Ashdown Forest

Hew Prendergast joined the Forest in 2003 as Superintendent and Clerk. Before getting degrees in plant sciences from the University of Aberdeen and the Australian National University, Canberra, he worked as a warden on reserves throughout the UK.

In 1987 he was part of the Nature Conservancy Council’s Seabirds at Sea Team. He then joined the Seed Bank of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew at Wakehurst Place in Sussex and collected plants in Africa, the Middle East and Australia.

In 1994 he became the Leader of Kew’s Centre for Economic Botany. Hew is a Fellow of the Linnean Society and a member of the European Sustainable Use Specialist Group of IUCN. He has written or edited eight books, the most recent being Britain’s wild harvest: the commercial uses of wild plants and fungi (with Helen Sanderson; 2004), The dragonflies of Sussex (with the Sussex Group of the British Dragonfly Society; 2004) and Heathlands - past, present and future (2005).

Roger Beal is the South Chase Ranger. He worked on Ashdown for several years as a volunteer before becoming a full-time Ranger in 2000. Following an early career in printing, Roger studied countryside management at Merton College and Plumpton. He is particularly interested in disabled access to the Forest.

Mike Yates - North Chase Ranger

Mike Yates comes to Ashdown from a background of commercial forestry. He brings a professional approach to safe working in forestry operations and also to contract management. Mike started work as the North Chase Ranger in 2003, having served as a Volunteer Ranger for several years. He is studying part-time at Sussex University and has assumed some responsibility for historic landscape issues on the Forest.

Rich Allum started as West Chase Ranger in November 2005. He obtained a degree in Ecology & Conservation from the University of Sussex before becoming a ranger for East Sussex County Council and Bracknell Forest Borough Council. Rich spent five years as Heathland Project Officer for the High Weald AONB Unit at Flimwell. The photograph shows Rich with Scallywag - possibly the most popular dog at the Forest Centre!

Chris Sutton landed the job straight out of Merrist Wood college in 1988. Recently, Chris completed a course in Health and Safety at Work and advises the Conservators on safe working practice. He is shown in the photograph with Barney!

Chris Marrable is the Forest’s Conservation Officer. Although this is a new post, Chris has worked on the Forest for over 20 years, first as a Chase Ranger and later as Centre Ranger. He has recently completed a PGC in GIS.

Michael Payne - Countryside Worker
Michael Payne, the youngest member of the Forest staff, studied Countryside Management at Brinsbury College. Primarily employed as an estate worker, he doubles as second tractor driver and spends all the summer mowing bracken and fire breaks. Mike hopes to gain practical experience on the Forest prior to obtaining a Ranger post, perhaps in a National Park.

The newest recruit to the Countryside Worker team is Ivan Playford. Ivan comes to Ashdown with a background in both general building work, specialising in carpentry, and several years forestry work at Bedgebury Forest. He is a keen wildlife photographer.

Colin Lutman has been the Forest tractor driver for nearly 18 years and his knowledge of the area is second to none - there isn’t a slit-trench or drainage ditch that Colin hasn’t got stuck in! He is now very experienced in all aspects of the Forest’s machinery which includes high horse-power four-wheel drive tractors, forwarders, winches and forestry grinders. Like most tractor drivers, Colin is keen to maintain and repair his machines himself.

Max Payton - Caretaker

Max Payton is the new Centre caretaker and litter warden. He comes to the Forest following a long career in the Sussex police force.

Louise Amos - Close Grazing Project Officer

Louise Amos is our shepherd and has many years experience of shepherding and training dogs. She studied Plant Ecology at Aberdeen University and has worked in heathland management, research and restoration in the UK and Falkland Islands. She has three border collies which will be working with her to close-herd a grazing flock on the Forest. She comes to us from Natural England (English Nature). To visit Louise's blog to find out more click here!

Veronica Wilson - Close Grazing Project Assistant
Veronica has recently joined the team. Her biography will follow shortly. She is shown her with the gorgeous Braec one of Louise's dogs.

Tracy Buxton - Office Assistant
Tracy Buxton is the Office Assistant. She comes to the Forest from a healthcare administration background. Tracy helps out Ros with all the day to day administration duties. She is responsible for riding permits, the Information Barn volunteers and Forest events such as Sheep Days. Tracy also looks after this website and hopes you have found it useful and interesting!


