Our Staff

Andy is responsible for the promotion and representation of the community woodland sector, providing support and advice to member groups across Scotland and managing the organisation.

Andy’s first experience in the third sector was as a volunteer for BTCV many years ago. It marked the start of 20 years with the organisation with volunteer, staff and committee involvement and leading conservation projects in many places around the world. Scottish Conservation Projects brought him to Scotland and he spent near 12 years working for Scottish Natural Heritage, including a secondment to the Cairngorms National Park Authority where he managed a European Funded project delivering training to land based businesses. More recently he worked for Scottish Mountain Rescue representing member rescue teams across Scotland.

Contact: andy@communitywoods.org

Piers provides in-depth community development and land management advice and assistance to community woodland groups and other CWA member organisations.

Piers has been forester at Rothiemurchus since 2010, but a varied career has seen him supporting community forestry projects from Papua New Guinea to Grantown-on-Spey, where he worked with the Anagach Woods Trust and served as a CWA director.

Contact: piers@communitywoods.org

Alice provides community development, forestry and land management advice and assistance to community woodland groups and other CWA member organisations across Central and South Scotland.

She has most recently worked as a Woodland Officer for the Small Woods Association and as a self-employed forester undertaking forest surveying, tree planting and invasive species removal. Prior to this, she worked with the Three Hares Community Woodland and developed woodland creation schemes for farmers and landowners in the Scottish Borders. Alice also holds an MSc in Geographical Information Systems (mapping) and has supported forestry companies in map production.

Contact: Alice@communitywoods.org

Sharon is responsible for supporting our daily organisational operations, establishing a mentoring scheme, and organising and delivering training and networking events.

Sharon previously worked as a primary teacher, which then developed into a national role supporting professional development of teachers. This then led to a two-year spell working with probationer teachers, supporting them through their induction, and Headteachers from induction to supporting their ongoing professional learning. She has experience of leading and supporting training events and looks forward to expanding that experience with CWA.

Sharon loves being outdoors especially in woodlands, where she feels the wellbeing benefits of being in amongst trees. She looks forward to meeting members whenever possible in their community woodlands.

Sharon works part-time, and therefore might not respond to any communications immediately, but will respond as soon as is possible.

Contact: sharon@communitywoods.org

Jen is responsible for the various CWA communications – monthly e-bulletin, quarterly newsletter, social media accounts and the website. She also provides other day-to-day operational support.

Jen previously worked as a community dietitian but left the NHS in 2021 in search of a new adventure! With a love of nature, being outdoors, and gardening, she immediately took up a communications role with One Seed Forward, a voluntary organisation which encourages and supports all ages to grow their own fruit and vegetables. She also worked as a project coordinator with Long Covid Scotland before taking up the post with CWA in July 2023.

Jen works part-time hours throughout the week. She might not reply immediately, but will get back to you as soon as she can!

Contact: jen@communitywoods.org