Jon Wilshaw – Projects Manager

.Jon’s focus has been on streamlining the Business Planning process and he has worked with Cranfield University on establishing a new project management system. Allied to this is Jon’s role in developing the Community Forest’s Implementation Forum: bringing the partnership together at an operational level.

Contact Jon on jonathan_wilshaw@swindon.gov.uk

Patrick Norris – Field Officer

Patrick’s role with the Great Western Community Forest is to work primarily with farmers, landowners and those with a controlling interest in land to identify and implement projects that take forward the Community Forest Plan. Patrick can advise on some but not all aspects of the England Rural Development Programme, with a particular emphasis on woodland forestry and nature conservation projects.

Contact Patrick on pnorris@swindon.gov.uk 

Heather Lilley – Community Education Officer

With many years experience working with community and school groups on the GWCF project, Heather is always looking to establish links with new partners to help expand the awareness of the education aims of the Community Forest team. Large Community Forest events such as the Forest Festival  and Community Tree Plants have been successful thanks to Heather’s hard work.

Contact Heather on hlilley@swindon.gov.uk




Education & Community Groups Officer

The role of this post is to work with schools and other education establishments to help them take advantage of the Woodland for Learning Network which covers projects such as Forest Schools, Story Sacks projects and Family Learning activities. This post works hand-in-hand with the Community Education Officer in the Community Forest area.

Ali Bruce – Marketing & Communications Officer

Working closely with the GWCF Team in developing awareness , understanding and support for the Forest amongst the local community and broad partnership, Ali contributes to the future development of the GWCF through the Marketing and Communications Strategy and through forest specific initiatives, sponsorship and funding opportunities and the continued liaison with business, partners, journalists, schools and landowners in conjunction with the Community Forest Team.

Contact: Ali on abruce@swindon.gov.uk

Jane Lane – Office Administrator

Jane is the central contact for the GWCF team and keeps things running smoothly in her role as office manager preparing all GWCF and DEFRA monitoring reports. A primary responsibility for Jane is managing the migration of the large GWCF database from Clipper to Microsoft Access.

Contact Jane on jlane@swindon.gov.uk