Meet the Forest of Mercia Team

The Forest of Mercia team is based at Chasewater Innovation Centre and at the Image Business Park in Hednesford. The team is made up of range of individuals with a wealth of experience and skills in areas including forestry work, community engagement and education.

Rebecca Banks (left below)- Community Forest Manager 

Rebecca joined the Forest of Mercia team in May 2007, moving from Groundwork Black Country where she had worked for nearly 4 years on a variety of environmental regeneration projects including the development of the first Neighbourhood Park in Wolverhampton in 30 years. Her main area of interest and enthusiasm is around bringing people and the environment together. She has a First Class Honours Degree in Geography and Sociology and enjoys walking, cooking and playing the piano in her spare time.

Rebecca is on maternity leave from Feb 11th 2010. Steve Morris will be covering her maternity leave.

Dave Knowles (centre below) - Community Liaison Officer

Dave joined the Forest of Mercia at the practical development stage of the project around 16 years ago and has an abundance of local knowledge. He has considerable experience in both woodland management as well as community involvement, which makes him ideal for his role within the Forest of Mercia. In his spare time Dave enjoys getting out into the countryside and greenwood crafts.

Barry Marlow - Assistant Forester

Barry has been with the Forest of Mercia team for over 10 years, and has a wealth of qualifications ranging from City and Guilds Horticultural qualifications to the NPTC Chainsaw certificate. Barry enjoys interacting with the general public and gaining feedback about the work he undertakes. In his spare time Barry enjoys bird and wildlife watching, as well as bike riding. He cycles to work every day. 

Chris Martin - Assistant Forester

Chris joined the Forest of Mercia team around 4 years ago. The most rewarding aspect of the job for Chris is seeing the results on the ground of the hard work undertaken by the Forest of Mercia team, and knowing that the general public benefit from these enhancements within their local area. Chris worked in education for 16 years before joining the Forest of Mercia team. In his spare time he enjoys rugby and fishing.

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The Forest of Mercia Partnership also gains invaluable Woodland Advisory Support through Terry Merchant and accesses administrative support from staff at Chasewater Innovation Centre. A range of volunteers also support the team.

The Chief Officers' Steering Group for the Forest of Mercia meets on a quarterly basis and is fundamental to supporting and guiding the project for the future. It is made up of representatives from the Local Authorities which fund and support the Forest of Mercia, as well as representatives from other supporting partners such as the Forestry Commission and Natural England:

• Bill Heslegrave - Regional Director Forestry Commission West Midlands and Chair of the Forest of Mercia Chief Officers' Steering Group
• Andy Goode - Natural Environment Group Leader for Staffordshire County Council
• Howard Medlicott - Landscape Manager for South Staffordshire Council
• Hayden Baugh- Jones - Landscape Planning Manager for South Staffordshire Council
• John Smith - Green and Open Spaces Strategic Manager for Lichfield District Council
• Tom Walsh - Parks and Open Spaces Manager for Cannock Chase District Council
• Ian McDermott - Principal Arboriculturalist for Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
• Sally Powell - Project Manager for Farm Advice in the West Midlands Shropshire Hills and Cannock Chase AONB for Natural England