- Travelling
- Growing food and cooking
- Meeting new people and exploring different cultures
- Reading and creative writing, drawing and photography
Roe Baker
Ryton
Summary
I currently run my own gardening and cleaning business working for farm shop visitor destinations and open garden schemes. I have twenty years accrued experience in leading low carbon, agricultural, natural environment, and built heritage sustainability projects - from local grassroots community to countywide project management. I am a fully trained and experienced engagement manager and I work closely with communities, business, farmers and landowners. I am a pro-active and community minded individual with an ethical and inclusive approach to the development of land, enterprise and social sustainability.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Self Employed
05.2024 - Current
- I operate a commercial and domestic cleaning and gardening business, delivering services to Brocksbushes Farm Shop, and to private clients. I provide maintenance tasks such as mowing, strimming, pruning, planting, and propagation in expansive private gardens and open garden schemes.
Low Carbon Communities Project Manager and Community Heritage Buildings – Fellfoot Forward
Cumbria Action for Sustainability
01.2015 - 04.2024
- Working to support farmers with a whole farm low carbon approach, in partnership with the Cumbria Farmer Network and the North Pennines Area of Natural Beauty.
- Working with farmers to establish rotational grazing patterns, herbal leys, and hedgerows.
- Delivering on-farm Solar PV audits, working with Electricity North West’s carbon reduction technical team to establish maximum output connections and grid capacity.
Project Manager
Alston Moor Greenprint
11.2016 - 01.2020
- Overall management and delivery of a three-year project funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, focusing on the long-term sustainability of the Alston Moor area on the North Pennines, linked directly to the development of a community plan and area strategy, with green policy embedded into a neighbourhood plan.
- All actions identified as low carbon solutions include community-owned renewable energy, energy-efficient community-led housing, community land use for supported agriculture and food growing, the development of low carbon transport options, green waste, and green business development.
- The project includes the delivery of Repair Cafés and other one-off or seasonal volunteer-led events.
Alston Moor Sustainability Officer
Sustain Eden Project
03.2013 - 12.2015
- Self-employed basis contracted to facilitate the delivery of three outputs under two main headings, 1) Community Transport – deliver a community bus which has the potential to provide timetabled services to residents and visitors.
- Establish an electric bike scheme on Alston Moor for the benefit of both residents and visitors.
- 2) Community Owned Renewable Energy – Explore the feasibility of community owned renewable energy (particularly hydroelectricity) on Alston Moor.
- Engage with the community and fundraise the capital required to deliver main outputs, manage and administrate the requirements of the Big Lottery funding, evaluation, monitoring and quarterly claim reporting.
- Participate in and work in partnership with all other Sustain Eden Partners and relevant external organisations, agencies and individuals to ensure the successful outcome of the project.
- Report to the Alston Moor Partnership Steering Group.
Moody Baker
09.2013 - 06.2015
- Working as part of the Alston-based Moody Baker co-operative.
- Delivery driver, baking, shop and general running requirements, promotion, and support in both a paid and voluntary capacity.
Area Coordinator, Cumbria
Foodlink NW
02.2012 - 11.2013
- The management and development of a regional local foods project at county level.
- As a coordinator, I developed and managed membership and advertisement packages, wrote articles for the website, and used social media networking on a daily basis.
- I directed and produced short films to promote local food producers, and events across the county.
- I coordinated and developed local community food initiatives, educational work in schools and coordinated local area volunteers, mapped food trails, designed promotional leaflets.
- I worked with farmers and producers and supported community transition groups as well as statutory organisations.
- Foodlink Northwest is a Big Lottery funded project to support and encourage the wider use and availability of local foods from the Northwest region of England.
Sandylands Greens Officer
Friends of the Lake District
04.2012 - 11.2012
- Lead officer in a community engagement project based on the council's communal green spaces within the Sandylands estate in Kendal.
- Funded by Kendal Town Council and South Lakeland District Council, I work with the residents, schools, and local stakeholder organisations to engage and enhance the estate's green spaces.
Farming Landscapes Co-ordinator
Friends of the Lake District in partnership with Cumbria Farmer Network
01.2012 - 03.2012
- Co-ordination of volunteer recruitment, induction, and training to assist farmers in delivering an annual programme of farm events based on farming, food, and landscape.
- Training farmers to successfully deliver a range of events, including family events with activities for children, local produce (food production, how to cook, the chance to sample, and buy local food and recipes).
- Farm walks and demonstration events, as well as 'try your hand at' events such as juicing, milking, etc. and specialised themed events such as hay meadows, organic production methods, specific breeds, and heritage.
- Trial the production of a farm map, and develop a toolkit for farmers running farm events.
Heritage Lottery - Our Green Space, Lead Project Officer
Friends of the Lake District, Cumbria
01.2008 - 01.2012
- Facilitated and supported five communities across Cumbria to deliver major ground works, built heritage restoration works, cultural heritage events, creative workshops, and interpretive materials.
- Developed local and central training programmes, an interactive and legacy tool website, produced high-quality resources including guides, a curriculum-linked education resource pack, and case study publications, and delivered campaign and advocacy work.
