Meet the Team

Alister Wynn

Head of Woodlands & Impact

Alister brings experience and dedication to Avon Needs Tree’s expanding woodland and habitat creation across the region. After completing an MSc in Forestry at Bangor University Alister went on to  design and deliver some of the South Wests largest woodland creation projects, contributing significantly to the West of England’s climate and nature delivery goals.

Within Avon Needs Trees Alister has led on woodland creation across all of the charities sites bringing passion, knowledge and rigour, ensuring their new woodlands get off the ground and help the charity grow exponentially since it’s inception.

Alister has a particular interest in climate adaptation and how our woodlands and ecosystems will adapt to the changes on the horizon, working closely with research bodies to further knowledge and understanding in this crucial area. Outside of work Alister likes to spend time outdoors with family and friends, mountain biking or exploring.

Alex Turner

Communications & Engagement Lead

Alex is a former journalist and photographer. He has worked with many big clients across the world including the Guardian, the New York Times and the BBC. Much of his work has focused on people-powered solutions to the climate and nature crises.

He has moved to Avon Needs Trees to pursue these global stories with a more immediate impact in his local area. He has also worked directly with many charities communicating on issues such as mental health, social mobility and education.

Matthew Smith

Natural Capital & Nature Finance Lead

Matthew has 20 years’ experience undertaking nature related projects throughout Europe, Africa and Latin America.  With a BSc in Ecology and Biogeography and MSc in Conservation Science, his work has involved integrating biodiversity and ecosystem service considerations into socio-economic development, sustainable management of natural resources and  implementing nature-based solutions.

He previously worked as a technical advisor to the UK Government and Devolved Administrations on biodiversity and natural capital.  Recent work includes: adopting remote sensing and ecosystem modelling in ecosystem-based management and natural capital accounting;  developing methods to monitor UK environmental footprints from overseas trade;  and sustainable livelihood development in Latin America and the Caribbean.  He co-led the Ecosystem Service Partnership Working Group on Business and Ecosystem Services and was a contributor to the biodiversity supplement of the Natural Capital Protocol.

Chris Horwood

Impact & Knowledge Lead

Chris lives in Bristol but has spent the majority of the last 35 years working overseas in aid and development working for governments, the UN, various international NGOs, as well as an independent consultant. He has masters degrees in both Forestry (Bangor) and Agricultural Economics (London). As part of Avon Needs Trees’ Landscape Recovery team, he will help to develop robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and capture important positive impacts of woodland creation and nature recovery.

He has worked with Avon Needs Trees as a volunteer woodland officer since it began, but is now delighted to be part of its full-time team. He also manages woodland creation and management projects as a co-landowner on private farms in Devon and writes for the Quarterly Journal of Forestry (of the Royal Forestry Society).

Chris says: “Given the severity of the global ecological crisis and the urgent need for change, its an honour to be part of an organisation dedicated to woodland creation and landscape recovery – and one with such a promising start and huge potential”

Alice Brown

People & Nature Lead

Alice is an experienced conservation professional with more than a decade of experience in stakeholder engagement, environmental policy and programme management. She has worked in the e-NGO, public and private sectors to deliver impactful conservation policy and programming, with a focus on the interplay between forests and agriculture.

Before joining Avon Needs Trees, Alice was a strategic advisor at Global Counsel, where she helped businesses navigate nature related policy and politics, as well as the burgeoning nature finance market and the circular economy. She has also previously worked for Defra, both as an international sustainable agriculture programme manager and marine conservation negotiator. Earlier in her career she was an ecological consultant, and Research and Education Coordinator for the Crees Foundation, a rainforest conservation organisation.

Alice has an MSc in Conservation and Biodiversity. Through this and other projects she has worked on improving habitat connectivity across fragmented areas, bringing together numerous stakeholders to deliver impactful projects with tangible environmental, social and economic benefits. She will bring this expertise to Avon Needs Trees to help deliver the Landscape Recovery Programme.

Tom Elliott

Land & Habitat Manager

Drawing on previous experience in habitat management and ecological assessment, Tom is responsible for habitat creation and management on ANT’s sites. Working across the Avon catchment for a local conservation land management contractor, Tom has experience managing a variety of priority habitats for biodiversity, including species-rich limestone grassland, woodlands, hedgerows, and wetlands, among others.

