Our team

Staff:

Charley has been working in wildlife conservation since 2011, moving around the country for various jobs until joining the Hazel Hill team in 2018. Charley has learnt a lot here over the years and discovered many new species with the help of our amazing volunteer team. The most exciting finds include Great Crested Newt, Barbastelle bat and Hazel Dormouse. Charley set up Wildlife and Wellbeing in 2024 to reach more people in more places, which complements Hazel Hill well.

Lauren has been working for Hazel Hill since 2019 in a range of roles. Her background is early years education, working both in childcare and as a KS1 Teacher. Then later moving to nature-based learning as alternative provision for young people, she understands the huge benefits being outdoors in nature can bring.

Simon lives locally and has been involved with Hazel Hill both as a participant and staff member for over 20 years. Simon works maintaining and repairing the buildings but his background is in electronic engineering and has used his experience specialising in the wood’s off-grid power systems. Simon finds Hazel Hill a place of spiritual refreshment and a great place to connect with nature.

Oliver is an international speaker, award-winning design educator, performer and author of two books on regenerative design.
Having first visited the wood in 2008, he has since co-led over thirty retreats at Hazel Hill. Oliver is founder of the Regenerative Design Lab, hosted at Hazel Hill, which develops practical answers to how humans can live as part of a wider web of life — meeting our needs while creating richer ecosystems and communities.

Nick has been coming to Hazel Hill since 2011, first as a participant, then as a facilitator and more recently as a member of the team. Although not an expert on nature and wildlife, Nick recognises the benefits the wood can offer to people who go there.  Nick works in the area of learning and development, and finds Hazel Hill to be a place of great nourishment and rejuvenation.

Patrick lives in the New Forest, not far from Hazel Hill, He loves trees, and is delighted to be part of the team caring for Hazel Hill.  He has led and participated in a number of groups in the woods, as part of his work as a holistic lawyer and business adviser.

Shweta is a systems designer focused on scaling regenerative practices for socio-ecological well-being. She lives locally to the woods and feels privileged being a steward of this land.