Meet the Team
Steve Donagain
CEO
Steven Donagain is our CEO. After completing forestry training at Tampere University Finland he went on to work in the forestry sector in Finland, Russia, Canada and Britain.
After completing further forestry machine operator qualifications in Finland he returned to the UK as a forwarder operator before moving to Hill Holt Wood as a ranger teaching forestry to disadvantaged children. Since then he was responsible for running all the forestry and countryside contracts for Hill Holt Wood and writing and implementing management plans for the 1000 acres of land that Hill Holt Wood manages. Steve took the reins as CEO in June 2016.
Steven Donagain is our CEO. After completing forestry training at Tampere University Finland he went on to work in the forestry sector in Finland, Russia, Canada and Britain.
After completing further forestry machine operator qualifications in Finland he returned to the UK as a forwarder operator before moving to Hill Holt Wood as a ranger teaching forestry to disadvantaged children. Since then he was responsible for running all the forestry and countryside contracts for Hill Holt Wood and writing and implementing management plans for the 1000 acres of land that Hill Holt Wood manages. Steve took the reins as CEO in June 2016.
Oliver Woodman
Head of Operations
Oliver is the Head of Operations at Hill Holt Wood. He is responsible for all aspects of the on-site operation, including site maintenance, compliance and legislation and event management. He also coordinates our natural burials at Big Wood. After completing a degree in Environmental Studies at Newcastle University, he spent the first twenty years of his career managing various restaurants around Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
Oliver came to Hill Holt Wood as a volunteer looking for a change in career. Since then he has been employed as a ranger teaching disadvantaged children, before being promoted to Site Manager, utilising his experience in the catering industry to manage events at Hill Holt Wood. Bird enthusiasts should check out his twitter account for his stunning photos @woodmanoliver1
Oliver is the Head of Operations at Hill Holt Wood. He is responsible for all aspects of the on-site operation, including site maintenance, compliance and legislation and event management. He also coordinates our natural burials at Big Wood. After completing a degree in Environmental Studies at Newcastle University, he spent the first twenty years of his career managing various restaurants around Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
Oliver came to Hill Holt Wood as a volunteer looking for a change in career. Since then he has been employed as a ranger teaching disadvantaged children, before being promoted to Site Manager, utilising his experience in the catering industry to manage events at Hill Holt Wood. Bird enthusiasts should check out his twitter account for his stunning photos @woodmanoliver1
Ben Wilson
Head Ranger
Head Ranger Ben is the proud handler to our resident Harris’ Hawk (Horst) and health and safety expert. Equally happy felling a mighty Oak or clearing bramble he’s one of our longest serving team members and a big fan of tricky trees. Ben started out as a Ranger at Hill Holt Wood and has blossomed his career through Senior Ranger to Head Ranger with a combination of hard-work and strong organisational skills.
Head Ranger Ben is the proud handler to our resident Harris’ Hawk (Horst) and health and safety expert. Equally happy felling a mighty Oak or clearing bramble he’s one of our longest serving team members and a big fan of tricky trees. Ben started out as a Ranger at Hill Holt Wood and has blossomed his career through Senior Ranger to Head Ranger with a combination of hard-work and strong organisational skills.
Ryan Rousseau
Head of Finance
Our very own Wolf of Wall Street, Ryan Rousseau, came to us in March 2019. Head of Finance, active member of AAT, CIPP, CIOD and overall office quiz master at just 23 years of age, the wolf is destined for greatness. His professional success stems from an early age winning a Crest award in aerodynamics, achieving an honors degree in Business and Finance at the University of Lincoln and gaining successive promotions in retail management before taking the leap to Hill Holt Wood senior management. In his spare time, the wolf hunts two things: coffee and books, both of which will come in handy in his natural woodland habitat.
Our very own Wolf of Wall Street, Ryan Rousseau, came to us in March 2019. Head of Finance, active member of AAT, CIPP, CIOD and overall office quiz master at just 23 years of age, the wolf is destined for greatness. His professional success stems from an early age winning a Crest award in aerodynamics, achieving an honors degree in Business and Finance at the University of Lincoln and gaining successive promotions in retail management before taking the leap to Hill Holt Wood senior management. In his spare time, the wolf hunts two things: coffee and books, both of which will come in handy in his natural woodland habitat.
Hollie Drake
Head of Business and Quality
Hard work and intelligence are the hall-marks of our Head of Business and Quality. With her background in Architecture and Design, previously taking the reins of Design Team Lead, Hollie even put together a whole new Sustainable Building qualification from scratch; a key part of our Growing Up Green project that hit target a year ahead of schedule. Her namesake, (Sir Francis) was awarded a knighthood in 1581 and we believe it’s only a matter of time until our Hollie gets one too.
