Who we are
Meet the team at FWAG South West
Cornwall
Sabine McEwan
Cornwall & Devon Team Leader and Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Sabine joined FWAG in 2014 and is FACTS and BASIS Soil & Water qualified. With a decade of experience, she offers advice on nutrient and manure management, yard infrastructure, regulatory compliance (SSAFO, Farming Rules for Water, NVZ), soil management, farm business resilience strategy and agri-environment scheme applications. In 2014, she completed a PhD research at North Wyke, Rothamsted Research and the University of Exeter, where she monitored the effects of different grassland management practices.
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Alex Bebbington
Farm Environment Adviser (Cornwall)
Alex has 8 years of experience in farmer-led research and knowledge exchange programmes focused on soil carbon and regenerative farming practices across Cornwall and Devon. He has a BSc in Geography from the University of Exeter, is a LandApp Accredited Professional and is Farm Carbon Trained. Alex supports farmers on agri-environment schemes such as SFI and single-focus Higher Tier, as well as Forest for Cornwall agroforestry planning.
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Richard Hollis
Senior Farm Environment Adviser and Cornwall Area Manager
Richard is supporting farmers on agri-environment schemes, SFI and Higher Tier, across the county. He also has a passion for ornithology and botany, carrying out breeding bird and wildflower surveys for farmers on a variety of farmed habitats, providing recommendations for each. Richard has an MSc in Biology, researching bird communities on an arid sheep farm in Australia, BASIS Soil and Water accreditation and Level 4 FISC for botanical skills.
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Devon
Sabine McEwan
Cornwall & Devon Team Leader and Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Sabine joined FWAG in 2014 and is FACTS and BASIS Soil & Water qualified. With a decade of experience, she offers advice on nutrient and manure management, yard infrastructure, regulatory compliance (SSAFO, Farming Rules for Water, NVZ), soil management, farm business resilience strategy and agri-environment scheme applications. In 2014, she completed a PhD research at North Wyke, Rothamsted Research and the University of Exeter, where she monitored the effects of different grassland management practices.
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Eve Halliday
Farm Environment Adviser
Eve is a Farm Environment Adviser and part of our Devon team. Her work is largely focused in the east of the county, working with farmers and other stakeholders to improve water quality through improved nutrient and manure management on farm. Eve also works with farmers across Devon advising on agri-environment schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
Eve has a keen interest in botany and helps with various species-rich grassland surveying projects across the region.
Eve is BASIS Soil and Water and FACTS qualified.
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Oliver Maskrey
Farm Environment Adviser
Oliver advises farmers on agri-environment schemes including the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Higher Tier and communicating with our members across the county. Oliver has an MSc in Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Exeter and is BASIS Soil and Water qualified. He worked in various roles across the food and farming sectors before joining FWAG at the start of 2020 as a GIS and Advisory Support Officer working across the region.
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Sammy Read
Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Sammy joined FWAG in 2021 and brings over years of experience advising farmers on environmental practices that complement farm management, with a strong background in developing agri-environment agreements, providing nutrient and soil management advice, and organising farm events. Helping farmers improve phosphate use efficiency through holistic advice that also enhance farm resilience. She holds FACTS, BASIS Soil & Water, and BASIS BETA Conservation Management qualifications.
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Elinor Sherlock
Farm Environment Adviser
Elinor has experience providing advice on government grant systems, priority habitat creation/restoration and management, natural flood management and natural capital. She facilitates the Blackdown Hills Sustainable Farming Network, delivering events for farmers. She also works on the Connecting the Culm project in East Devon. Elinor has a BSc in Earth and Environmental Science and has completed BASIS Conservation Management, Soil and Water and is on the Environmental Advisors register.
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Seth Ziolkowski
Assistant Farm Environment Adviser
Seth joined FWAG SW in November 2024. He is currently working on the Climate Resilient Otter Catchment natural flood management project in East Devon, alongside supporting farmers with regards to environmental land management schemes. Seth has an MSc in Environmental Policy and Management and has completed the BASIS Certificate in Sustainable Land Management. He takes a keen interest in nature-friendly farming and nature-based solutions.
