Meet the Team

“Born and bred in West Dorset, I’m glad to be back in this beautiful countryside to take up the challenge of Director at Kingcombe.

Career wise, my journey has been described as unusual. I left school at 15 with no real qualifications, slowly climbed the academic ladder to achieve a City & Guilds in horticulture at 17 and eventually a PhD in botany and ecology 15 years later. On route I worked twice for the BBC. Initially as the gardener responsible for BBC’s Victorian Flower Garden series, screened in 1992, and latterly with the BBC Gardening Website writing and reviewing articles. Previous to Kingcombe, I spent five years as Curator of the National Botanic Garden of Belgium. Here I focused on collection conservation and discovered two species previously thought extinct. Internationally I helped develop of the European Strategy for Plant Conservation. I was also responsible for obtaining plants of the biggest ‘flower’ ever to bloom in Belgium.

My ambition is to guide Kingcombe to the best environmental studies centre in the country focusing on wildlife courses while maintaining the relaxed Kingcombe charm. I live close to the Centre with my wife Rebekah and young son, Benjamin”.

daveaplin@kingcombecentre.org.uk

“I live in Toller with my husband and our two children, where we have a 250 acre organic dairy farm which has been in our family for four generations.

Like Kingcombe, our farm has always been traditionally farmed and much of the land is notified as either a Site of Special Scientific Interest or Site of Nature Conservation Importance.

We work closely with Natural England and in 2000 they presented us with an award for our outstanding commitment to conservation.

I am an active member of the community, organising events and also fundraising, with the recent success of raising funds to purchase a playing field for the village. In 2005 I had the privilege of being invited to London on behalf of the National Playing Field Association to give a presentation on my fundraising work to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. I am also a promoter for Dorset Artsreach, bringing arts events into rural communities.

I have worked at Kingcombe for five years and am extremely pleased to be taking on the role of Fundraiser for the Centre. I look forward to utilising my experience with fundraising, my local connections and passion for this unique and special valley”.

debbiebillen@kingcombecentre.org.uk

"I have always been passionate about Kingcombe. I wanted to work there from the age of 11, when I became involved in a campaign, in my village, to save a rare snail’s habitat from being turned into a car park.

I contacted Nigel Spring, then Director of Kingcombe, who was helpful and enthusiastic. Through petitions the snail and its reed bed habitat survived. Nigel’s enthusiasm inspired me to undertake a young naturalist course, volunteer on nature reserves and to complete a HND and BSC in Countryside Management.

Leaving university I worked in New Zealand on conservation with the Department of Conservation. In 2002, I found my opportunity to work at Kingcombe on the catering team, making cakes, lunches and serving refreshments to groups. I take school parties out, work with people with learning difficulties and guide visually impaired on long distance walks.

Kingcombe’s a very special place, my second home, where I feel part of a big family."

davinahansford@kingcombecentre.org.uk

sueirwin@kingcombecentre.org.uk

"I have worked at Kingcombe as a cook since April 2002. I trained to be a chef at Bournemouth College where I met my husband who was on the same course. After leaving college I worked in Hotels and Restaurants to gain experience.

My Husband and I have owned and run two Restaurants, we thought a pub would be the next natural step and to see if pub life suited us we decided to take the tenancy of the Three Horse shoes at Powerstock, but the demands of a seven day working week on family life proved too much and we now run a outside catering business.

I have seen a few changes at Kingcombe and now I over see the writing of the daily menus. What I best like about working at Kingcombe is the peaceful surroundings, it’s a really special place to work, I love going into the vegetable garden to see what I can pick for supper. I also have the use of a polytunnel and often bring in salad leaves etc to add to Kingcombe’s harvest.

Next year at Kingcombe we plan to be more self sufficient which I’m really looking forward to."