Hard work and intelligence are the hall-marks of our Head of Business and Quality. With her background in Architecture and Design, previously taking the reins of Design Team Lead, Hollie even put together a whole new Sustainable Building qualification from scratch; a key part of our Growing Up Green project that hit target a year ahead of schedule. Her namesake, (Sir Francis) was awarded a knighthood in 1581 and we believe it’s only a matter of time until our Hollie gets one too.
Sarah Oates
Training Manager
Overseeing our Study Programme and education can be Hard Times so it requires a deft balance of organisation skills and personality to be successful. That's why we're confident Sarah is the one for the job (and she used to work in a prison, we're sure that helps too!).
Overseeing our Study Programme and education can be Hard Times so it requires a deft balance of organisation skills and personality to be successful. That's why we're confident Sarah is the one for the job (and she used to work in a prison, we're sure that helps too!).
Gavin Warhurst
Engagement and Events Co-ordinator
A little bit of knowledge about a lot of things, Senior Ranger Gav started out as our administrator, then took over teaching Maths and English for several years before moving on to our exciting Growing Up Green Project where he’s helping 4000 youngsters to reconnect with nature and the green environment. Strong as an ox and a vision of heavenly good looks. He’s without a doubt the nicest guy and the best at everything.
A little bit of knowledge about a lot of things, Senior Ranger Gav started out as our administrator, then took over teaching Maths and English for several years before moving on to our exciting Growing Up Green Project where he’s helping 4000 youngsters to reconnect with nature and the green environment. Strong as an ox and a vision of heavenly good looks. He’s without a doubt the nicest guy and the best at everything.
Nigel Webster
Forestry and Land Management Co-ordinator
Forestry strongman and extraction expert Nigel can bend six inch nails with his bare (bear?) hands and fell even the mightiest of trees. His reputation on the forwarder is second to none, stacking timber into delicate piles then heading off into the wood before most have even got started. Rumours that he’s a hobgoblin are yet to be confirmed. He’s a big fan of AC/DC and he’s one of our hard working Senior Ranger team.
Forestry strongman and extraction expert Nigel can bend six inch nails with his bare (bear?) hands and fell even the mightiest of trees. His reputation on the forwarder is second to none, stacking timber into delicate piles then heading off into the wood before most have even got started. Rumours that he’s a hobgoblin are yet to be confirmed. He’s a big fan of AC/DC and he’s one of our hard working Senior Ranger team.
Vicky Robinson
Student and Careers
Co-ordinator
It takes a special person to arrive at Hill Holt Wood on one of our programs and work their way up to Senior Ranger and that is precisely what Vicky is. As happy to muck in and get dirt under her fingernails as she is meticulously competing forms and paperwork she’s Hill Holt Wood all the way and has taught almost every subject we’ve ever offered. Vicky helps our young people achieve their career dreams with bespoke advice and guidance.
Co-ordinator
It takes a special person to arrive at Hill Holt Wood on one of our programs and work their way up to Senior Ranger and that is precisely what Vicky is. As happy to muck in and get dirt under her fingernails as she is meticulously competing forms and paperwork she’s Hill Holt Wood all the way and has taught almost every subject we’ve ever offered. Vicky helps our young people achieve their career dreams with bespoke advice and guidance.
Ed Hampton
Hill Holt Health Co-ordinator
Joining the team after working as a ranger north of the border Ed is taking the reins over at Big Wood. He’ll be bringing a new perspective to the project at our sister site. He’s PC, but thats just how he rolls. Ed was quickly promoted to Senior Ranger team on account of his great work with the health project where he has helped dozens of people heal, gain confidence and learn new skills.
Joining the team after working as a ranger north of the border Ed is taking the reins over at Big Wood. He’ll be bringing a new perspective to the project at our sister site. He’s PC, but thats just how he rolls. Ed was quickly promoted to Senior Ranger team on account of his great work with the health project where he has helped dozens of people heal, gain confidence and learn new skills.
Tom Smith
Curriculum Co-ordinator
The youthful face of Hill Holt Wood is our nominated television Senior Ranger. He brings an affable nature and range of practical skills and knowledge coupled with his archaeologist background, we dig him so much we made him a Senior Ranger. He once rode an elephant called Geo, in Laos.
The youthful face of Hill Holt Wood is our nominated television Senior Ranger. He brings an affable nature and range of practical skills and knowledge coupled with his archaeologist background, we dig him so much we made him a Senior Ranger. He once rode an elephant called Geo, in Laos.
