Trustees of Vale Landscape Heritage Trust (December 2025)
Vale Landscape Heritage Trust is run a by a board of Trustees....
Betty Ballard - trustee since 2010
I come from a market gardening/farming background having been brought up in the country for my first 25 years. I worked for a local agricultural merchant for 32 years and then for a company of grain traders. I was organiser for the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust South East Worcestershire Local Group for many years and continue to warden one of their nature reserves. I am also the footpath warden for Evesham and a walk leader for Evesham U3A.
Deirdre Sutton (Chair) - trustee since 2007
I have lived in the Vale since 1972 and in Hampton since 1985. Walking in orchards is among my earliest memories as a small child, so when Vale Landscape Heritage Trust took over the tenancy of a plum orchard at the end of my road, I was immediately interested. Having spent a large part of my working life in the Vale in fruit growing and chrysanthemums, it seemed a natural thing to do to become more involved upon my retirement. I have a keen interest in the countryside, wildlife and in conservation in general.
Jim Haywood - trustee since 2004
Although born in Leicester, I was lucky enough to come to the Vale in 1966 and have been here for the majority of the time since then. My first formal involvement in environmental matters was when at school I set up the Prince Henry’s Environmental Protection Society which didn’t prove particularly long lasting or effective! In comparison to a number of other Trustees I know much less about the flora and fauna of the Vale but its protection is an innate and fundamental concern for me.
Phil Hooper - trustee since 2018
I moved from Solihull to Evesham in 2014 to be closer to the countryside that I so love. I have had a keen interest in the natural world all of my life and a strong affinity for trees & orchards. Discovering VLHT, & then working as a volunteer with those I have much to learn from, continues to be a wonderful experience. I am hoping that my management background will provide transferable skills that can be used to benefit the Trust & further its important contribution in protecting the local countryside & wildlife.
Harry Green MBE - trustee since 2008 initially as nominated by WWT (Co-opted since 2025)
I have lived near Pershore in Worcestershire since 1950 and my Grandfather and his brother ran a market garden. As a lad I picked tons of Pershore Yellow Egg Plums. I have been interested in natural history since boyhood with intensive periods of bird studies (Trustee and Chairman of British Trust for Ornithology in the past) but now perhaps more interested in insects. I have been involved with the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust since its foundation in 1968 and a Council member since the 1970s with a long spell as chairman in the past. I am now President for life. The constitution of Vale Landscape Heritage Trust (VLHT) includes a trustee from the Council of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust on agreement from both parties and I filled this niche since 2008 until 2025. I live locally and I am very committed to VLHT’s aims of conserving orchards and flower-rich grasslands.
Robert (Bob) Gillmor - trustee since 2018
I am originally from London and moved to Pershore in 1986. I am passionate about the rich variety of wildlife and habitats in the Vale. A regular practical conservation volunteer, I am a trustee of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, where I served for four years as Honorary Secretary and am Honorary Treasurer of their S.E. Worcestershire local group and of the Friends of Avon Meadows CIO. After twenty years in purchasing, international transport and cargo insurance with a large manufacturing company, I ran my own shipping business for ten years and followed that with thirteen years as a self-employed driving instructor. I also serve on Pershore Town Council and have recently stepped down from two years as Mayor.
Judith Ciotti - trustee since 2022
I have always had a strong attachment to our natural landscapes and a desire to protect them particularly after returning from long periods of living abroad. Growing up in the Buckinghamshire countryside was an important influence and I have tried to give my own children and grandchildren some of the same opportunities and experiences. In 2008 I moved to Herefordshire to live on a small organic farm which is run co-operatively; there I enjoyed learning and sharing in a new way of life, everything from milking a cow to trying (in vain!) to germinate yellow rattle seed. I was part of the Fruit tree group helping to maintain and improve our two small orchards.
Tony Strickland - trustee since 2024
I have had many years experience managing Research & Development sites for global seed companies, covering all practical, administrative and human resource aspects of the sites, and participating as a senior manager in national and international team decision making. I have been involved with independently growing and harvesting wildflowers for seed, working alongside charities and trusts to fulfil project requirements and ensuring provenance of seed sources.
Tom Meikle - trustee since 2025 (nominated by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust)
I have 40+ years of farming experience mainly in arable and vegetable production. I was a committee member of Worcestershire Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and I am at present a Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Trustee. I am also a director of Wick Care Farm CIB.
