Annie Davy – garden project founder and advisor

Annie Davy has worked as a playworker, teacher, lecturer and inspector in early years and childcare and in adult and community education. She was Assistant Head of Children’s Services Oxfordshire County Council for 11 years, heading up an award winning service of over 300 staff.  Annie now works as an accredited coach, mentor and action learning facilitator for leaders in education, community development and social change. She is a published author, and continues to work as a trainer and key note speaker with a focus on the impact of changing lifestyles on children, parents and professionals that work with them and the value of first hand experience of nature to wellbeing and learning. She is founder member of two successful local charities and The Nature Effect Community.

Helen Osborn – Trustee and Treasurer

Helen is a founder member of the garden and is the treasuer for a number of years.

Helen is currently working Part time at Flo’s – The Place in the Park, in East Oxford.

She has had a varied career, successfully spanning primary schools teaching, complementary medicine and administration within the not for profit sector. For many years she was treasurer of the Parasol Project (inclusive play for disabled and non-disabled children www.parasolproject.org.uk) and also for the Big Green Gathering, one of the leading and most successful UK festivals promoting ideas for a sustainable lifestyle and future of the planet.

Helen is trained as a Forest School leader developing sustainable schools activities and supporting outdoor learning. She was a committee member on the British Massage Therapy Council for two years, developing professional standards for massage.

Jenny Crease – Chairperson

Jenny became a trustee of the garden in 2010 after initially visiting the garden and volunteering as a Garden Guardian. She works in the field of environmental education for a local charity and is a qualified and practising Forest School Leader and Playworker, working with a variety of groups from babies and carers to young people and community groups. She is an enthusiastic (if not always successful!) vegetable gardener and enjoys outdoor craft activities. 

John Green – Trustee and company secretary

John is a founder member of the garden, a local resident, allotment holder and experienced organic gardener. He is committed to ensuring the garden is a locally managed and resourced ‘sustainable living’ project with a particular interest in developing our Solar electricity and hot water and traditional low impact buildings as well as managing the ongoing gardening and maintenance work. John was an energy advisor to Oxford City Council for 24 years and ran the Council’s Affordable Warmth, Health and Housing Initiative. A DJ, John has a life-long passion for music, promoting Reggae and Ska internationally via weekly radio shows.

Roger Felton – caretaker

Every Sunday morning, rain or shine, Roger cycles to the  garden, opens it up and then spends the morning taking care of this beautiful space which is open to everyone to enjoy and benifit from.  

Roger chops wood for the fire and bread oven, clears drains to stop flooding, turns the compost heap, tidies up the cabin and kitchen area and does a hundred and one other tasks which keep things running smoothly.  We could not manage without him.