We have a team of part-time staff and volunteers supported by the many other regular volunteers from the local community. Why not join us? Contact any of the colleagues below to find out more.
Hugh
Head Grower
Hugh, along with his partner Alice, moved to the Farm when Bosavern Community Enterprises was first established and together they began the huge undertaking of setting up the vegetable growing production, while also renovating the Farmhouse and outbuildings. Hugh has been tending the vegetable crops and caring for the hen flock ever since. Passionate about organic farming, wildlife and education in sustainable agriculture, Hugh is also a keen photographer. He has recorded numerous farm activities over the years in an expansive photo library and blog.
info@bosaverncommunityfarm.org.uk 01736 788454
Dilys
Finance and Project Manager
accounts@bosaverncommunityfarm.org.uk
01736 447230
For many years, Dilys has worked for not-for-profit organisations and community-based projects, she provides the financial backbone for the farm operations, managing day to day accounting, invoicing, year-end reports, tax returns and pay roll. Dilys has been instrumental in securing funding for our projects and continues to keep our funders happy by managing claims and reports with support from Julie.
Katie
Chief Development Officer, Management Board Director & Chair.
Having attended Cape Cornwall School in her teens, Katie studied Environmental Sciences at Derby University, worked for Friends of the Earth Parliamentary Unit, gained substantial community development here in W.Cornwall and qualified with a PGCE for teaching adults in informal settings. In her spare time Katie enjoys reading, moorland walks and folk singing. Katie co-ordinates our referrals, training and work experience placements.
katie.kirk@bosaverncommunityfarm.org.uk 07946746396
Dom Goetz,
Management Board Director
I grew up in London and Paris but moved West to do an Environmental Science BSc at Plymouth Uni in 1995. I’ve lived in west Cornwall since 2000.
After graduating I spent a year working on ecology projects in Vietnam and Tanzania, plus a stint working in the London office of the Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Environment Alliance. In 1999 I got side-lined by an interest in Sustainable Construction so went and worked on building sites, learning about straw-bale, cob, rammed earth, masonry and timber-frame construction. I collaborated with Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust to run and write courses for professionals and students.
I’ve also worked as personal trainer and lifeguard, plus I’ve delivered talks on the science and politics of climate change on behalf of Extinction Rebellion.
I hope to be able to put my wide range of experiences to use as a director of BCF.
Frances Rippon
BCFC Trustee
Frances has worked in mental health for 35 years and teaches mindfulness courses in the NHS. Originally from Hull, she settled in St Just in 1999 to raise a family and to live in closer community with people and nature. She has volunteered at the farm since its transition to community ownership – helping to organise seasonal events, growing crops, staffing the shop and St Just farmer’s markets. She will be part of the team tasked with developing the farm shop. Frances is a trustee of Bosavern Community Farm Charity and her other activities include St Just Care and Repair Cafe, Shindig Cloggers, Tai Chi, singing and enjoying our wonderful environment.
Nick Hall (Wildflower Propagation Lead)
The little we know about Nick for certain is that he won a prize at Pershore horticultural college in 1987 for his wildflower garden, and qualified as a school science teacher in 1997. In his youth he worked on several arable farms in Worcestershire and Herefordshire, mostly picking apples. He used to kayak in rivers and sea, but now he just does a bit of taichi. His favourite pastime is making up tall tales like the time he spent tracking wolves in Slovakia, or the month in a kungfu school in Southern China, or hitchhiking to Marrakech…. most of which turn out to true.
Holly Whitelaw
Management Board Director
hollywhitelaw@gmail.com
Holly has led a varied career alongside her environmental and academic pursuits, including photography for national papers; retail; telesales; renewables; cleaning; gardening; event organising and fundraising. Currently Holly is a Researcher for Sustainable Food Cornwall; runs Compost for Carbon Trials and delivers educational material on Regenerative Agriculture. Holly is Director of Regenerative Food & Farming; assists The Cornwall Gleaning Network, and helps to run Cornwall Climate Action Network. Locally, Holly volunteers for St Just in Bloom and the local Climate Action group.
Terry
Penwith Tree Planters
Terry is a member of the Penwith Tree Planters, a group of volunteers who meet weekly on Sunday afternoons to look after the trees planted in Bosavern Woodland. As well as weeding, mulching and removing guards from the trees in the woodland, they have helped plant windbreaks around the farm and they are raising oak saplings from acorns.
Ali Richer
Shop Ordering
I moved to St Just in 2003 and I still love it! I’ve Woofed at Bosavern, worked at the Youth Hostel in Cot valley, sung in choirs and after working at the Cafe Dog & Rabbit as my own boss I’m now enjoying being part of the shop team at the community farm.
