited for the task ahead and it is rewarding for both the volunteers and me to see the work that has been completed during a volunteer activity, and we all get to learn new skills and knowledge from one another.”
“I really enjoy leading volunteer sessions. Each volunteer who arrives in a morning or afternoon is always happy and excited for the task ahead and it is rewarding for both the volunteers and me to see the work that has been completed during a volunteer activity, and we all get to learn new skills and knowledge from one another.”
Kelsey Wilson, Volunteer Assistant
Volunteer Leaders
Steve helps to lead groups on Tuesdays and can often be found helping to keep our footpaths clear, ensuring that our visitors will be able to easily access the Heart of England
Forest and benefit from the time spent in the woodlands.
“My favourite task is tree planting. I will not get to see the benefits of the tree planting we are doing now, but my grandchildren and future generations will.”
Forest and benefit from the time spent in the woodlands.
“My favourite task is tree planting. I will not get to see the benefits of the tree planting we are doing now, but my grandchildren and future generations will.”
Steve Wynde, Volunteer Leader
Mike is a longstanding volunteer who has been supporting the Forest for a significant period and has helped with many activities over the years.
“A favourite task of mine is tree guard removal. Although tubes give protection from wildlife and do a great job of nurturing young trees, after a while they have outlived their purpose and need removing. When we set to work as a team across an area removing the protective guards, it is really satisfying to look back as we work and no longer see a sea of tubes, but a but a young Forest instead.”
“A favourite task of mine is tree guard removal. Although tubes give protection from wildlife and do a great job of nurturing young trees, after a while they have outlived their purpose and need removing. When we set to work as a team across an area removing the protective guards, it is really satisfying to look back as we work and no longer see a sea of tubes, but a but a young Forest instead.”
Mike Hudson, Volunteer Leader
Ramsay is responsible for undertaking some of our butterfly surveys out in the Forest and can often be found showing other volunteers our transects at Coughton Park and in Alne Wood, teaching them the skills needed to help identify and record some of our favourite lepidoptera species.
“My favourite activity takes me across the Forest habitats, the grassland, parkland, and the new and established woodlands. From the large and rarely seen purple emperor and the small common blue, to the gatekeeper and the populous ringlet and meadow brown that can sometimes be seen in their hundreds, there is always something interesting to see!”
“My favourite activity takes me across the Forest habitats, the grassland, parkland, and the new and established woodlands. From the large and rarely seen purple emperor and the small common blue, to the gatekeeper and the populous ringlet and meadow brown that can sometimes be seen in their hundreds, there is always something interesting to see!”
Ramsay Reaney, Volunteer Leader
Alan leads small teams of volunteers helping to preserve and expand heathland environment in the Forest which benefits heather and many other plants, ensuring that this fragile habitat is preserved.
“It is very hard to pick one favourite thing about volunteering here, but meeting and socialising with others, passing on skills and knowledge, and carrying out biodiversity surveys are aspects I really enjoy.”
“It is very hard to pick one favourite thing about volunteering here, but meeting and socialising with others, passing on skills and knowledge, and carrying out biodiversity surveys are aspects I really enjoy.”
Alan Sifford, Volunteer Leader
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