Tom also has extensive experience in ecological surveying and assessment as a consultant ecologist, as well as experience in wildlife research, community outreach, and agro-ecology. As a bat conservationist and consultant, Tom has worked across the UK, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Tom joined ANT to help connect communities with landscapes, which he believes is crucial for the restoration of biodiversity, flood resilience, and soil health.

Aside from work, Tom can usually be found scrambling around in trees and on crags.

Katie Macnamara

Partnerships & Philanthropy Lead

Katie has a background in community operations, surplus food redistribution, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate partnerships. Katie is joining Avon Needs Trees from WWT as an experienced Account Manager and nature fundraiser. With a degree in English Literature from the University of Birmingham, Katie loves communicating and making connections and is eager to put her skills towards nature’s recovery and fighting the climate and nature emergencies.

Born and raised in the South West and living in Bristol, Katie is excited to be contributing to Avon Needs Trees’ mission to regenerate nature by creating permanent woodland locally for the community to enjoy, where she lives and grew up.

When not at work, you will find Katie at her allotment, cooking up a storm in the kitchen or near/in a body of water!

Chloe Fussell

Trusts & Foundations Lead

A Bristol native, Chloe has spent years working to safeguard forest internationally, including campaigning for forest protections at the UN and researching illegal logging in Liberia.

She has five years’ experience as a fundraiser for community organisations, most recently at one of Bristol’s city farms. She specialises in setting up new fundraising systems from scratch.

Her role at ANT involves working with Trusts & Foundations to fund our woodland projects. When not working, she is mainly fundraising for her local community centre and her daughters’ school PTFA.

Rachel Hamilton

Landscape Recovery Project Manager

Rachel currently manages the Landscape Recovery Project, which supports 860+ hectares of land across the Chew Valley to be managed for nature. She joined Avon Needs Trees in 2022, leading on the creation of Ed Woods alongside completing her MSc in Sustainability and Behaviour Change at the Centre for Alternative Technology. Her dissertation focused on the impacts of tree-planting on individuals, understood through listening to and analysing people’s stories.

Previously Rachel has worked in the homelessness sector and across youth empowerment projects, and believes that social justice and the climate and nature crises are inextricably intertwined.

When not working, Rachel can probably be found somewhere outdoors, perhaps camping, swimming or foraging.

Tristan Scott

SLT Opportunity Strategist

Tristan helps to guide our CEO and Senior Leadership Team through emerging opportunities to increase ANT’s impact.  Their role involves horizon scanning for opportunities, masterminding projects at their formative stages, bringing creativity and attention to detail in equal measures.  Tristan also brings a deep understanding of equity and inclusion to their work and seeks to maximise ANT’s accessibility.

Tristan was instrumental in creating the Great Avon Wood concept and Landscape Recovery in the Lower Chew, amongst other projects, securing more than £3m investment in woodland and other habitat creation and planning.

As well as concern for climate and nature, Tristan is especially motivated by mitigating the impacts of flooding through natural flood management.

When not at work Tristan can often be found exploring woodlands with his guide dog or crafting.

Joshua Hale BEM

Chew Valley Project Manager

Ben Newport

Land & Habitat Officer

Ben works as part of the team overseeing habitat creation and infrastructure maintenance at ANT’s Chew Valley projects, alongside supporting and coordinating our volunteers. He has many years of experience in ecological surveying and stakeholder engagement, and has worked with various forest restoration projects from the Kinabatangan floodplain in Borneo to Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest. With a PhD in forest conservation technology from the University of Bristol, Ben brings his expertise in GIS, drones, and other grassroots technology to the mapping and monitoring of biodiversity and other ecosystem services at ANT’s sites.

Ben is particularly interested in engaging local communities in the co-design and management of restoration projects, and the potential role of citizen science in long-term environmental monitoring across the Avon catchment. When not staring at maps, Ben can often be found repairing old bicycles or falling off climbing walls.

Carys Holbeck

Communications Officer

Carys is a Political Theory MA graduate from the University of Sheffield, and is passionate about climate action and sustainability. During her time at university, she helped work on the ‘Wilder Future’ campaign with Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust which pushed for a stronger environment act to protect and boost biodiversity.

Most recently, she has worked for a Bristol housing charity in administration and marketing, and now brings her organisational and communications skills to ANT.

Amanda Birch

Governance & Compliance Officer

Before starting at ANT, Amanda spent seven years working for the Forestry Commission, in the Forestry Grants and Regulations department, managing woodland creation grants, and administering woodland improvement incentives and tree felling licences. Amanda has also previously worked for Natural England, in a role focused on improving people’s access to nature along the south coast.

