The Team

Neville Elstone is the Director of Cumbria Woodlands, having worked for the organisation since 2002. He is a passionate advocate for forestry, the environment and rural development.

His career spans 37 years in the sector and has been wide-ranging; starting in a very hands-on way, working on the forest floor, before moving into arboriculture and management. A degree in forestry at the National School of Forestry followed, including a year’s work for the Forestry Commission and a period of study in Northern California. While doing post-graduate studies at the University of Edinburgh he worked in woodland management, writing management plans and developing large scale native woodland creation schemes. He then moved on to work for the Institute of Chartered Foresters, developing forest policy, before coming to Cumbria Woodlands. During his time with Cumbria Woodlands he has focused on rural development, wood for heat, the use of woodlands in Natural Flood Management and the management of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites.

He has acted as an advisor for the Forestry Commission and rural funding agencies at a national and regional level and plays an active role in the Institute of Chartered Foresters (he was a Council member and the first forester they employed). Neville is a frequent guest lecturer and advisor to the National School of Forestry. He is the former chair of the Fells and Dales Leader Group, which oversaw the investment of £8 million pounds of grant funding.

Anne-Marie is the Deputy Director of Cumbria Woodlands and has over 20 years' experience as a consultant in the not-for-profit and commercial sectors. She has worked predominantly overseas with humanitarian and international development organisations, providing data & technology, strategy, governance and project management expertise. Anne-Marie became interested in woodland creation and management after establishing her first woodland close to her home in NW Cumbria. In her spare time, she can be found running in the fells with her dog or sailing in the west coast of Scotland.

Jamie studied at Sheffield Hallam University after spending his early years farming in the Lake District. Returning to Cumbria after obtaining a degree in furniture design and related products, Jamie set up a business using local timber for products and furniture. He has worked with Danny Frost Timber sourcing, milling and drying timber for sale to other furniture makers, managing various operations and projects at the Bothel site. 2013 saw a move to Scotland as Forest Operations Manager for the award winning Kilfinan Community Forest. Work here included forest design planning, management of harvesting operations as well as installation of infrastructure such as forest roads, a garden centre and a new sawmill.

Clare’s background is varied: following an MSci (Hons) from University of Durham she carried out two years of geological exploration in Canada’s Boreal forest, before entering the world of hydropower development in Scotland and northern England. At Cumbria Woodlands, Clare provides a support role to Neville, managing and claiming for a variety of projects, as well as supporting Jamie with his own projects and extensive training programme. Clare also works as project and partnership manager for the Ancient Tree Forum. Alongside work, Clare juggles family life, fitting in the occasional mountain biking, gardening, running or climbing, with varying success!

Daniel completed a degree in Forest and Woodland Management (BSc (hons)) at the National School of Forestry at The University of Cumbria, Newton Rigg. He took a year in industry, working for the Forestry Commission, in the large scale harvesting district of Galloway. Keeping with the Forestry Commission, his first job was in the recreation-heavy Delamere forest and many community woodlands in and around Manchester and Liverpool. Here he supervised contracts and craftsmen for the operations team to deliver true multi-purpose forestry. Daniel then turned his hand to private forest management for large estates throughout Wales and Shropshire, from Lowland mixed woodland to upland conifer plantations. As Forest manager, he was responsible for all aspects of forestry from timber harvesting and sales, to civil engineering projects and planting before returning to Cumbria. For Cumbria Woodlands Daniel leads on the United Utilities Tree planting fund and provides mapping and tree measuring assistance within the team. In his spare time, Daniel is a keen mountain biker and is an active member of the local Mountain Rescue Team.

Carrie studied forestry at the National School of Forestry, Newton Rigg, and worked for a short stint for the Forestry Commission in the extensive Galloway Forest District in various supervisor roles. After starting a family Carrie returned to the University of Cumbria as a Doctoral Researcher working on her PhD in Montane Scrub and Treeline Dynamics in the UK. Carrie worked in several roles at the university including teaching conservation and ecology, and working in various research and development roles in outdoor learning and nature connection, and interdisciplinary land management and policy at the Centre for National Parks & Protected Areas.

At Cumbria Woodlands Carrie was initially brought in to develop the Ancient woodland Restoration online training course and information hub. Carrie’s portfolio now includes: developing EIA and HIA determinations, woodland creation planning (particularly where scrub is involved!), carbon and forest management research, and convening the Juniper Group England.

In her spare time Carrie is an enthusiastic lichenologist, wool spinner and felter, in which she is Vice-Chair of the Eden Valley Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers.

Richard works for Impact International, based in Windermere, as a consultant and European Manager. He has worked with corporate clients around the world developing leadership, teams and strategy with most sectors at all levels of seniority. Living in Ravenstonedale, Cumbria he is an avid watcher of wildlife, outdoor enthusiast and fresh air freak.

As Chair of Cumbria Woodlands he hopes to help the organisation grow and prosper in order to ensure their lasting commitment to the effective management of woodland in the county to achieve their ecological and environmental goals.