Meet the team

Jenny Hall (director)

Jenny Hall is a grower, teacher, community worker and author. She graduated in Law in 1995 and has an MSc in Environmental Policy. With well-known organic grower Iain Tolhurst as mentor, she wrote a 350-page text book, Growing Green, for organic market gardeners. She has worked on several organic farms, helped establish Woodlands Farm organic vegetable box scheme, where she met her partner Keith, promoted stockfree growing, and helped set up stockfree standards and certification with the Soil Association.

In 2001 Jenny became the community food projects officer for Lancashire Wildlife Trust, training over 3000 individuals in food growing. Between 2004-2008 with Keith they ran their own vegetable box scheme, Sow and Grow Organics. In 2008 Jenny returned to Lancashire Wildlife Trust as Children's Environmental Centre Manager and Youth Environmental Project Manager. Jenny has recently written a self-published children's book called “Organic Alice and the Wiggly, Jiggly Worms”.

For Climate Friendly Food and sister project www.cffcarboncalculator.org.uk Jenny has fundraised over £150k to date. She is now the volunteer co-ordinator of Fir Tree Community Growers - the demonstration farm of Climate Friendly Food CIC. She is a self-confessed carbon / food nerd. In her spare time she enjoys walks around the beautiful farm that CFF tenant from and spending time with Keith and their two daughters Alice (5) and Emily (nearly 2) - pictured here.

Keith Griggs (director)

Keith Griggs has had a lifetime in farming. He has a National Certificate in Agriculture (1989) and has achieved various machinery handling certificates. He is also a mechanic. In 2004 Keith went freelance and has supported infrastructure improvements (e.g. weeding, making raised beds, wheel chair access) for ten community food growing projects in the North West.

In 2005 Keith became manager of field scale growing for Growing with Nature's organic vegetable box scheme. This work was part time and in 2007 he also worked on a 130-acre organic field-scale vegetable farm. Keith is now the farm manager for Fir Tree Community Growers whilst keeping his hand in drainage contracting to support the project. Keith's hobby is walking Megan the dog and motorbiking.

Alan Abbott (director)

Alan is landlord of Fir Tree Farm and it was his idea to set up the care farm. Fir Tree Farm is owned by Alan and Edwina Abbott and has been in the Abbott family for over one hundred years. Alan was born in the farm house and farmed here along with his father and brother until the 1980’s. Due to shifts in market forces Alan and Edwina looked into diversification schemes. Alan and Edwina opened the farm shop and cafe in 2006 with the aid of European Objective 1 funding for Merseyside. This grant helped them to convert the early 18th century grade two listed barn into the cafe and shop. The Cafe menu is created from fresh ingredients sourced from local producers or ethically sourced whenever possible. The Shop stocks local produce made by small scale producers such as Barton’s Pickles, Uncle Joe’s sweets, Cartmel Sticky Toffee Puddings and George Wright beers from Rainford. Fir Tree Farm is a great venue to come and meet your friends or bring your family, enjoy some refreshments, go for a walk or find some culinary goodies and their friendly and helpful staff look forward to welcoming you soon. www.firtreeshopandcafe.co.uk

Lee Thornton

Lee is Fir Tree Community Growers Future Jobs Fund Placement and has been with us since May 2010.

St Helens Coalition of Disabled People

The Enabling project helps us every Thursday with special thanks to Dawn, Giles, Irene, Kelly, Bethan, Helen, Sue, Veronica, Paul, Jeff, Matthew, Darren, Craig, Stuart and all other CDP members who have supported us in the past Geoff, Kayleigh, Elaine.

Brown's Short Break Respite

Brown's help us every Tuesday with special thanks to Andrea, Lee, John, Elizabeth, Daniel, Angela, Tracey, Adam, Kevin and all the other numerous carers that have helped with packing spinach!!

Other volunteers

We have had lots of support from all the lovely volunteers who have made it through the Fir Tree "welcome gate" and hope to welcome many more.