New Year, New Staff
As we begin the new year, we are very pleased to have in place a full team who will take us forward on our journey “Branching Out” from Harmony Woods. Thanks to a Reaching Communities grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, we have been able to employ two full-time Nature & Community Officers for the next two years, and a part-time Administration Officer.
This month, Joanna Oliver-Hawkins started as the second Nature & Community officer, alongside Abbey Sadler who joined us in the autumn. Working together, their role will be to plan and coordinate the charity's core activities and help to deliver the 5-year ‘Branching Out’ strategy, reporting to the ATU Trustees and liaising closely with the volunteer management team on the day-to-day work of the charity.
CORE ACTIVITIES – KEY OBJECTIVES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
● Deliver the programme of annual tree planting and schools’ planting weeks.
● Develop the annual wildflower propagation programme to supply stock for the wood and for planting areas around Andover at community planting events.
● Coordinate delivery of the community engagement programme, including volunteer training, practical conservation, citizen science, art and green crafts, environmental studies, children’s holiday activities and youth activities.
● Manage the use of the Cabin to support community engagement activities, including developing Harmony Woods as a Field Study and Outdoor Learning Centre.
● Coordinate delivery of the ATU youth programmes: Nature in Harmony Exchange Project, Harrow Way Young Volunteers, and a youth leadership programme.
● Support the ATU intern ecologist to coordinate delivery of the Nature in Harmony wildlife monitoring programme, and support work experience students.
● Coordinate records and arrangements for all the above including risk management and ensuring all activities are carried out in a safe environment.
● Provide ongoing evaluation of projects and activities.
In addition to the two full-time Nature & Community Officers, long-term volunteer and youth group leader Sarah Kennie is the new Administration Officer, and Laura Morrell begins her role as the new Ecology Intern.
MEET THE NEW TEAM
Abbey:
My name is Abbey Sadler and I am one of the new Nature and Community Officers for Andover Trees United. I have a degree from Portsmouth University in Marine Biology, Ecology and Conservation and have spent the last few years working with sea turtle conservation projects in Greece. I also have multiple years experience working with the public in the customer service sector.
I am very passionate about the environment and the fact that educating the next (and existing) generation is a key factor in any conservation. Andover Trees United presents a great opportunity to do this; with its annual school tree planting and continuous work with the local community. I look forward to working with everyone at Andover Trees United to achieve our shared goals.
Jo:
First of all, I want to say how excited I am to join ATU. I am lucky enough to live on a farm in Stockbridge with my husband, daughter and crazy dogs! I have three other grown up children; two of whom still live locally and one who has moved to New Zealand! I originally studied Theatre Crafts and enjoyed working in a broad range of venues across the country to stage a mixed variety of shows and theatre in education. I left the world of stage lights to marry and bring up my children in the beautiful Test Valley.
I have since retrained as a primary school teacher and have thoroughly enjoyed many years teaching in the local area. I have always focused on teaching through nature and the outdoors - understanding the impact we, as a species, have on the world around us. During this time, I have worked with eco-schools, learning through landscapes, RHS school gardening and Roots and Shoots. I am delighted to join ATU and really look forward to working with the local community as well as a wider range of local schools.
Sarah:
Hi, My name is Sarah and I am the new Admin Officer. I have been volunteering for ATU for many years and I am very excited to now be working for the charity. I am currently studying Archaeology at the University of Winchester and have a passion for history, nature and environment science. In 2020, myself and ATU's previous Admin & Intern, Alex, set up the Exchange Project, a youth program linked with the Corcovado Foundation in Costa Rica. I will continue in my volunteering role as Youth team coordinator alongside my Admin role. I am looking forward to being part of the new team as the charity continues to grow.
Laura:
After working in entry-level office support roles for 4 years, during the pandemic I decided to retrain in something I love, and in summer 2022 completed a level 3 diploma in Land & Wildlife Management at Sparsholt College. I did my work experience with ATU and continued volunteering afterwards. As the Ecology Intern, I have the opportunity to practice and solidify some of the knowledge and skills I gained at college (ecological surveying and report writing), as well as to do completely new things that will stretch my comfort zone and help me grow (working with young people and the public!). The team are lovely and supportive too, and I'm really looking forward to the coming year.
Andover Trees will continue to be volunteer-led and volunteers, whether regular or occasional, will continue to play a huge part in both the planning and the day-to-day work of the charity. Thanks to the generous Lottery grant, however, our new paid staff will be able to fully develop the potential of the charity as envisaged by the local community, supporting wider and more diverse engagement of people and nature. They will continue to need lots of support however so, if you would like to volunteer your time to undertake conservation activities, help run events and workshops, or join the management team or Board of Trustees, Team Trees would love to hear from you.