Workshop Leader and Resident Gardener
The Garden Station, Langley, Northumberland
05.2005 - 12.2008
- Delivery of day and weekend gardening workshops.
- Developed an outdoor classroom in a derelict allotment area, growing vegetables and herbs for use in the Garden Station café.
- Daily horticultural work and garden maintenance in a heritage garden developed along a disused rural railway line.
Mine Tour Guide and Information Assistant
Killhope Lead Mining Museum, Weardale
03.2008 - 09.2008
- Guided visitors underground on mine tours, narrated the social history of the mines, and described the lives of the lead miners who worked in them.
- Worked with families, school groups, and volunteers to ensure visitors' experiences were well orchestrated, safe, and memorable.
Volunteer Manager and Rural Outreach Project Officer
Volunteering Tynedale, Northumberland
08.2005 - 01.2008
- Involved in initiating, setting up, and seeking funding for projects in rural Northumberland.
- Recruiting, managing, and retaining volunteers.
- Building working partnerships with other third sector organisations, schools, and the private sector with a focus on heritage, environmental projects, and traditional crafts.
Manager
Scotswood Natural Community Garden, Newcastle
01.2002 - 08.2005
- Strategic development of the business and management plan for the fledgling project, which has recently taken on charitable status.
- Development of the garden, including ponds and waterways, forest garden, mandala food growing area, outdoor kitchen, fundraising, staff and volunteer management, events coordination, training programme, and workshop development.
- Forging formal education links with schools and Newcastle College, and setting up the kids’ gardening club, which included the healthy foods and eating programme.
- Developed the art in the garden scheme and ran an annual International Work Camp.
- Managed inventory control, reducing waste and ensuring optimal stock levels at all times.
Horticultural Enabler
Tynedale Social Services
10.2001 - 08.2002
- Horticultural enabler working with adults with learning disabilities.
- Developed sustainable plant sales and vegetable growing.
Education
Permaculture Design and Sustainable Land Use Certificate -
Ragmans Lane Farm
Gloucestershire01.2002
Diploma - Landscape Gardening
AMU Centre Copenhagen
Denmark01.2000
BA (Hons) - Creative and Performing Arts
Newcastle –upon-Tyne Polytechnic
01.1989
BTEC Diploma - Fashion and Textile design
Newcastle College of Arts and Technology
01.1985
Skills
- Horticulture, practical maintenance gardening
- Commercial and domestic cleaning
- Community engagement
- Project management
- Environmental sustainability
- Volunteer management
- Sustainable agriculture
- Low carbon solutions
- Communication skills
- Willingness to learn
- Commitment to excellence
- Customer focused
- Health and safety awareness
Custom Section
- Manager, Alston Moor Solidarity with Refugees, 2017-01-01, present, Set up and managed clothes drops and pallet packaging to send to refugee camps in Greece.
- Fundraiser, Alston Moor Music Festival, 2014, Applied successfully for a number of third sector grant funds to provide the capital required to run the first annual Alston Moor Music festival.
- Chair, Nenthead Community Garden, 2009-01-01, present, Coordinated, co-designed, fundraised and implemented a community and school garden in Nenthead.
- Vice Chair, Brampton Food Network / Fair Food Carlisle, 2012, Together with other board members guide and develop the Brampton Food network and support the development of the Fair Food Carlisle project.
Interests
Timeline
Self Employed
05.2024 - Current
Project Manager
Alston Moor Greenprint
11.2016 - 01.2020
Low Carbon Communities Project Manager and Community Heritage Buildings – Fellfoot Forward
Cumbria Action for Sustainability
01.2015 - 04.2024
Moody Baker
09.2013 - 06.2015
Alston Moor Sustainability Officer
Sustain Eden Project
03.2013 - 12.2015
Sandylands Greens Officer
Friends of the Lake District
04.2012 - 11.2012
Area Coordinator, Cumbria
Foodlink NW
02.2012 - 11.2013
Farming Landscapes Co-ordinator
Friends of the Lake District in partnership with Cumbria Farmer Network
01.2012 - 03.2012
Mine Tour Guide and Information Assistant
Killhope Lead Mining Museum, Weardale
03.2008 - 09.2008
Heritage Lottery - Our Green Space, Lead Project Officer
Friends of the Lake District, Cumbria
01.2008 - 01.2012
Volunteer Manager and Rural Outreach Project Officer
Volunteering Tynedale, Northumberland
08.2005 - 01.2008
Workshop Leader and Resident Gardener
The Garden Station, Langley, Northumberland
05.2005 - 12.2008
Manager
Scotswood Natural Community Garden, Newcastle
01.2002 - 08.2005
Horticultural Enabler
Tynedale Social Services
10.2001 - 08.2002
Permaculture Design and Sustainable Land Use Certificate -
Ragmans Lane Farm
Diploma - Landscape Gardening
AMU Centre Copenhagen
BA (Hons) - Creative and Performing Arts
Newcastle –upon-Tyne Polytechnic
BTEC Diploma - Fashion and Textile design
Newcastle College of Arts and Technology