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Somerset
Amanda Gallacher
Projects & Partnership Lead Somerset
Amanda is the Somerset Projects & Partnership Lead overseeing advisory services for Somerset as well as developing key partnerships and new workstreams. In her free time, she enjoys being with her family, dogs, competing with her horse and is actively involved with village activities. She has a keen interest in the environment and sustainability issues.
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Will Barnard
Moors Association Coordinator
Will has been closely involved with the grass-fed movement and was an early director of the Pasture Fed Livestock Association. He set up the company GrassRoots Food in association with Graham Harvey, and published the book 'The Carbon Fields'. Having transitioned the family farm into a hub for a novel, collaborative land management system on a SSSI near the mouth of the river Parrett, he is now working to facilitate others who are interested in the opportunities afforded by similar ideas, across the Somerset Levels and Moors.
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Merle Brown
Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Merle joined FWAG in 2020 after six years working as an ecologist for a consultancy. Merle leads a project in the Upper Brue addressing issues of water quality and building resilience to climatic events through habitat creation and offering farmer advice. Merle also works on the Somerset Hills to Levels project in addition to setting up agri-environment schemes. Merle completed a MSc in Aquatic Biology and Resource Management, is an Associate Member of CIEEM and is BASIS Soil and Water qualified.
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George Caruth
Farm Environment Adviser
George works across the Mendip Hills and East Somerset on a range of Natural Flood Management projects. With a strong background in Natural Capital, he has developed sound knowledge of soils and water across farms, engaged with communities across the county to reduce the likelihood and damage of extreme flooding events to high-risk areas by using his background in catchment management. Engaging with local flood groups to help target priority areas and offer a range of creative ideas and solutions.
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Rory Cox
Farm Environment Adviser
Rory is a Farm Environment Adviser working on Exmoor. His work at FWAG SW involves managing the Headwaters of the Exe project and providing advice for farmers on agri-environment schemes including the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier.
Rory has an MSc in Environmental Management and has previous experience working as a share farmer on a livestock farm.
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Jen Davis
Assistant Farm Environment Adviser
Jen recently completed a three-year degree in Agricultural Management, developing a strong interest in sustainable agriculture and the environment. Prior to joining the team, Jen gained experience working in Bovine TB, gaining valuable insight into the challenges faced by the agricultural sector. Jen will be working with the Landscape Recovery team supporting projects that aim to deliver positive environmental outcomes. Outside of work she enjoys horse riding, running, and getting out into the mountains.
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Olly Edmonds
Farm Environment Adviser
Olly has been with FWAG SW since 2019 working across Exmoor and North Devon supporting farmers and land managers on agri-environment schemes. He’s keen to help farms baseline their environmental value and undertakes species and habitat surveys. Working to explore opportunities around Biodiversity Net Gain, supporting farmers to understand the mechanics of BNG and how it can fit alongside other schemes. Olly has an MSc in soil science and land restoration, and is BASIS Soil and Water qualified.
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Roy Hayes
Lead Farm Environment Adviser
Roy works on the Hills to Levels project advising farmers and landowners on water management and water quality including design and location of Natural Flood Management schemes to reduce localised flooding. Roy can also give advice about farm infrastructure and land management changes.
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Jenna Higgins
Farm Environment Adviser
Jenna supports farmers through our project with Bristol Water to reduce diffuse pollution, assisting with the Hills to Levels project, as well as advising farmers on agri-environment schemes, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Higher Tier. Jenna works with farmers across the county to provide tree-related advice. Jenna has an MSc in Agroecology (Distinction) from Harper Adams University where she received an award for her thesis from the British Society of Soil Science (BSSS).