Harry Waudby
Design Ranger
Our Design Team Lead, Harry, comes to us from Manchester with experience in social and environmentally sustainable architecture that is sure to do him well here! He’s a lover of comedies and football, and his all-time favourite song is ‘A Little Respect’ by Erasure.
Our Design Team Lead, Harry, comes to us from Manchester with experience in social and environmentally sustainable architecture that is sure to do him well here! He’s a lover of comedies and football, and his all-time favourite song is ‘A Little Respect’ by Erasure.
Dave Brentnall
Construction Ranger
A background in joinery and furniture building has armed Glastonbury regular Dave with all the knowledge needed to help teach our eager learners. Dave is also a caring and patient tutor for some of our learners with the deepest of educational needs. Dave’s meticulous and clever woodworking skills are behind our range of bespoke wooden products.
A background in joinery and furniture building has armed Glastonbury regular Dave with all the knowledge needed to help teach our eager learners. Dave is also a caring and patient tutor for some of our learners with the deepest of educational needs. Dave’s meticulous and clever woodworking skills are behind our range of bespoke wooden products.
Patrick O'Carroll
Construction Ranger
Pat's deft and precise eco-building skills are matched perfectly with his ability to engage our learners. He came to us with a deep background of working on sustainable buildings.
Pat's deft and precise eco-building skills are matched perfectly with his ability to engage our learners. He came to us with a deep background of working on sustainable buildings.
James Boothman
Countryside Ranger
The man they call ‘Mario’ is both our friendly bus driver and lead garden renovator. He’s known for his unrelenting work ethic and good sense of humour and is a fine mentor to our young learners. Popular with the elderly people who benefit from his hard work in the garden he’s easily bribed with a biscuit and an offer of a catch up, a crucial side-benefit to the project.
The man they call ‘Mario’ is both our friendly bus driver and lead garden renovator. He’s known for his unrelenting work ethic and good sense of humour and is a fine mentor to our young learners. Popular with the elderly people who benefit from his hard work in the garden he’s easily bribed with a biscuit and an offer of a catch up, a crucial side-benefit to the project.
John Feneley
Countryside Ranger
Back for a third time to work on Countryside NK, a role which he originally fulfilled several years ago and has had several incarnations until returning back to the current form. John knows all there is to know about what we do (especially the Lollycocks Field site) and will be key to our Countryside NK partnership with North Kesteven District Council. John once wrote a poem about rain.
Back for a third time to work on Countryside NK, a role which he originally fulfilled several years ago and has had several incarnations until returning back to the current form. John knows all there is to know about what we do (especially the Lollycocks Field site) and will be key to our Countryside NK partnership with North Kesteven District Council. John once wrote a poem about rain.
Liam Daubney
Countryside Ranger
Countryside Ranger Liam works on the Countryside NK and Watch NK contracts keeping our district tidy and a pleasant place to walk. He loves his old war movies so we hope the next time he's out on the Stepping Out network repairing things it's not a Bridge Too Far.
Countryside Ranger Liam works on the Countryside NK and Watch NK contracts keeping our district tidy and a pleasant place to walk. He loves his old war movies so we hope the next time he's out on the Stepping Out network repairing things it's not a Bridge Too Far.
Billy Richardson
Forestry Ranger
Having impressed massively during his first year as apprentice he has now been bumped up to the (self proclaimed) title of “King of Apprentices”. He’s our senior apprentice and is now embarking on his Level 3 in Trees and Timber. Just as important is the fact he is knowledgeable about football and can be relied upon for an informed opinion of how his beloved Hull are doing.
Having impressed massively during his first year as apprentice he has now been bumped up to the (self proclaimed) title of “King of Apprentices”. He’s our senior apprentice and is now embarking on his Level 3 in Trees and Timber. Just as important is the fact he is knowledgeable about football and can be relied upon for an informed opinion of how his beloved Hull are doing.
Gemma Birkett
Administrator
The face of the front desk. Our Spice Girl claims that there’s no chilli she can’t eat and lives for her family. At the wood she’s the first face most people will meet (apart from the Green Man) so there’s lots of pressure on her to be both smiley and nice, fortunately for us these are two attributes she is not lacking in.
The face of the front desk. Our Spice Girl claims that there’s no chilli she can’t eat and lives for her family. At the wood she’s the first face most people will meet (apart from the Green Man) so there’s lots of pressure on her to be both smiley and nice, fortunately for us these are two attributes she is not lacking in.
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