About Merrick
In his last formal role before retiring Merrick was Assistant Director of Hampshire’s Environment Department where he worked hard to ensure that these precious spaces were inspiring external environments for young people. He was President of the Landscape Institute (2016-2018) and was Chair of the Policy Committee and Trustee. He is a Fellow of the Landscape Institute. Merrick was a Trustee and Chairs Marwell Zoo’s Conservation and Education Committee and was a founding Board member of Natural England. He was awarded an OBE for services to Education in 2001.
About Juno
Juno rejoins the Learning through Landscapes Trust as a board member, having been fortunate enough to be Executive Director from 2012-2017.
Juno has served a range of organisations in a variety of governance roles, including as Chair of the Evelina Children’s Heart Organisation, the Be Your Best Foundation, and the Southern Region of YMCAs. She has also served on a number of school governance boards.
Juno is a volunteer for the Wet Wheels disability boating charity where she crews boats taking disabled people out on the water. She also spends much of her free time messing around in fields with her dog!
About David
In 2002 David moved to Defra, initially responsible for initiatives to improve the quality of public services in rural areas. He then took over responsibility for Government policy on landscape, forestry and outdoor recreation.
David Coleman retired from Defra in 2008.
About Kate
Now an International Child Safeguarding consultant, Kate is an experienced international early years educator, leader and author who believes access to quality outdoor environments is at the heart of every child’s wellbeing.
About Usha
She served as head teacher at the school for ten years taking it from a very troubled school to Beacon status. During this time she was one of ten headteachers appointed by Estelle Morris to support the development of the government’s Excellence in Cities programme to improve attainment in inner-city schools. In 1999 she moved to Ofsted as an inspector. The Cambridge Review on Primary Education, who appointed her to their advisory committee, recently sought her considerable expertise.
About Chanel
Through her work as a school science teacher Chanel has been actively involved in providing opportunities that enable students to connect with and respect their communities, encouraging students to celebrate different cultures and reclaim their sense of stewardship.
Chanel has worked as a university outreach ambassador, youth mentor and volunteer and has taught English and Science in Spain, Costa Rica and the UK. Currently working as head of science at a secondary school, her aim is to ensure that students have access to rich outdoor experiences that support and enhance their curricular journeys.
About Mike
He has been a teacher, a community farmer, a youth and community worker, an adventure playworker, a county youth officer, an LA education advisor, and continues to practice playwork in his home village on the Gower Peninsular for two weeks every summer where he is the chair of the village play association. He was formerly the chair of the primary school governing body.
He is a Board member of the World Board of the International Play Association and is also a member of the UK Play Safety Forum (where he was instrumental in the development of the Health and Safety Executives adoption in the principle of Risk Benefit Assessment in respect of play provision) and the UK Children’s Play Policy Forum.
About Philip
Philip has spent 30 years working as a finance professional in the international energy industry, spending fourteen years living in a number of countries overseas before returning to the UK in 2007.