Rachel Grafton
WWOOF Host
Rachel is with us on a one year placement to ensure the smooth running of our farmhouse and to host the WWOOFers who come to Bosavern for a few weeks at a time. While she has lived in Cornwall for ten years, Rachel has also enjoyed WWOOFing and volunteering in nature-based communities around the world. When she’s not in the garden or out walking the coast, she can be found in the kitchen baking. Beginning as a self-taught cake baker, Rachel’s passion has led to a professional career in catering, running both a deli and a bakery. Her secret ambition is to write a book…
Ian Willsdon
BCFC Trustee
Born in Macclesfield, Ian studied at Sussex University where he first became involved in environmental action. He worked as a YHA Warden in the Lakes and then founded an eco group which set up a food co-op, a garden sharing scheme, a community allotment and more. During his career, Ian has worked as a Detached Youth Worker, Teacher, Home Tutor and has been active on many committees (Cheshire Schools Table Tennis Association, Cheshire Schools Cricket Association, West Bridgford Horticultural Society). He moved to Cornwall in 2013 and became a Director at Bosavern Community Farm, helping to run an allotment club at Cape School, joining the St Just Town Council climate action group and playing an active part in St Just in Bloom. During his time at the farm, Ian gave popular talks and taught courses on wildlife and organic gardening. Ian returned to Nottingham in 2021 to be near grandchildren where he is now a committee member of Stoke Lane Allotments, setting up a demonstration wildlife allotment with Notts Wildlife Trust as well as fulfilling the role of Charity Trustee for Bosavern, remotely.
Martin Kerrison
Website admin
Martin is an ex-Farm director and current allotment holder. A working life in education and training in the east midlands, the west country and the Isles of Scilly involved teaching, training and leadership and management. He has lived in west-Penwith for around 25 years.
Ross Packer
Assistant Grower (Part Time)
Ross brings a wealth of gardening and horticultural experience to Bosavern Training & Work Experience having worked at St Michael’s Mount; at Tresco Abbey Gardens on the Scillies; as private gardener to Lord St Leven and in recent years he managed Kernow Inferno, producing a range of chili products. Ross has a calm and kindly manner which is perfect for supporting and teaching growing skills on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Rose Wiles
Allotments & Hospitality Co-ordinator
allotments@bosaverncommunityfarm.org.uk
Rose is an allotment holder with 10 years experience working in hospitality and event management in the UK and abroad. She lives and works locally and, with her partner, is in the throes of renovating their listed St Just home.
Kate Beckly
BCFC Trustee
Kate has been a part of Bosavern Community Farm since its early days and was a member of the board of directors from 2014-2018, seeing it through the transition to community ownership. Over the years Kate has helped to organise community events at the farm, run workshops and various seasonal craft activities, and initiated the planting of the community woodland at the farm in 2015 and 2016. Kate has been involved in a number of community projects in St Just over the years from Lafrowda, Friends of St Just Library and fundraising for the new skate park. Kate is a keen grower of veg, crafter and environmental activist, who is passionate about the power of communities to work together to create a harmonious and resilient future.
Alan Bancroft
Management Board Director & Treasurer
Alan spent most of his working life at the BBC. He became Finance Director for BBC Broadcast Ltd, a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. Along the way he had spells working in HR, at BBC Outside Broadcasts and the Open University, as a premises manager at Television Centre, and as a commercial policy advisor in the BBC’s Legal Department. Other than his involvement with Bosavern Farm, Alan has left the world of work and is currently doing a PhD on Harold Wilson’s last government.
Hannah Smith
Adviser to Management Board
Hannah studied Land Management at university and is a qualified Chartered Surveyor with many years of property experience drawn from the diverse backgrounds of private, public, voluntary and community sectors. Today she is interested in sustainable, environmentally responsible construction and has recently been involved in a straw bale barn build. She has a Masters in Executive Coaching and has completed a Practical Residency in Sustainable Horticulture at Schumacher College. Here she learned the benefits of growing annual and perennial crops in an agroforestry system using organic principles, no dig/minimal tillage and with a focus on healthy soil care. She is passionate about the role local food and regenerative farming can play in building resilient communities, improving health and well-being and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Rob Pickering
Company Secretary and BCFC Trustee
Rob has over 35 years’ experience of working in, and managing not-for-profit organisations, giving advice and guidance to community organisations and to individuals in a range of areas (state benefits, Carers’ support, and domestic energy). He has been central to the formation of a number of community organisations and is one of the Founders of Bosavern Community Farm. Rob is a seasoned Fundraiser and Project Manager, and is now a Trustee of Bosavern Community Farm Charity looking for opportunities to improve and extend what the community farm offers.
Luke New
Assistant Grower
I grew up travelling around the Caribbean and South America while my father worked as an agricultural consultant. In 1987 I moved back to the UK to do a degree in Ecological Sciences at Plymouth University, where I also a discovered a passion for music. Having finished my degree I spent years putting funk bands together, releasing records and touring.
I settled with my family in Penzance in 2000 and built a residential straw bale house in Nancledra, one of the first residential straw bale buildings in England.
I have worked for 15 years at Mounts Bay Academy, teaching music for 10 years and over the last 5 years developing the horticulture opportunities at the school, including an allotment, polytunnel, curriculum work and lots of biodiversity and wildlife experiences for the students.
I love being in the ocean, surfing with friends and family and am active in environmental groups in the local area.