WE EXIST TO PROTECT
OUR TRAILS AND THE
WILD SPACES THEY TAKE US TO.
We haven't written this yet... SORRY.
"HQ"
We're smallnormous. A (very) small organisation with a hopefully enormous impact. And as such, we don't really have a HQ. Not in the traditional sense of the word anyway. What we do have, however, is a select group of individuals that make all the stuff we do happen.
Dom Ferris - Chief Executive Officer
On January the 8th 2017 I posted about Trash Free Trails on Instagram for the very first time (it got 34 Likes!!!). It had been more than four years since I had first recognised the stark difference between the explosion of awareness of and action to tackle marine plastic pollution - through my work at Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) - and the comparative silence in ‘our world’ of trails, wild places and the terrestrial ecosystems that host them. What’s more, it had been more than four years since I had decided that I needed to try to do something about it. All I had to do was start!
I soon realised that Trash Free Trails could not and should not exist without a strong and empowered grassroots community and that the only way to build and sustain community is through trust. So, keeping my own extremely complex formula - Time x Toil (+tea) = Trust - in mind, I just got started, one trail clean at a time.
Rich - Associate Director
Rich was Trash Free Trails' first employee (BIG moment for us - WOOOOOO!!!!). A super keen rider and avid roamer (you won't see him running unfortunately) with a background in hospitality and event management, this 6'4" lump's passion for connection of all kinds, physical activity and nature is palpable. With his merit-classified MSc in Psychology of Mental Health from The University of Edinburgh, we've been able to make a lot of progress on the wellbeing angle of all of our projects; reconnecting people with nature through purposeful adventure.
Rach - Communications Manager
Rach joined the team in 2022, bringing a passion for community-centred marketing and regenerative futurity. Her work alongside TFT spans live art, dance, academic research and grassroots activism. Having completed her Masters in Movement, Mind & Ecology at Schumacher College, she's consumed with the desire to encourage others to get outdoors and experience the wonder of the world around them, and the power in themselves to care for it.
PJ - Research Officer
PJ joined us in September 2023, as a student on placement with us from Bangor University. PJ is supporting the development of our Citizen Science projects in 2024, including a Training Camp and the forthcoming digital Hub. PJ will also be working on our contributions to the Plastics Treaty Coalition, getting to work closely with international policy development.
Leigh - Community Co-ordinator
Leigh joined the team in November 2023 as our new Community Hubs Project Co-ordinator. Leigh can be found most at home in the mountains and by the sea and comes backed with over 10 years experience working in the outdoor industry, he's also a freelance photographer and mountain leader. Leigh is hugely passionate for more people to experience our wild places and help protect them through community-led action. He brings his passion and wealth of outdoor knowledge to help us empower our surrounding communities which will play a huge part in his role with us as our community hubs are our true point of connection.
Heather - Community Co-ordinator
Heather joined the team in June 2024, she brings 10 years management experience, a background in environmental science and plenty of passion for our wild spaces to the team. She’s also a freelance mountain bike coach and leader. Heather is all about community, connection, inspiration and inclusion bringing her passion for these values to empower our ecosystem of TrashMobbers, Community Hubs and A-TEAMers. She relies deeply on the power of nature to restore, balance and energise her own wellbeing, she hopes to inspire others to reap the benefits of our wild places.
Ben - Citizen Science Research Assistant
Ben, the master of all trades, the man with the plan, giving Bob the builder a run for his money. Hopping on board the TFT Team during his placement year at Bangor University whilst studying Marine Biology he was (and still is!) keen to get stuck in wherever he can. Completing 8 ultra marathons since he picked up a pair of running shoes, whilst claiming to be predominantly a mountain biker, his physical and mental limits appears to know no bounds.
Sarah-Jane - Digital Community Activator
Known as SJ out on the trails, if not found running, shes either watching, supporting or talking about running! SJ joined recently in August 2024, some would say running away from her problems, others would say towards new opportunities. With a degree in Industrial Design under her belt, she became hungry for using her creativity in less traditional ways: picking up a camera and coincidentally picking up Single-Use Pollution at the same time to see how she could inspire other people to make a difference to the state of our trails.
There's more than that, surely?!
We don't just let this lot make all the decisions for us. That's just not cricket, and it certainly wouldn't work with our smallnormous nature.... The A-TEAM and our TrashMob are at the heart and soul of everything we do, and are, therefore, heavily involved in the decision making and project planning process; we consult our community on important decisions wherever possible
We also have a "Steering Group": A group of volunteer experts with diverse experience in our field, these guys meet once quarterly with the HQ team. 'Big picture' ideas, plans and musings are all brought to the table to keep us on track, to make sure we're headed in the right direction
Freelance Experts
As well as this lot, we rely on some trusted friends of the family to help us achieve our mission. Designers, photographers, writers and social media experts are brought into the fold with a mutual goal in mind: TO PROTECT OUR TRAILS AND THE WILD PLACES THEY TAKE US TO!!!