I come from a market gardening/farming background having been brought up in the country for my first 25 years. I worked for a local agricultural merchant for 32 years and then for a company of grain traders. I was organiser for the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust South East Worcestershire Local Group for many years and continue to warden one of their nature reserves. I am also the footpath warden for Evesham and a walk leader for Evesham U3A.
Deirdre Sutton (Chair) - trustee since 2007
I have lived in the Vale since 1972 and in Hampton since 1985. Walking in orchards is among my earliest memories as a small child, so when Vale Landscape Heritage Trust took over the tenancy of a plum orchard at the end of my road, I was immediately interested. Having spent a large part of my working life in the Vale in fruit growing and chrysanthemums, it seemed a natural thing to do to become more involved upon my retirement. I have a keen interest in the countryside, wildlife and in conservation in general.
Jim Haywood - trustee since 2004
Although born in Leicester, I was lucky enough to come to the Vale in 1966 and have been here for the majority of the time since then. My first formal involvement in environmental matters was when at school I set up the Prince Henry’s Environmental Protection Society which didn’t prove particularly long lasting or effective! In comparison to a number of other Trustees I know much less about the flora and fauna of the Vale but its protection is an innate and fundamental concern for me.
Phil Hooper - trustee since 2018
I moved from Solihull to Evesham in 2014 to be closer to the countryside that I so love. I have had a keen interest in the natural world all of my life and a strong affinity for trees & orchards. Discovering VLHT, & then working as a volunteer with those I have much to learn from, continues to be a wonderful experience. I am hoping that my management background will provide transferable skills that can be used to benefit the Trust & further its important contribution in protecting the local countryside & wildlife.
Harry Green MBE - trustee since 2008 initially as nominated by WWT (Co-opted since 2025)
I have lived near Pershore in Worcestershire since 1950 and my Grandfather and his brother ran a market garden. As a lad I picked tons of Pershore Yellow Egg Plums. I have been interested in natural history since boyhood with intensive periods of bird studies (Trustee and Chairman of British Trust for Ornithology in the past) but now perhaps more interested in insects. I have been involved with the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust since its foundation in 1968 and a Council member since the 1970s with a long spell as chairman in the past. I am now President for life. The constitution of Vale Landscape Heritage Trust (VLHT) includes a trustee from the Council of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust on agreement from both parties and I filled this niche since 2008 until 2025. I live locally and I am very committed to VLHT’s aims of conserving orchards and flower-rich grasslands.
Robert (Bob) Gillmor - trustee since 2018
I am originally from London and moved to Pershore in 1986. I am passionate about the rich variety of wildlife and habitats in the Vale. A regular practical conservation volunteer, I am a trustee of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, where I served for four years as Honorary Secretary and am Honorary Treasurer of their S.E. Worcestershire local group and of the Friends of Avon Meadows CIO. After twenty years in purchasing, international transport and cargo insurance with a large manufacturing company, I ran my own shipping business for ten years and followed that with thirteen years as a self-employed driving instructor. I also serve on Pershore Town Council and have recently stepped down from two years as Mayor.
Judith Ciotti - trustee since 2022
I have always had a strong attachment to our natural landscapes and a desire to protect them particularly after returning from long periods of living abroad. Growing up in the Buckinghamshire countryside was an important influence and I have tried to give my own children and grandchildren some of the same opportunities and experiences. In 2008 I moved to Herefordshire to live on a small organic farm which is run co-operatively; there I enjoyed learning and sharing in a new way of life, everything from milking a cow to trying (in vain!) to germinate yellow rattle seed. I was part of the Fruit tree group helping to maintain and improve our two small orchards.
Tony Strickland - trustee since 2024
I have had many years experience managing Research & Development sites for global seed companies, covering all practical, administrative and human resource aspects of the sites, and participating as a senior manager in national and international team decision making. I have been involved with independently growing and harvesting wildflowers for seed, working alongside charities and trusts to fulfil project requirements and ensuring provenance of seed sources.
Tom Meikle - trustee since 2025 (nominated by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust)
I have 40+ years of farming experience mainly in arable and vegetable production. I was a committee member of Worcestershire Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and I am at present a Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Trustee. I am also a director of Wick Care Farm CIB.