		Forest Staff Hew Prendergast - Superintendent & Clerk Hew Prendergast joined the Forest in 2003 as Superintendent and Clerk. Before getting degrees in plant sciences from the University of Aberdeen and the Australian National University, Canberra, he worked as a warden on reserves throughout the UK. In 1987 he was part of the Nature Conservancy Council’s Seabirds at Sea Team. He then joined the Seed Bank of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew at Wakehurst Place in Sussex and collected plants in Africa, the Middle East and Australia. In 1994 he became the Leader of Kew’s Centre for Economic Botany. Hew is a Fellow of the Linnean Society and a member of the European Sustainable Use Specialist Group of IUCN. He has written or edited eight books, the most recent being Britain’s wild harvest: the commercial uses of wild plants and fungi (with Helen Sanderson; 2004), The dragonflies of Sussex (with the Sussex Group of the British Dragonfly Society; 2004) and Heathlands - past, present and future (2005). Roger Beal - South Chase Ranger Roger Beal is the South Chase Ranger. He worked on Ashdown for several years as a volunteer before becoming a full-time Ranger in 2000. Following an early career in printing, Roger studied countryside management at Merton College and Plumpton. He is particularly interested in disabled access to the Forest. Mike Yates - North Chase Ranger Mike Yates comes to Ashdown from a background of commercial forestry. He brings a professional approach to safe working in forestry operations and also to contract management. Mike started work as the North Chase Ranger in 2003, having served as a Volunteer Ranger for several years. He is studying part-time at Sussex University and has assumed some responsibility for historic landscape issues on the Forest. New Photo to Follow! Rich Allum - West Chase Ranger Rich Allum started as West Chase Ranger in November 2005. He obtained a degree in Ecology & Conservation from the University of Sussex before becoming a ranger for East Sussex County Council and Bracknell Forest Borough Council. Rich spent five years as Heathland Project Officer for the High Weald AONB Unit at Flimwell. The photograph shows Rich with Scallywag - possibly the most popular dog at the Forest Centre! Chris Sutton - East Chase Ranger Chris Sutton landed the job straight out of Merrist Wood college in 1988. Recently, Chris completed a course in Health and Safety at Work and advises the Conservators on safe working practice. He is shown in the photograph with Barney! Ros Marriott - Office Manager Ros Marriott has been at the Forest Centre since October 1994. She is in charge of the office administration, personnel matters, accounts, issuing licences for activities on the Forest and the collection of the Forest Rate and Acknowledgement Rents. She is shown here with one of our veteran dogs, Wellington! Chris Marrable - Conservation Officer Chris Marrable is the Forest’s Conservation Officer. Although this is a new post, Chris has worked on the Forest for over 20 years, first as a Chase Ranger and later as Centre Ranger. He has recently completed a PGC in GIS. Michael Payne - Countryside Worker Michael Payne, the youngest member of the Forest staff, studied Countryside Management at Brinsbury College. Primarily employed as an estate worker, he doubles as second tractor driver and spends all the summer mowing bracken and fire breaks. Mike hopes to gain practical experience on the Forest prior to obtaining a Ranger post, perhaps in a National Park. Ivan Playford - Countryside Worker The newest recruit to the Countryside Worker team is Ivan Playford. Ivan comes to Ashdown with a background in both general building work, specialising in carpentry, and several years forestry work at Bedgebury Forest. He is a keen wildlife photographer. Colin Lutman - Countryside Worker Colin Lutman has been the Forest tractor driver for nearly 18 years and his knowledge of the area is second to none - there isn’t a slit-trench or drainage ditch that Colin hasn’t got stuck in! He is now very experienced in all aspects of the Forest’s machinery which includes high horse-power four-wheel drive tractors, forwarders, winches and forestry grinders. Like most tractor drivers, Colin is keen to maintain and repair his machines himself. Max Payton - Caretaker Max Payton is the new Centre caretaker and litter warden. He comes to the Forest following a long career in the Sussex police force. Louise Amos - Close Grazing Project Officer Louise Amos is our shepherd and has many years experience of shepherding and training dogs. She studied Plant Ecology at Aberdeen University and has worked in heathland management, research and restoration in the UK and Falkland Islands. She has three border collies which will be working with her to close-herd a grazing flock on the Forest. She comes to us from Natural England (English Nature). To visit Louise's blog to find out more click here! Veronica Wilson - Close Grazing Project Assistant Veronica has recently joined the team. Her biography will follow shortly. She is shown her with the gorgeous Braec one of Louise's dogs. Tracy Buxton - Office Assistant Tracy Buxton is the Office Assistant. She comes to the Forest from a healthcare administration background. Tracy helps out Ros with all the day to day administration duties. She is responsible for riding permits, the Information Barn volunteers and Forest events such as Sheep Days. Tracy also looks after this website and hopes you have found it useful and interesting! Home - Introduction to Ashdown Forest - Forest People		Find out about » The Commoners » The Conservators » Society of Friends of Ashdown Forest » The Ashdown Forest Act 1974

Main menu: