New Year, New Staff!!

We’ve had some changes here in the office this month; we have two new members of staff!
Emma Walton, who will be taking over from Bex Syrett our Community Gardening Officer and Jane Edwards who will be taking over from Beth Kennett our Admin Assistant. 

See you soon, Bex!

Bex will be taking 6 months off from tending to the Community Garden at Fordhall, in order to travel around Europe in a revamped ambulance!  She will be visiting different Permaculture sights around Europe and picking up new ideas to bring back to Fordhall in the Autumn!

So, until then, the garden will be left in the capable hands of Emma.  Emma has been working in Wildlife and Conservation Management with people of all ages, teaching them practical conservation skills and personal development. She is also a familiar face around Market Drayton and likes to support to the local community.

Emma’s interesting fact… “I cycle toured in Australia for 5 months!”

Beth is off to the Galapagos Islands to volunteer and learn about the wildlife there.  She has been with us for 3 years and although it’s sad to see her go, we are very jealous of her adventure ahead and hope that she has an amazing time!

Bye bye Beth!

Jane has come from a very different job environment to Fordhall; she was working as an e-learning advisor supporting adult education in the West Midlands.  She lives in South Shropshire and is in the process of setting up her own Shitake mushroom growing business.  She has been a strong supporter of Fordhall’s since the days of the campaign.  She is also Becca’s mum!

Jane’s interesting fact… “I lived in Afghanistan for 2 years during the 1980’s!”

The tearoom have also had some changes recently, with Katy Caldecott leaving to pursue a career in retail, as well as working hard on her musical career with her band Pre-Sleep Monologue.

Good Luck Katy!

To fill the gap left by Katy, we have the lovely Odilia Briceno-Plummer.  Odilia, used to manage her own guesthouse in her home country of Venezuela.  She also organised community work days, clearing up local green space in her neighbourhood.

Odilia's interesting fact..."My family own a chocolate farm in Venezuela!"

So, with new team members on board, we have a fresh bunch of ideas to drive forward over the next 12 months. 

Farewell to Beth, good luck Katy, see you soon Bex and welcome to the team Emma, Jane and Odilia!