Pat Buesnel
Director
Pat joined the Forest in May 2012 and comes with many years’ experience and a varied background of rural community development and project management in Sussex. The Conservators made a change to the role of Director, meaning Pat's priorities are to lead and support the staff and volunteer team, develop our Education and Information ‘offer’, build strong links with the Forests communities and develop partnerships with organisations, groups and neighbours for our mutual benefit. The development of a unique and locally focussed Forest Centre is high on the agenda and heralds an exciting phase in the history of the Forest.
Chris Marrable
Conservation Officer
Chris Marrable has worked on the Forest for over 27 years. His current workload is primarily concerned with conservation planning, mapping and monitoring as well as liaison with statutory and voluntary conservation organisations. He has a general interest in natural history but especially heathland plants. Chris has a dormouse licence and an MSc in Environmental Management. Chris owns a georgeous sheep dog called Chip who as well as being a PAT dog also competes at agility and obedience trials.
Tracy Buxton
Office Administrator
Tracy Buxton has been the Office Administrator since early 2007. She assists Ros with the day-to-day running of the office and is responsible for, amongst other things, issuing riding permits, the Information Barn and its volunteers, Forest events, this website, our internet presence and anything else that might need doing! These days she is the one you will get on the telephone. Tracy owns Dodger a middle aged tri-JRT and Dottie a rescued ex-racing Greyhound.
Ros Marriott
Clerk to the Board
Ros Marriott has been at the Forest Centre since October 1994. She is responsible for the Board and Committee governance processes and is in charge of the office administration, personnel matters, the accounts and bye-law infringements. She monitors planning applications that might impact on the Forest and she is the fount of all knowledge when it comes to issuing and advising on perpetual licences.
Rich Allum
South Chase Ranger
Rich Allum joined the Forest in 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. Before joining us, Rich spent five years as Heathland Project Officer in the High Weald AONB. Rich owns Scallywag a very handsome and personable cross-breed.
Michael Payne
West Chase Ranger
Mike Payne studied at Brinsbury College for three years and had qualifications on Countryside Management at both National and 1st Diploma levels. Mike has been on the Forest since 2003 and was promoted to a Ranger position in 2011. Mike is super with a chainsaw and a tractor and has many other skills learned as a Countryside Worker. Mike would like to have a dog as soon as possible.
Chris Sutton
East Chase Ranger
Chris Sutton is our our Health and Safety advisor and organises such things as maintenance of our vehicles, PAT testing, and fire and intruder alarm servicing. He also liaises with the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service in regards to Forest fires. Chris also has a Diploma in Countryside Recreation. Chris owns Barney a delightful and gentle cross breed.
Mike Yates
North Chase Ranger
Mike Yates comes 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. Mike owns Harry a bouncy black Labrador.
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 do his own maintainance and repairs to the machines.
Edward Burgin
Countryside Worker
Ed Burgin is employed as an estate worker. Ed spent two years studying Countryside Management at Hadlow College where he was taught to manage the land sympathetically. He also learnt hedge laying, tree felling (by hand and with a chainsaw) and species identification. After completing two years at Hadlow College he was able to get a job working for a specialist countryside contractor up in Yorkshire where he stayed for six months before returning south.
Gerry Lee
Countryside Worker
Gerry Lee joined the team as a Countryside Worker in May 2011. Previous to that Gerry had been a volunteer with the RSPB, BTCV and the West Sussex Rangers. After qualifying as a countryside ranger in 2008 he went on to attend Plumpton College and received a Diploma in Environmental Conservation.