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Eleanor Higginson
Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Delivering land management advice in Somerset for over 15 years, Eleanor leads on Natural Flood Management scheme delivery in the headwaters of the Cam as well as working on other water quality and flood alleviation projects across Somerset. Her ecological background and training in regenerative agriculture allows her to provide holistic advice on habitat management. Eleanor is BASIS Soil and Water qualified, an MSc in Agriculture and Environmental Science, and is an experienced Farm Cluster Facilitator.
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Fi Holder
Project Coordinator
Fi has been working in the set-up of Moor Associations, supporting farmers transition into different and new ways of drawing in payments, from both private and public sources, and the unique challenges faced by farming commercially on the Levels and Moors. Fi’s background is in contract management, spending most of her career working in education at director level; but her passion is supporting others to access the information and opportunities required to develop and progress their businesses.
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Anna Lantaff
Farm Environment Adviser
Anna joined FWAG SW in March 2022, and currently works mainly on the Somerset Levels and Moors. As part of the Levels team, she is clerk for the Moor Associations, project manages work on lowland agricultural peat, with a particular focus on landscape scale collaboration and planning, and provides advice on agri-environment schemes.
Prior to working with FWAG she worked as a commercial archaeologist in East Anglia, before becoming interested in regenerative agriculture and food systems.
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Mandy Lowe
Project Coordinator
Mandy is a Project Coordinator and Facilitator, working on Defra-funded projects, and part-time Executive Assistant to the CEO. Farm Liaison Officer on a JustLANZ project, led by RSPB, alongside a researcher from Leeds University. Working with farming food representatives on the Levels and Moors to develop transitional pathways to net zero for farmers. Mandy is part of a working group of professionals being consulted by Defra regarding advice and collaboration. Mandy has a BSc hons degree in Environmental Science.
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Tom Mansfield
Senior Woodland Adviser
Tom has been working for FWAG for almost a decade, previously as a Senior Farm Environment Adviser and now as a Senior Woodland Adviser. Tom's work focuses on the delivery of tree-centred advice across all the south west counties, delivering woodland schemes on the ground as well as supporting the wider advisory team.
A previous career in ecology has given Tom a passion for British wildlife and the natural world, with a specialism around habitat creation and management including woods and heathland.
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Anne May
Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Anne works primarily across Exmoor and North Devon, providing advice on topics including habitat management, grazing management, soils, water, infrastructure, and moorland management, as part of the Headwaters of the Exe project and other work across the area. Providing advice on agri-environment schemes, including applications and agreement management. BASIS Soil and Water, and BASIS Conservation Management qualified.
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Rebecca Mills
Lead Farm Environment Adviser
Rebecca has been delivering environmental advice to farming clients for over 20 years, with a sound knowledge of ELMs and the practical application of environmental requirements. Rebecca advises on species and habitat conservation, water quality and protected landscapes. She works with producer groups to develop environmental standards for farmers and growers supplying national brands. Rebecca is rooted in farming and a partner in her family's beef and sheep farm in the Brendon Hills.
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Jo Oborn
Resource Protection Specialist
Jo has worked with farmers in the Somerset area, and beyond in Devon and Dorset, for more than 25 years. She is a qualified crop agronomist and specialises in practical advice on soils, nutrients, manures and sustainable crop rotations.
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Emma Robertson
Community Natural Flood Management (NFM) Adviser
Emma joined FWAG SW in November 2025 as Community Natural Flood Management (NFM) Adviser and point of contact for local communities, flood groups, farmers, and landowners for assistance in developing solutions to their local flooding problems. Emma works on the Hills to Levels project advising on water management and water quality, including schemes to reduce localised flooding. Emma has a BSc in Environmental Science from the University of East Anglia and previously worked for an Internal Drainage Board.
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Peter Shipton
Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Peter joined FWAG in 2021 and is currently working on Natural Flood Management projects in the Somerset Frome catchment and in Dorset, as well as providing a range of advice on farm infrastructure development, specialising in farm infrastructure, soil management, livestock and forage systems, and farm business management. Peter has a degree in Agricultural Economics from Aberystwyth University and an Engineering Doctorate in Soil Mechanics from Cranfield University.