Amanda is extremely passionate about the work of ANT, and the vital role of woodland creation in tackling the climate and nature emergency. She is excited to bring her passionate, knowledge and experience to the role of Governance and Compliance Officer.

Stevie Robins

Operations Officer

Stevie has had a varied work life from banking, teaching in higher education, as a theatre maker, and arts administrator providing executive support. Most recently Stevie worked for a local funder in an Operations role leading on IT, cyber security, landlord and tenant liaison and managing the office. Stevie is an ardent supporter of environmental action, and has served as an officer for the Bristol Green Party. In their spare time Stevie is a climate change book worm, loves to cook and walk in the woods and coastal paths near home.

Stevie is thrilled to be working for Avon Needs Trees.

Susan Barker

Great Avon Wood Conservation & Heritage Coordinator

Susan has twenty years experience in the land based sector with fifteen years experience of community engagement and volunteer support in a broad range of organisations including the Trust for Conservation Volunteers, Avon Wildlife Trust, Windmill Hill City Farm and the Royal Horticultural Society. 

She is passionate about protecting nature and enabling connection between people and their environment through sustainable land use. She sees her role at ANT as an opportunity to continue this approach at a time when the unprecedented challenges of climate change demand we pay attention to our relationship with the natural world.

Funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund

Debs Hoy

Green Skills Coordinator

Debs has been a volunteer tree planter for 20 years and is pleased to use this experience to help ensure ANT volunteers have a great time out in the field, gaining skills, confidence and increasing well-being.

Debs’ career to date has been focussed on raising awareness about the beauty and fragility of the natural world through public art and engagement. As a visual artist and creative producer she has designed and delivered public art works for Canal & River Trust, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, SouthBank Centre, and Westonbirt The National Arboretum to name a few.

Debs joined ANT to support local people to nurture their precious green space and feel the benefits that nature connection can bring into their lives.

Vicki Cracknell

Great Avon Wood Outreach Coordinator

Vicki worked as a primary school teacher for fifteen years and is passionate about creating outdoor learning and training opportunities for people of all ages. At the Soil Association, she set up the Farm Links Programme as part of the £17 million school meals initiative, Food for Life. A keen cyclist, Vicki founded Cycle Sunday, and worked with Sustrans to organise mass participation cycling events on Bristol’s Downs. When not planting trees, she teaches women in Easton to cycle.

“ANT has a powerful narrative to share about the vital role that woodland creation has in response to the climate emergency. It’s fundamentally practical but also deeply symbolic. I am excited to be enabling the people of Bristol to write the next chapter in ANT’s story.”

Tara Castle

Wiltshire Coordinator

Tara owns the small farm she grew up on next door to Hazeland, which includes some woodland. Until recently she was working as an Estate Manager for the National Trust, where she worked for a large part of her career. Tara brings a wide experience in land management issues. Her role with the Trust involved balancing the requirements of conservation and access, liaising with a wide range of stakeholders.

She is a wildlife enthusiast and relishes the opportunity to build her knowledge and experience whilst helping to improve the conservation value of land near to where she lives. Given the biodiversity and climate emergencies facing the world, she is keen to spend the rest of her career doing all she can to mitigate this. “I love where I live and I want to leave it in a better state for future generations.”

Tara has spent the past two years volunteering for Avon Needs Trees at Hazeland and Pudding Brook Wood, leading volunteer groups on tree planting and maintenance days. She has also acted as a trustee for Avon Needs Trees, and stepped down in order to take up this role.

Lily Stevens

Volunteering Officer

Prior to joining Avon Needs Trees as Volunteer Officer, Lily worked nationally as a programme manager and head of large scale social impact projects within the criminal justice, housing, and children’s social care sectors. At the heart of the programmes she led, was the need to better engage with and support communities, and to seek out improved and sustainable solutions for future generations of children and young people.

Her long standing dedication to addressing the climate and ecological emergencies we face led Lily to plant her first tree as a volunteer with ANT in early 2023. She progressed to a volunteer leader role and completed ANT’s Woodland Skills training course, demonstrating the real value of positive hope in action through creating new woodlands for the future.

Lily volunteers for Caring in Bristol, the Scouts, and is a member of several local and national climate activism groups.

In her spare time Lily likes to spend time in nature with her daughter and discovering new parts of the local countryside by bike.