The Friends of Westcombe Woodlands are not seeking to change the unique wild nature of the woodlands. We do not plan regular public access, as given the steep nature of the land this is potentially unsafe. For one or two days a year we want to invite the public in, under supervision, to see what is happening and to experience the diversity of the woods. There are also regular volunteer days in which we seek to clear, improve and plant different areas.

We are working on a Management Plan, building on that provided by Trees for Cities in 2011, which will be available to all members and on which we will welcome views.

The trustees who sit on the Executive Committee, all drawn from the local community, are:

Tim Barnes

Tim is a retired KC who has lived for 35 years in Greenwich, and has recently retired from the Bar where he specialised in fraud, terrorism and homicide cases. He was a long time Chairman of the Greenwich Society and remains an Executive Committee member. He chairs the University Law Forum and the Woolwich Garrison Church Trust.Together with Frank Smith he was responsible for setting up the Friends of the Woodlands.

Don Albrecht

Don is a landscape architect, partner in Landscape Consultancy practice, Ireland-Albrecht, with offices close to the woodlands in Greenwich. Don has been part of woodlands friends committee since its establishment in 2011, playing an important role in establishing the management and volunteer tasks since that time.

Chris Bates

Chris moved from rural Cheshire to Blackheath in 2000, living for several years in the development, Seren Park Gardens, which immediately borders Westcombe Woodlands.  Although now living in the London Bridge area, he continues to be an active member of the Woodland Committee.  He has a degree in Environmental Science and Chemistry with an additional HNC (Higher National Certificate) awarded from The Scottish Wildlife Trust in Habitat Surveying for Nature Conservation. In addition to the above Chris has been members of the environmental charities “Plantlife” and “Trees for Life” for over 25 years. Currently he works for a Health and Safety consultancy in central London.

Nigel Duncan

Nigel Duncan is professor emeritus at City Law School, where he trains barristers. He lives in Royal Hill. As well as volunteering in Westcombe Woodlands he is a Friend of East Greenwich Pleasaunce and has, with others, planted the community orchard there. He helps with the annual Wassail and also volunteers regularly with the conservation project at Vanbrugh Pits. He is a member of the Westcombe Society, the Greenwich Society and a Friend of Greenwich Park and has a long-standing interest in maintaining and improving the environment.

Jerry Avis

Jerry came to Maze Hill in 2016 . With the move to Seren Park Gardens he overlooks the Woodlands and was keen to do something practical to help maintain the infrastructure that allows access to visitors and volunteers. With some experience of charity and membership management he also hopes to support the financial sustainability of such a worthwhile endeavour.

Rich Sylvester

Rich lives in East Greenwich and along with work at the woodlands he volunteers with projects such as the Wassail in the Pleasaunce (see Facebook: PipWassail), and with Forest for Our Children a community wood in Lawshall village, Suffolk.
As a “Guide to Green Spaces and Old Places” he delivers storytelling and story-walks for community and public events and works with schools at the National Maritime Museum.

Miles Storey

Miles retired from a career in Banking a few years ago and whilst not especially green-fingered, has an interest in supporting local societies looking looking after the finances to allow fellow members to focus on the aims of the society. He has been a member of the Friends for many years and has lived locally since 1987, currently in Westcombe Park Road.

Gail Stirling

Gail joined the Friends of Westcombe Woodlands as a volunteer shortly after retiring from full-time work in financial regulation and governance. She has lived in Westcombe Park for over 30 years, and with degrees in economic & social history and historiography, has a particular interest in the historical status of the Woodlands, and a strong commitment to helping deliver the ongoing aims and objectives of the Friends. As a new trustee member, she looks forward to working more closely with the amazing team of highly knowledgeable and dedicated people responsible for managing the Woodlands, and to doing whatever she can to help preserve and maintain this very special and unique resource within – and for – our community.

Andrew Slade

Andrew moved to Maze Hill in 1978 and has always worked as a surveyor in various forms in UK and abroad.  He is a member of the Greenwich Society and as a Friend of Westcombe Woodlands keen to attract a wide variety of wild life into the woodlands by developing the appropriate conditions.   Using his experience in education Andrew hopes to encourage Young Naturalists to explore and enjoy this unique environment.

Henry Medlam

Henry is taking his first foray into woodland management. He is lucky enough to neighbour the woodlands and values its biodiversity, especially as it naturally spreads into his garden; whether frogs, ducks, stag beetles, bees, owls or butterflies. He delights in learning more about the nature on his doorstep and taking measures to sustain and encourage it.

Fiona Machen

Fiona moved to Greenwich in 1988 to study Business at Greenwich University. She lives locally on Humber Road. After a career in the retail sector, she re-trained with the Royal Horticultural Society, hoping to devote more time to people and wildlife in the great outdoors. Whilst studying, she set up Christchurch School Community Garden in East Greenwich. With several years’ experience managing volunteers and fund raising, Fiona is also now involved in championing green space for several other organisations. She is delighted to be part of the highly knowledgeable and active team of trustees at Westcombe Woodlands Trust.

Pip O’Byrne

Pip is a local resident of Maze Hill, a beekeeper and keen gardener. She has lived in the East Greenwich and Westcombe Park area for over 40 years. Prior to retiring she spent her career working in public health and local government. As well as volunteering in Westcombe Woodlands, she volunteers with the London Beekeepers Association at the Mudchute City Farm Apiary. She is also a trustee of The Greenwich Charities.