We currently have a total of 10 trustees and 2 officers (secretary and treasurer) all of whom are listed below, after our chairman, in alphabetical order:

Dr Stephen Hall – Chairman

Despite living only two miles away from Rotherfield for more than thirty years I had not set foot in the Millennium Green until we moved into the village in 2020, just in time for lock-down which proved beyond all doubt the absolutely vital importance of open natural spaces for everyone’s wellbeing. I was completely amazed and thrilled to find such a beautiful and sympathetically preserved natural space in the heart of Rotherfield. We will forever be indebted to the Community leaders who had the vision and energy to see the Green into being. I have enjoyed (mostly) the Sunday morning work parties and look forward to being involved in the unglamorous background administration essential for the maintenance of what is a completely unique village asset. I come to the role of Trustee as a 72 year old retired GP and aspiring hedge-layer who also in a previous life ran, with my wife Janet, an agricultural smallholding. I am passionate about everything wildlife and Wealden. Stephen took over as Chairman at the 2023 AGM succeeding Michael White who served as chairman for almost seven years.

Andrew Fermor – Trustee

Andrew retired in May 2010, having practised as a solicitor for 38 years, 34 of them in the Tunbridge Wells area. He and his wife Margo have lived in Rotherfield for nearly 50 years. As one of the original trustees of the Millennium Green he has been dedicated from the outset to its development as a valuable amenity for the village. His particular passion is the heritage apple orchard in Upper Wallis Field. Andrew was elected Chairman of the Trustees in 2006. Andrew retired from his position as chairman in 2012 but remains a very active trustee.

Simon Kipping – Trustee

We came to Rotherfield in 2014 from Westerham in Kent, attracted by the Village and AONB. We keep sheep, bees, chickens and ducks and during the season we work four cocker spaniels on the Buckhurst Estate.

My Interest in the Rotherfield Millennium Green Trust is to preserve the work done by the founders & hopefully to bring some fresh ideas of my own. It is already on the committee’s list but the stone Spring and the Wellhead in Springfield is calling for renovation and is of particular interest to me. I feel we only need to look back to what the Green used to serve in order to regenerate future interest.

Carol Knatt – Trustee

I was honoured to be asked to be a Trustee of the Miillennium  Green  and will endeavour to work with others to ensure that this valuable community resource continues to flourish and  is available in perpetuity.

I am Sussex born and bred and attended schools in Heathfield.  My formal education continued studying Applied Biology at University, where I also met Chris, later to become my husband.

We lived in Rotherfield in the early ‘90s, even taking part in ‘The Pageant’ (the cradle fills, the cradle empties), before relocating over to the West Sussex/ Surrey border where we raised our family.

Chris Knatt – Trustee

After a career in the aviation industry, our move back to a house in Rotherfield coincided with an opportunity to stop work and focus on other priorities. It’s been great to swap weeks of international work travel and hours spent in airports for time in the English countryside. We’ve also been able to travel to other parts of the country on conservation volunteering breaks.

Our central location overlooking the Green means we are ideally placed to watch the changing of the seasons from our windows and we are passionate about preserving the green lung of the village. I enjoy walking and running and  take every chance to get out and about and enjoy the nature on our doorstep.

So it only feels right that we should play an active role in putting our time and skills into supporting and developing the Green, as a way of ‘giving something back’. I feel privileged to support as a Trustee in any way I can, whether it involves wielding a spade at a working party or considering ways to increase the number of Friends and raise awareness of the great resource that the village has.

Since the end of the 1990’s, the current and past Trustees have done an excellent job of establishing the Green and embedding it as a vital part of Rotherfield life. I hope I can play some small part in keeping Rotherfield green for the next 25 years!

John Richardson – Secretary

John Richardson, our Secretary, has lived in the village with his wife, Hilary, for over 50 years. They have three children.

John played football and cricket for Rotherfield and was Hon. Secretary for both the football and Sports clubs.

He taught in London before moving to become Head of English at Beacon in 1970, where he stayed for nearly twenty years. He went on to become Vice-Principal of a large community college in Crediton, Devon, and is now enjoying retirement back in the village. He produces the twice-yearly “Friends” magazine, “Greenpiece”.

To contact the secretary telephone 01892 852467 or email secretary@rmgtcio.org.uk

Norma Timmermans – Trustee

I have lived in Rotherfield since 1980. Both my sons attended the village school and the local Scout group. As a family we shared an interest in wildlife and the environment. My husband was a keen gardener and conservationist and saw one of the main purposes of a garden as being to create an environment to attract and support birds, insects and butterflies. Having at least one wildlife pond had to be a central feature of the garden! I enjoy walking, reading and gardening.

In my working life I was a clinical Psychologist in Sussex Mental Health services for thirty years before retiring when my husband became ill. Since retiring and becoming a widow, I have had more time for volunteering activities. I became a warden for the Millennium Green some months ago and was very pleased to be invited to become a trustee.