About Me
Born in Bristol, growing up in both outer London with interspersed years in Hong Kong I enjoyed a culturally wide upbringing. Graduating from Brunel with a Bsc (Hons) in Earth Sciences I entertained crazy dreams of geologically mapping the world! I quickly got a real job working for a major Kent based quarrying company working up to being a Quarry Manager and passing the DAPS qualification and becoming a Member of the Institute of Quarrying. I added a landfill WAMITAB to my qualifications and ran a large Joint Venture quarry and landfill operation in West London. In this role I continually worked with planning permissions and waste licence conditions and enjoyed working outside with a special interest in the restoration of the site after use. The landfill in West London was an intricate restoration back to market gardening producing high quality vegetables and salads for the London restaurant
Family Life
I then met and married Tristan (a farmer) and have lived on the farm in Marden for 18 years (a base at last!), and one with a rich history as the farm has been in my husbands family since 1866! We have two children, Evie and George.
I took a job at the Environment Agency moving from Waste Licensing Officer to a National Account Manager for Mobile Treatment Licensing and finally to Waste Technical Specialist. I enjoyed working with the team at the Agency and being able to help regulate to protect the environment.
Tristan is really more a “farmer builder” than a farmer (that’s what the kids call him) and he built the horse livery that I now manage on the farm. I employ local people and take on apprentices from time to time to train. I really enjoy combining my love of the outdoors with family time and my own special interest of riding horses and providing them with the best care.
Tristan and I applied for and got Higher Level Stewardship for the farm working with Natural England and have now been managing the farm to maximise environmental benefits and educational access since 2009.
We love showing off the beauty of Horlands Farm and enjoy nothing more than when the school trips come to the farm from inner city London via The Country Trust – they are always great days.