Board of Trustees

Henry Lucas

Henry Lucas became Chairman of FWAG in November 2008.  

Henry is a beef and arable farmer from Warwickshire working in partnership with his wife and son.

The farm has in recent years seen a change of direction from dairying to traditional beef and arable farming and a move into environmental stewardship to help make the enterprises sustainable in the long term. Improvement of the landscape and increased wildlife added to the historic nature of the farm has lead to recent diversification into tourism.

Henry is a former chair of Warwickshire NFU and of Warwickshire FWAG and recently has chaired the FWAG staff association meetings. More...

Campbell Tweed OBE

Campbell Tweed became Vice-Chairman of FWAG in November 2008. 

County Antrim farmer Campbell Tweed OBE is a former President of the Ulster Farmers' Union.  He is a suckler cow and sheep farmer from Cairncastle, near Larne and his farm is in a Less Favoured Area close to the County Antrim coast.

Campbell is a graduate of the West of Scotland Agricultural College and was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship in 1993.  He is currently Chairman of the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust.   He is a past President of the Ulster Grassland Society.  More...

Phillip Merricks, MBE

Philip comes from a long established farming family.  He has farms in Kent and East Sussex, which encompass a mix of wheat, oilseed rape, cultivated turf, sheep and cattle.  He manages two National Nature Reserves  - Elmley and The Swale on the North Kent Marshes - and a Local Nature Reserve on Romney Marsh.

Philip is Executive Chair of RURAL – a Government sponsored land use policy development institute.  He is active with CLA, NFU and RASE, and is President of Kent and East Sussex FWAG. 

Philip served as High Sheriff of Kent from 1998 to 1999, and was appointed MBE for services to nature conservation in 2000

Julian Sayers

Julian Sayers is a Chartered Surveyor and Director of Adkin Rural & Commercial.  He has worked in Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties for over 20 years advising farmers and landowners on a wide range of matters relating to the occupation and ownership of rural property.  His appointments include acting as Agent for the Lockinge, Bowood and Berkswell Estates. More...

Charles Beaumont

Charles is the director of Treesplease Ltd, a tree nursery situated in Northumberland.

From 1995 – 2000 he was Chairman of Governors of Kirkley Hall College of Agriculture, retiring when the college was successfully merged with Northumberland College. From 2000 – 2003 Charles was Treasurer of the CLA during a time of great change. His role concentrated on Finance and Corporate Governance. From 2003-2005 he chaired the CLA Legal and Property Rights policy committee. 

Charles farms some 1000 acres in Northumberland, predominantly arable, sheep and environmental schemes, and has a long-term interest in agricultural marketing. More...

Philip Cook

Philip is the Managing Director of AH Warren Trust (Coombe Farms) and has been for over 20 years. 

Coombe Farms comprises 8 owned dairy farmers plus further holdings under management. The core business activity alongside milk production is specialist organic liquid milk packing and organic fruit processing. Their major customers are Waitrose and Yeo Valley and they have a turnover in excess of £30m pa.

Philip is a Chartered Accountant, a member of Quota Experts Panel and is a strong supporter of FWAG, holding events on the estate from time to time.

http://www.coombefarms.co.uk

Martin Sykes

Martin is a long-term supporter of FWAG Cymru and was involved in the setting up of Pembrokeshire FWAG and served as its Chairman.

Martin is a former Vice-chairman of FWAG de Cymru/South Wales FWAG and attends the FWAG Cyrmu Chairmen/CARM Meetings, as well as some FWAG Cymru team meetings. 

He was the instigator and inspiration behind the FWAG Cyntaf Scheme, and has played a pivotal role in securing NFU Cymru support for FWAG Cyntaf and FWAG Cymru in general. Martin is a dairy farmer and has been for 40 years with a keen interest in conservation.

Martin can be contacted on: martinsykes@farmline.com

Tim Bennett

Tim Bennett is a Carmarthenshire farmer currently running an Aberdeen Angus beef enterprise; previously he ran the farm as a dairy and poultry unit. Tim is a member of South Wales FWAG committee and has been instrumental in the development of FWAG Cymru's premier membership package, FWAG Cyntaf, signing up as one of the scheme's first members. More...

Sam Blacker

Sam has spent most of his working life running the family farm between York & Harrogate in North Yorkshire.  A lifetime's interest in country matters led to the Chairmanship of Tockwith Agricultural Show (one of the largest 1 day shows in Yorkshire) and Chair of North Yorkshire FWAG in the late 90s.  Sam was one of the first farmers in the area to enter the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.  in 2001 he sold the farm and devoted his time into developing the award winning Ainsty Farm Shop, which he sold last year.  ... More...

Chris Butler

Chris Butler manages the family arable farm in north Essex which is a LEAF demonstration farm.   In the last few years the farm has diversified its operations by opening a successful farm shop and cafe, village post office and an animal feed outlet.   Chris is also the Vice-Chairman for the Campaign for the Farmed Environment in Essex - an initiative which aims to retain the environmental benefits formerly provided by set-aside in three key areas - resource protection, farmland birds and farm wildlife. More...

Heather Gorringe

Heather is the founder of "Wiggly Wigglers" - a shop and online countryside store that sells a range of items including wildlife products, gardening equipment, composting and eco living produce.   Wiggly Wigglers was the British Small Business Champion for 2005. 

Heather built up the company from scratch and has special expertise in marketing and new media.   Wiggly Wigglers is based on Heather's family farm in Herefordshire.  Heather is also a Nuffield Scholar.