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Mark Smith
Lead Farm Environment Adviser
Mark is a Senior Farm Environment Adviser covering the Bristol and Bath area and Wiltshire. He has a particular interest in farm wildlife and is currently delivering several species-rich grassland initiatives. He is experienced in delivering Natural Flood Management schemes and is presently working with farmers in the Bristol Frome catchment. Mark has considerable experience preparing agri-environment scheme applications. Mark has a BSc in Environmental Management and is a BASIS qualified Environmental Adviser.
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Joanna Uglow
Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Joanna works around Exmoor and Somerset, providing advice on natural flood management and diffuse pollution on the Upstream Thinking (Headwaters of the Exe) and Hills to Levels projects. Her passion is in soil management, and she enjoys working with farmers to improve the health of their soils.
Joanna joined FWAG SW in 2015 as a Trainee Resource Protection Adviser after working in soil science consultancy and research. BASIS Soil and Water qualified and is also on the Environmental Advisers Register.
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Lucy Voss
Farm Environment Adviser
Lucy is a Farm Environment Adviser in the Somerset team advising farmers on agri-environment schemes. She has a keen interest in sustainable nature friendly farming and is passionate about the promotion of high-quality British food from British farms.
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Abi Webber
Somerset Catchment Partnership Coordinator
Abi joined FWAG in 2013 as a Farm Liaison Officer on the Value of Working Wetlands Project, then on to coordinate the Fodder Bank for the Somerset Flood Recovery Project. Abi also worked as a Lower Catchment Farm Adviser on the Hills to Levels Project. Abi now coordinates the Somerset Catchment Partnership, which works collaboratively under the Catchment Based Approach (CaBA), to drive improvements to the water environment within the Rivers Parrett, Tone, Axe, Brue and West Somerset Streams.
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Helen White
Farm Environment Adviser
Helen joined FWAG in 2025 as a Farm Liaison Officer for the Greater Sedgemoor Landscape Recovery Project. Having developed an understanding of this unique and challenging landscape she is now a Farm Environment Adviser in the Somerset team, primarily working on the Levels and Moors. BASIS qualified, she advises on sustainable farming practice, as well as supporting landowners with applications to agri-environment schemes and project funding.
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Jane Wyatt
Assistant Farm Environment Adviser
Jane joined FWAG in August 2026, bringing practical experience from running a mixed livestock farm in Somerset alongside a BSc in Ecology. She supports work on natural flood management and agri-environment schemes, including the Hills to Levels project, and is developing her experience across soils water management and environmental land management. Jane is particularly interested in finding practical solutions that work for both the farming businesses and the wider environment.
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Dorset
Nicola Hopkins
Senior Farm Environment Adviser and Team Leader
Leading a growing team of specialist advisers working across the county, Nicola has over 20 years of practical and advisory experience in a wide range of agricultural and semi-natural habitats, including Dorset and Wiltshire’s calcareous grassland Sites of Special Scientific Interest. She facilitates the Purbeck Farmer Group and specialises in designing Higher Tier agri-environment schemes to deliver habitat creation and restoration. Nicola is BASIS Soils and Water qualified and is on the BASIS Environmental Register.
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Alex Butler
Senior Farm Environment Adviser
As an advisor for over 10 years. His work includes submitting agri-environment applications, acting as co-ordinator to a 2,500ha farmer cluster and assisting with county wide projects, including the Dorset Rural Run-off Project. Other areas include conducting wildlife surveys, whether it be assessing species-rich grassland or surveying pollinating insects such as bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Alex also assists with the Kingfisher Project, aiming to educate and inspire children on farms.
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Joanne Leigh
Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Jo relocated from our Gloucestershire team, where she led catchment projects, managed volunteers and facilitated knowledge exchange within farmer groups. Her work includes managing Natural Flood Management projects, advising farmers on agri-environment schemes including the SFI and Higher Tier, specialising in woodland funding as part of the FWAG Tree Team. Jo is on the BASIS environmental register and is Soil and Water qualified.
