Helen Chesshire

I grew up on a traditional family farm in the Midlands. Always outside and involved in the farm, I was inspired to attend Brooksby Agricultural College where as a girl I was very much in the minority on the agricultural course. Following three enjoyable years I travelled and worked my away around the world including a spot of farming in New Zealand. On my return I worked for the Milk Marketing Board before deciding I wanted to secure a degree in Agricultural Business Management, which I undertook at Wye College. This led to a really interesting job at the height of the breakdown of communism in Eastern Europe with Produce Studies, helping to make trading connections for fresh produce between East and West Europe. But it was after joining the Woodland Trust in 1998 that I was able to combine my farming background and increasing woodland conservation knowledge. I am now the Woodland Trust’s Lead Farming Advocate helping to raise the profile and uptake of agroforestry. Bringing more trees into farmed landscapes is critical as farming adapts to climate change. It really does feel like agroforestry’s time has come; delivering for nature and climate whilst producing food, fuel and fibre.