Management of the Gaia Trust
Director: Matt Edworthy
Matt Edworthy is the Director for The Gaia Trust. He started 1st April 2016.
Since 2009, he has been working in the fields of nature conservation, public engagement and sustainability for the North Devon’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Before that he held positions with the Natural Environment Research Council, The National Trust, Natural England and The British Antarctic Survey.
Since 2009, he has been working in the fields of nature conservation, public engagement and sustainability for the North Devon’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Before that he held positions with the Natural Environment Research Council, The National Trust, Natural England and The British Antarctic Survey.
Bodwannick Manor Farm Coordinator: Sarah Matta
Sarah worked for Martin Appleton at Bodwannick for 16 years before transferring to the Gaia Trust when the property was left to the Trust on Martin's death. Her role is primarily maintaining the wonderful garden herself and with volunteers, but she also keeps and eye on the house and farm as well. In the past her duties have ranged from animal care to tractor repair. Sarah now oversees therapeutic working groups at Bodwannick, working with the local hospital and mental health groups.
Home Farm Marsh volunteer coordinator: STEVE SKIRTH
An independent contractor working for the Trust, Steve's role is the overall coordination of Gaia Trust volunteer activity at Home Farm Marsh in accordance with the site’s management objectives. Working with local volunteers, he helps to maintain the site and leads public engagement by organising events and educational activities with a variety of partners. Steve is a freelance ecologist and surveyor and a member of the Steering Group / Management Committee of Leat Meadow and Lovell’s Field Local Nature Reserve in Fremington.
TRERaven Farm Ranger: RICHARD AUSTIN
Richard is a practicing sculptor and long-time volunteer supporter of the Gaia Trust at Treraven. Richard joined Gaia as a contractor in May 2018. His role is the overall coordination of Gaia activity at Treraven Farm in accordance with the site’s Management Objectives. Working with local volunteers, he helps to maintain the site and leads public engagement by organising events and educational activities with a variety of partners. Richard also undertakes Countryside Stewardship monitoring and reporting, and liaison with tenant farmer
Administrator: Liz Freeman
Liz has had 30 years experience working in a secretarial/administrative capacity. After attending St James Secretarial college, trained with the Midland Bank (now HSBC), and then worked for several large concerns such as Berni Inns and NPI in Bristol before moving to Cornwall. She was then employed as a Practice Manager at a GP’s surgery and presently is the Administrator for the windfarm at Delabole and the Gaia Trust.
Trustee (President): John Sparks
John Sparks, a naturalist and botanist, is perhaps best known as the former head of BBC’s Natural History Unit in Bristol. As one of the Producers of Sir David Attenborough’s bench mark series Life on Earth, John was responsible for directing one of television’s most memorable episodes, namely David’s encounter with mountain gorillas. His career includes 6 years as Executive Producer of the BBC-2’s flagship series The Natural World, and many other outstanding wildlife documentaries including ‘Realm of the Russian Bear’.
During a busy professional life of filming that involved traveling to every corner of the globe, John managed to write a dozen or so books including one on bird behaviour, penguins, owls and parrots, and also wrote books to accompany four of his TV series. John is also a keen photographer, a bibliophile, collects Victorian microscopes, plays the pipe organ, and flies an ultralight (to emulate what birds can do better). He is now very much in demand as a lecturer and is a Fellow of the Zoological Society.
During a busy professional life of filming that involved traveling to every corner of the globe, John managed to write a dozen or so books including one on bird behaviour, penguins, owls and parrots, and also wrote books to accompany four of his TV series. John is also a keen photographer, a bibliophile, collects Victorian microscopes, plays the pipe organ, and flies an ultralight (to emulate what birds can do better). He is now very much in demand as a lecturer and is a Fellow of the Zoological Society.
Trustee: Charles Evans
A qualified and experienced West Country accountant, Charles joined the Trust in the Autumn of 2016. He has a long standing interest in the natural environment. In 2008 he was awarded the ICAEW’s Diploma in Charity Accounting.
Trustee: Charles Hulbert-Powell
Charles has a lifelong interest in agriculture. Though he now lives in Cornwall he has owned a farm in East Sussex rearing sheep and cattle. As well as being one of the UK’s earliest importers of Charollais sheep he also planted a Walnut Grove on his farm and then wrote a book about the experience. He is a keen conservationist for wildlife and proponent of Agroforestry.
He has worked in agricultural insurance and has been a Director of an underwriting agency. Charles has held Executive and Trustee roles in a number of charities including one which supports children at risk of gangs, drugs and crime, another that provides a knowledge exchange between surgeons in the Western World and poorer countries and a Charitable Trust in Cornwall for people in disadvantaged circumstances.
He has worked in agricultural insurance and has been a Director of an underwriting agency. Charles has held Executive and Trustee roles in a number of charities including one which supports children at risk of gangs, drugs and crime, another that provides a knowledge exchange between surgeons in the Western World and poorer countries and a Charitable Trust in Cornwall for people in disadvantaged circumstances.
Trustee: Laurie Phippen
Laurie has completed a BSc in Conservation Biology and Ecology at the University of Exeter and now works for Natural England. During his degree, he worked at Cabilla Cornwall on Bodmin Moor, where he carried out hands-on restoration work such as planting native trees and wildflower meadows, constructing an oak nursery, hosting nature walks, and helping with the reintroduction of beavers to the river Bedalder.
Trustee: Jane Richards
Jane has an MSc in Applied Marine Science and a lifelong interest in marine and estuarine ecology. She has worked for the Fowey Harbour Commissioners and set up, run and transferred ownership of a successful Marine Survey company in Cornwall. She has been been on the committee of the Friends of the Fowey Estuary for 16 years and been Chair for 4. Jane owns and runs a small farm near Chark Moor.
Trustee: Mark Steer
Mark has worked in health and social care for nearly 40 years including clinical, executive director and management responsibilities. During recent years he has practised as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. He is passionate about the environment, nature and conservation and since retiring in 2016 spends his time on his small holding, supporting his local village activities and volunteering. He is a Trustee of Harbour Housing and Pentreath; Cornish charities that support homeless people and people with experiencing mental ill health. He is also a Trustee for the Cornwall Police Charity, Kreslu. Mark takes a keen interest in how the Gaia Trust properties can support health interventions in nature.
Trustee: (Chair) Marcus Thomson
Marcus is a solicitor and partner in the DAC Beachcroft legal business in Bristol.
