Meet the team
Trustees
As a registered charity we are required to have board of trustees to oversee the day-to-day running of our organisation.
Trustee (Chair)
Julie Barnett
I am not a member of a green or eco grassroots organisation. I came to Greenhavens through my work promoting green spaces, outdoor pursuits and volunteering as a way to help our patients’ physical and mental well-being. I work closely with the Lewes House Garden Group, the Railwaylands Well-being walking group and have been trying to help set up Mens Sheds groups in both Lewes and Newhaven. I live in Seaford and I am a member of FOBS – Friends of Bishopstone Station and Seaford Swifts. I really believe in social prescribing rather than always relying on medication for our patients. Used in conjunction we can help so many more people. Over the last few years we have seen a huge increase in loneliness, bereavement , mental health and obesity to name a few issues. Also for those living with dementia and their friends and family it is so important to be able to take part in activities that are both social and physical. I work for Foundry Healthcare Lewes, GP surgery and my role is Dementia and Frailty Care Coordinator.
Lewes Mens Shed
Trustee (Finance)
Pamela Perry
I have been a volunteer (and currently Chairperson) of NIPPERS. This is a registered Charity established in 1973. I have been involved since 1978 and volunteer there daily. NIPPERS offers out of school activities for children and young people aged 3-17. We encourage outdoor activities and supporting their environment. I am a Forest School Leader and work for a local training organisation offering accredited training in Forest School to level 3. We currently have 2 Forest School Leaders (myself included) and 2 in training. For many years we have been based near Castle Hill in Newhaven, but more recently have moved to East Side, which is an area of planned re development.
Trustee NIPPERS Out of School Club. Forest School Trainer and Leader
Trustee (Secretary)
Lesley Boniface
I have a passion for green spaces and nature and improving Newhaven’s biodiversity through planting. I have no formal training but I am keen to learn. With the help of Greenhavens Network I led an 800 tree planting event in November 2019. A founding member of the Friends of Riverside Park & Valley Ponds, Newhaven and Committee Member for Egrets Way Project. Chair of Greenhavens until April 2021 I’ve been a Newhaven Town Councillor since 2019 and Town Mayor 2021/2022. Member of the Environment & Amenities and the Regeneration & Strategic Committees at Newhaven Town Council.
Chair of Friends of Riverside and Valley Ponds. Newhaven Town Councillor, Committee Egrets Way Project
Network Co-ordinator
Wilder Gardens Co-Ordinator
Jessie Rodrigues
I have been working in Sussex in conservation and community development for over 20 years after studying Ecology and Conservation at Sussex University and training as a ranger with East Sussex County Council. I first met many of the Greenhavens volunteer groups when I worked at Community Ranger for Lewes District Council and am proud to have been part of Greenhaven’s from the beginning. I have ten years’ experience of working as a ranger and ten years specialising in nature-based learning, Forest & Beach School and community engagement. I have a passion for protecting wildlife and creating nature networks. I was co-ordinator for the Wilder Gardens project and thrilled to see so many people gardening for wildlife, learning to survey their area and contributing to national surveys.