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Charlotte Marshall
Farm Environment Adviser
Charlotte has practical farm experience and manages a traditional cider orchard with her family. She is on the BASIS environmental register, is Soil and Water qualified, and an accredited Landapp adviser. She works with farms to design and implement agri-environment schemes, particularly SFI, Higher Tier and Capital Grants, as well as advising on projects surrounding biodiversity and water quality. Specialising in habitat and species management, particularly species rich grassland, hedgerows, orchards and dry heathland.
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Wiltshire
Nicola Hopkins
Senior Farm Environment Adviser and Team Leader
Leading a growing team of specialist advisers working across the county, Nicola has over 20 years of practical and advisory experience in a wide range of agricultural and semi-natural habitats, including Dorset and Wiltshire’s calcareous grassland Sites of Special Scientific Interest. She facilitates the Purbeck Farmer Group and specialises in designing Higher Tier agri-environment schemes to deliver habitat creation and restoration. Nicola is BASIS Soils and Water qualified and is on the BASIS Environmental Register.
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George Brock
Assistant Farm Environment Adviser
After joining FWAG in early 2025, George has played a key role in a variety of exciting projects, from monitoring Great Crested Newt ponds to scoping for Local Integrated Delivery. Having achieved his BASIS certificate in Sustainable Land Management he has gained experience delivering soil and hedgerow management plans, woodland surveying and designing SFI applications. He is also a keen birdwatcher inside and outside of work.
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Maisie Jepson
Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Maisie joined FWAG in October 2020. She has a degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology and completed an MSc in Denmark, in Agri-Environmental Management. FACTs and Basis Soil and Water qualified and also on the Environmental Advisers register. Maisie has been helping clients with Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship applications, as well as coordinating a project planting shelterbelts and helping deliver the Thames Water Catchment Fund.
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Mark Smith
Lead Farm Environment Adviser
Mark is a Senior Farm Environment Adviser covering the Bristol and Bath area and Wiltshire. He has a particular interest in farm wildlife and is currently delivering several species-rich grassland initiatives. He is experienced in delivering Natural Flood Management schemes and is presently working with farmers in the Bristol Frome catchment. Mark has considerable experience preparing agri-environment scheme applications. Mark has a BSc in Environmental Management and is a BASIS qualified Environmental Adviser.
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Gloucestershire
Jenny Phelps
Joint Team Leader and Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Jenny is a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society for England; Trustee for the Foundation for Common Land; Lead Facilitator on the Farmer Guardians of the Upper Thames Facilitation Fund and Host for the Upper Thames Catchment Partnership. Jenny developed the Integrated Local Delivery Framework and Rural Facilitator Training Course with Ruralink. Jenny was awarded an MBE in 2016 for ‘Engaging Communities in Environmental Protection’.
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Sarah Wells
Joint Team Leader and Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Sarah provides advice on multiple topics, specialising in agri-environment schemes including Higher Tier and the Sustainable Farming Incentive. Sarah represents FWAG SW on national agri-environment policy meetings and sits on the BASIS Membership Committee representing members of the Environmental Advisers register. Sarah has a BSc in Biology and an MSc in Geography, is FACTS Qualified with BASIS certificates in Conservation Management and Soil and Water.
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Will Barnett
Assistant Farm Environment Adviser
After joining FWAG in January 2026, Will has made a valuable contribution to a range of projects, including the Great Market Garden Project and Thames Water Catchment work. With a background in conservation and environmental science, he brings a strong foundation for delivering agri-environment advice and supporting farmers to work with nature across the landscape. Outside of work, Will enjoys permaculture gardening and exploring the great outdoors.
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Edward Bonn
Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Ed manages the GREAT Zerodig project in partnership with Zerodig Earth, to convert a 7-acre field into an agroecological site for demonstrating nature friendly farming, as well as linking in the Royal Agricultural University. His involvement with Zerodig stemmed from managing the GREAT project to transform Gloucestershire into a regenerative farming county. Ed is also using the new Soil Association Exchange to benchmark landholdings within the Thames-Waterhay catchment.
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George Brock
Assistant Farm Environment Adviser
After joining FWAG in early 2025, George has played a key role in a variety of exciting projects, from monitoring Great Crested Newt ponds to scoping for Local Integrated Delivery. Having achieved his BASIS certificate in Sustainable Land Management he has gained experience delivering soil and hedgerow management plans, woodland surveying and designing SFI applications. He is also a keen birdwatcher inside and outside of work.
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Jennifer Gilbert
Farm Environment Adviser
Jennifer joined FWAG in January 2025, following 7 years at Butterfly Conservation looking after their nature reserves in Gloucestershire and working across the Cotswolds landscape, surveying rare butterfly species and advising landowners and farmers on how to manage for them. Jennifer has a passion for understanding habitats as a whole and how they can support a range of species, and is also keen to expand her knowledge across a range of new areas such as natural flood management.
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Nicola Jameson
Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Nicola is a Senior Farm Adviser who joined FWAG after 23 years working for Natural England. She has extensive experience of schemes including HLS, CS and Higher Tier and more recently SFI as well as protected sites and common land. Nicola has worked as a Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser dealing with water quality, soil health, farm infrastructure and wider land management opportunities including habitat management and restoration.
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Maisie Jepson
Senior Farm Environment Adviser
Maisie joined FWAG in October 2020. She has a degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology and completed an MSc in Denmark, in Agri-Environmental Management. FACTs and Basis Soil and Water qualified and also on the Environmental Advisers register. Maisie has been helping clients with Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship applications, as well as coordinating a project planting shelterbelts and helping deliver the Thames Water Catchment Fund.
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Beatrix Oliver
Project Coordinator
Bea joined FWAG in 2021, from the ELMS team at DEFRA, as a Project Manager for an agroecology partnership project. She stayed on at FWAG after it ended and now hosts the Upper Thames Catchment Partnership, working to improve water quality and flow in the Upper Thames. She also delivers Gloucestershire’s annual Kingfisher Project. Bea has a BA in Geography, a Certificate of Higher Education in Field Ecology and an MSc in Food Policy.
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Jenny Salter
Project Manager and Assistant to Team Leader
Jenny joined FWAG in 2022 as coordinator for Gloucestershire's Sustainable Food Places project, a partnership project to connect stakeholders across the county, which achieved Bronze Award in 2023. Jenny also helps support a number of innovative projects, including the Great Zerodig Project and Gloucestershire Green Investment Portfolio. Jenny has a degree in Geography, which she taught alongside Environmental Science for many years, before completing a MSc in Sustainable Development.
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Regional Team
Adam Lockyear
Chief Executive Officer
Adam Lockyear is a founder and CEO of FWAG SouthWest, whose mission is to enable farmers and landowners to deliver a thriving environment for food, nature and people.
Since starting with FWAG UK in 2006 he has provided advice and support to farmers across Somerset covering agri-environment schemes, habitat management and water quality. As CEO of FWAG SouthWest his focus is leading the strategy for the charity to ensure it continues to be as relevant now as at FWAG’s founding in the 1960s.
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Antony ‘AJ’ Bellamy
Regional Wetlands Adviser and Drone Pilot
AJ graduated from Plymouth University in 1996 and worked mostly in Devon in the conservation land management and ecology sector, worked briefly for Devon Wildlife Trust, RSPB for 15 years, 6 years with the National Trust, Dartmoor. AJ joined FWAG in 2021 - working with landowners designing, advising and delivering wetlands, restoration of existing farm ponds, designing large-scale wetland sites, increasing numbers of breeding lapwing and redshank, and establishing a beaver reintroduction site at Elmore Court in Gloucestershire.
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George Clifton
Great Crested Newt Pond Project Officer
George joined FWAG SW in 2021 as the Great Crested Newt Pond Project Officer, working across Somerset, Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire. He works in partnership with private, estate, council and other NGO landowners to create and restore high quality habitat for the Great Crested Newt DLL scheme. George studied a MSc Biology at Leiden University, The Netherlands, where he carried out research on aquatic ecosystems in South Africa and Portugal.
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Simeon Day
Tree Team Lead and Trees Outside of Woodland Specialist
Simeon provides advice and training to advisers, farmers and organisations on the planting and management of trees outside of woodlands. He also leads the FWAG SW Tree Team. Over 30 years in the arboriculture and countryside management industries, an Honors Degree in Ecology, a Masters Degree in Environmental Conservation, Lantra Professional Tree Inspection qualification, practical arboriculture certificates and is currently studying for the Veteran and Ancient Tree Consultant Certificate.
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Helen Davies
HR Manager
Helen has worked in a variety of HR roles, across the private, public and third sectors. An MCIPD qualified professional with an MA in Human Resource Management and over 20 years’ experience. Helen is responsible for the provision of advice and guidance on people and culture matters at all levels of the organisation, both strategic and operational, plus recruitment, training, wellbeing, policy and procedure work and ensuring we meet our legal and moral obligations to employees.
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Kate Harris
Engagement & Communications Manager
Part of the Engagement Team, sharing our work with members and supporters; including managing our website, social media and creating engaging content and resources for farmers. Organising farm conservation awards that showcase the great work that finalists do through farm walks, case studies and media coverage. Passionate about encouraging children to learn about nature and food production, Kate enjoys being a Kingfisher Award Scheme (KAS) volunteer.
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Ellen James
Marketing Manager
Ellen joined FWAG SW in October 2017. Graduating from Cardiff University in 2012. Ellen manages the marketing for the charity across the region, focusing on the website, current news and blogs, as well as managing social media channels, e-news and newsletters. Ellen also coordinates FWAG SW's County and Regional Conservation Competitions, and the FWAG Association National Silver Lapwing Award.
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Carolyn Jennings
Office Manager
Carolyn has now been with us, at our Wellington office, for over seven years, having joined FWAG in 2016. Although working in finance she has shown a great interest in the work FWAG does. Carolyn oversees the day-to-day finance procedures and deals with the requirements of our county offices, together with procurement of IT equipment. Previously coming from an education background we are still unable to stop her putting her hand up when she wants to speak!
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Anne May
Policy Adviser
Anne works primarily across Exmoor and North Devon, providing advice on topics including habitat management, grazing management, soils, water, infrastructure, and moorland management, as part of the Headwaters of the Exe project and other work across the area. Providing advice on agri-environment schemes, including applications and agreement management. BASIS Soil and Water, and BASIS Conservation Management qualified.
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Jo McKenzie
Administrator
Jo is based in our Wellington Office and provides support to the team across the region in administration, health & safety and human resources, including the co-ordination of staff training courses and the development of our in-house training programme. She has worked in education, training and development for over 20 years and has a CIPD Diploma in Learning & Development.
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Mandy Lowe
Executive Assistant
Mandy provides support for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Team Leaders (TLs) and Senior Management (SM).
She manages stakeholder engagement, liaising with internal and external contacts. Mandy worked in education for 23 years,
prior to joining FWAG SW and has a BSc hons in Environmental Science. She is based in the Wellington office.
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Megan Lord
Finance & Membership Administrator
Megan joined FWAG SW in July 2023, bringing with her seven years of professional experience in the finance sector. She serves as the Finance and Membership Administrator for the Southwest region, where she is responsible for managing all transactional finance activities and maintaining the FWAG SW membership database. Megan is AAT qualified and has recently attained her Level 3 Diploma in Accounting.
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Tom Mansfield
Senior Woodland Adviser
Tom has been working for FWAG for almost a decade, previously as a Senior Farm Environment Adviser and now as a Senior Woodland Adviser. Tom's work focuses on the delivery of tree-centred advice across all the south west counties, delivering woodland schemes on the ground as well as supporting the wider advisory team.
A previous career in ecology has given Tom a passion for British wildlife and the natural world, with a specialism around habitat creation and management including woods and heathland.
