Hew Prendergast joined the Forest in 2003 as Superintendent and Clerk. Before getting degrees in plant sciences from the University of Aberdeen and the Australian National University, Canberra, he worked as a warden on reserves throughout the UK. In 1987 he was part of the Nature Conservancy Council’s Seabirds at Sea Team. He then joined the Seed Bank of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew at Wakehurst Place in Sussex and collected plants in Africa, the Middle East and Australia.
In 1994 he became the Leader of Kew’s Centre for Economic Botany. Hew is a Fellow of the Linnean Society and a member of the European Sustainable Use Specialist Group of IUCN. He has written or edited eight books, the most recent being Britain’s wild harvest: the commercial uses of wild plants and fungi (with Helen Sanderson; 2004), The dragonflies of Sussex (with the Sussex Group of the British Dragonfly Society; 2004) and Heathlands - past, present and future (2005).
Roger Beal - South Chase Ranger
Roger Beal is the South Chase Ranger. He worked on Ashdown Forest for several years as a volunteer before becoming a full-time Ranger in 2000. Following an early career in printing, Roger studied countryside management at Merton College and Plumpton. He is particularly interested in disabled access to the Forest. He has recently become the proud owner of Fleur, a lovely JRT.
Mike Yates - North Chase Ranger
Mike Yates comes to Ashdown Forest from a background of commercial forestry. He brings a professional approach to safe working in forestry operations and also to contract management. Mike started work as the North Chase Ranger in 2003, having served as a Volunteer Ranger for several years. He is studying part-time at Sussex University and has assumed some responsibility for historic landscape issues on the Forest. Mike is the owner of Harry, a handsome black Labrador.
Rich Allum - West Chase Ranger
Rich Allum started as West Chase Ranger in November 2005. He obtained a degree in Ecology & Conservation from the University of Sussex before becoming a ranger for East Sussex County Council and Bracknell Forest Borough Council. Rich spent five years as Heathland Project Officer for the High Weald AONB Unit at Flimwell. The photograph below shows Rich with Scallywag - possibly the most popular dog at the Forest Centre.
Chris Sutton - East Chase Ranger
Chris Sutton landed the job straight out of Merrist Wood College in 1988. Recently, Chris completed a course in Health and Safety at Work and advises the Conservators on safe working practice. He is shown in the photograph below with Barney!
Chris Marrable - Conservation Officer
Chris Marrable is the Forest’s Conservation Officer. Although this is a fairly new post, Chris has worked on the Forest for over 20 years, first as a Chase Ranger and later as the Centre Ranger. He has recently completed a PGC in GIS and acquired Chip, a Border Collie, who is learning all about sheep!
Michael Payne - Countryside Worker
Mike Payne studied Countryside Management at Brinsbury College. Primarily employed as an estate worker, he doubles as second tractor driver and spends all the summer mowing bracken and fire breaks. Mike hopes to gain practical experience on the Forest prior to obtaining a Ranger post, perhaps in a National Park.
Colin Lutman - Countryside Worker
Colin Lutman has been the Forest tractor driver for over 18 years and his knowledge of the area is second to none - there isn’t a slit-trench or drainage ditch that Colin hasn’t got stuck in! He is now very experienced in all aspects of the Forest’s machinery which includes high horse-power four-wheel drive tractors, forwarders, winches and forestry grinders. Like most tractor drivers, Colin is keen to maintain and repair his machines himself.
Ed Burgin is the newest member of the team employed as an estate worker.
Louise Amos is our shepherd and has many years experience of shepherding and training dogs. She studied Plant Ecology at Aberdeen University and has worked in heathland management, research and restoration in the UK and Falkland Islands. She has three border collies which will be working with her to close-herd a grazing flock on the Forest. She comes to us from Natural England (English Nature). To visit Louise's blog to find out more click here!
Susanna Alce - Close Grazing Project Assistant
Susanna is the assistant on the close-shepherded grazing project.
She has been working with sheep on and off for 15 years. Susanna
gained her HND in Agriculture from Sparsholt College, Winchester, then
went on to Kirkley Hall, Northumberland three years ago to complete the
last remaining full time sheep management course in the UK.
Susanna admits she could not do her job without her faithful,
fluffy-footed friend Ben, who has recently been joined by keen new
girl, 19 month old Dot.
Ros Marriott - Office Manager
Ros Marriott has been at the Forest Centre since October 1994.
She is in charge of the office administration, personnel matters and
account. She is the fount of all knowledge when it comes
to issuing and advising on perpetual licences. Ros is
responsible for the collection of Forest Rates and Acknowledgement
Rents. She is shown here with Wellington who is, very sadly, no longer with us.
Tracy Buxton - Office Administrator
Tracy Buxton is the Office Admin who helps out Ros with all the day to day duties and any one else who asks nicely! She is responsible for, amongst other things, riding permits, the Information Barn volunteers, Forest events such as Sheep Days, the website and anything esle that might need doing! These days she is the one you will get on the telephone! Tracy is the proud owner of Dodger, a neurotic tri-colour JRT and Dottie a four year old rescue Greyhound!
Home - Introduction to Ashdown Forest - Forest People
» The Commoners
» The Conservators
» Society of Friends of Ashdown Forest
» The Ashdown Forest Act 1974