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Sarah Smith
Office & Engagement Assistant
As Office and Engagement Assistant, Sarah has a background in marketing and uses her knowledge to assist the engagement team with content creation, focusing on newsletters, social media and event planning. Sarah also provides support to our office team, helping to maintain our membership database. Sarah has a BSc in Geography from The University of Exeter and is passionate about the environment and conservation of wildlife, marking an opportunity to integrate her personal interests with professional expertise.
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Simon Smith
Financial Controller
Simon joined FWAG SW in 2024 with over thirty years of financial experience largely spent in industry. Adapting to the demands of the charitable sector is both challenging and rewarding. Simon enjoys walking, reading and wine as well as slowly renovating a vigneron’s house in southern France.
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Louise Wallace
Education Officer
Louise joined FWAG SW in 2012 and over that period has worked on a variety of projects in a range of roles. Projects range from Somerset Woodland Association, Fodder Bank, Parrett and Tone Debris Dam Project, Hills to Levels Project and Communications Officer. Louise coordinates Somerset Kingfisher Award Scheme (KAS) and supports other KAS county branches, as well as offering a range of outreach education work.
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Trustees
Sam Walker
FWAG SouthWest Chair and Devon Farmer
Sam is a first-generation tenant farmer running a 140ha (350-acre) organic arable and beef farm on the Jurassic Coast of East Devon. He has a BSc from Harper Adams and previous jobs have included farm management in Gloucestershire and Cambridgeshire and overseas development work in Papua New Guinea and Zimbabwe. He spent several years teaching Agriculture at Duchy College and is an opinion writer for Farmers Weekly.
Chris Wilson
FWAG SouthWest Vice Chair and Somerset Farmer
Chris Wilson joined the FWAG SW board of trustees in late 2022. Chris has a small scale beef farmer in Somerset, which also hosts a children’s nursery. The environment is core to both businesses.
Chris has recently retired after 23 years, from managing a 3000 acre estate. He was responsible for a large robotic dairy, potatoes, combinable crops, business parks,cottages, renewable schemes and most importantly, 20 years of HLS.
Mel Bradley MBE
FWAG SouthWest Trustee and Regenerative Farming Facilitator
Mel’s focus is on regenerative agriculture—an approach she believes holds transformative potential for restoring soil health, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem restoration. Her work centres on accelerating the adoption of a regenerative mindset and includes coordinating the annual Rootstock conference, facilitating the Kenn Valley Farmers group, leading the distribution for the Six Inches of Soil film and developing Regenerative Farmers of UK. She brings people together, fostering collaboration, building knowledge networks, and catalysing real-world change.
Caroline Fowle
FWAG SouthWest Trustee and Chair of Kingfisher Award Scheme (KAS)
Caroline lives on a mixed farm in East Devon that has stewardship schemes in place. She has a particular interest in helping young people understand the connection between food, farming and wildlife and has been chairman of the Kingfisher Award Scheme (KAS) for over 15 years.
Simon Gibson
FWAG SouthWest Trustee and Estate Manager
I am an estate manager working for Lee Abbey Fellowship near Lynton, Exmoor. I studied at Sparsholt College in the early 90’s. Since that time I have been involved in managing both conventional and organic enterprises of livestock, arable, and woodland and extensive agri environment schemes as well as farm diversifications including a rare breed’s centre. Enabling education farm visits and giving talks about the farms I work on has been important to me. Currently I farm within a SSSI and National Park and have HLS, CSS and SFI on the estate. I am also a member of the Exmoor Local Access Forum.
Ben Hole
FWAG SouthWest Trustee and Dorset Farmer
I am a third generation Tenant farmer from Kimmeridge, on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset. I returned home to the family farm in 2007 aged 22, to our Mixed Dairy, Beef, Sheep and Arable farm. Since getting married and starting a family I have become increasingly conscious of running our farm in a manner that continues to be both sustainable and productive for my wife, children and future generations whilst being responsible and harmonious to our natural environment.