Harriet Knight – Executive Director
I grew up on an organic farm in Devon where we regularly hosted WWOOFers, and went on myself to volunteer on organic farms across the world. My early days of WWOOFing inspired me to become a professional organic grower and I spent some years growing fruit and vegetables commercially, as well as teaching others about growing using agroecological methods. In 2023 I set up my own sustainable flower farm in North Devon. I am thrilled to have joined WWOOF UK as Coordinator as I believe wholeheartedly in the positive impact WWOOF has on the world, and I’m excited to be a part of the organisation that played a big role in my life’s trajectory. In my spare time, (when I’m not covered in soil), it’s usually because I’m playing around in the sea swimming, surfing or sailing.
Taryn Field – Membership Coordinator
I was a WWOOF host for 12 years, but now live the urban life in a housing co-op in Milton Keynes. I came into the role of Host Contact after working 8 years for Lowimpact.org, an amazing non-profit organisation. I am dedicated to WWOOF’s ethos and principles and love working for this inspiring organisation. My favourite land based tasks are weeding and eating berries. In my spare time I play the fiercely cool sport of Roller Derby where I think I look mean, but really just fall over a lot.
Luke Raistrick – Marketing & Communications Lead
Growing up in rural North Yorkshire, I have always felt most at home outdoors, whether that’s in the sea, on the coast or somewhere in the hills. My background is a mix of creativity and communications, and I’ve spent the past few years working across storytelling, content and brand-building for organisations and projects with a strong sense of purpose. I’m really excited to have joined WWOOF UK as Marketing & Communications Lead, helping to tell the stories of hosts, WWOOFers and others across our community, and to shine a light on the value of organic growing, shared learning and connection to the land. I’m drawn to WWOOF because it offers something increasingly rare and important, a chance to slow down, learn by doing, and build real relationships through meaningful exchange.
Justine Hall – Finance
I look after the finances for WWOOF UK, which is a rewarding challenge! I also work in academic finance and used to work in finance for healthcare innovation, and look forward to the day WWOOFing and contact with nature get prescribed for good health and illness prevention! I’ve often researched where to go WWOOFing but have never yet made it – instead I lived overseas teaching English for a few years. Now I am back in the UK, I can enjoy ballroom dancing and samba drumming in my free time.
Page Dykstra – Interim Dirctor
Originally from South Dakota in the United States, I now live in a co-housing community and long-standing WWOOF host in the Cotswolds. I first came to the UK in 2000 to study at the United World College of the Atlantic and went on to study International Policy and African Studies at Princeton University. After finishing my studies, I worked in international development, including several years as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Coordinator at the Natural Resource Governance Institute. I’ve travelled extensively internationally for work and lived in South Africa, South Sudan and New York before settling back in England several years ago. In 2016 I completed a two-year apprenticeship at Stroud Community Agriculture, a community supported agriculture project supplying weekly veg boxes to roughly 250 members as well as managing beef cattle, sheep and pigs. Since then, I’ve continued to be engaged in the agroecology sector in the UK, working for the Gaia Foundation’s Seed Sovereignty Programme, Community Supported Agriculture Network UK, Biodynamic Association Certification and Biodynamic Agricultural College among others. I’m honoured to be stewarding WWOOF UK as Interim Director and excited to meet more of the wider WWOOF community.
Sue Coppard – Founder of WWOOF
I came up with WWOOF in 1971 when I was a London secretary dying for an outlet to the countryside. To my amazement the project took off. I loved WWOOFing, and ran WWOOF for a year and a half before going on a year’s overseas backpack, leaving WWOOF in the hands of a newly-formed team of four – an excellent next step. On my return I re-joined the organisers, carrying out different jobs. I finally felt ready to leave London and moved to a small house with a garden – WWOOFers proved invaluable. I can thoroughly recommend life in a small historical country town – and such a choice of activities too! I joined the local Green Party, and became our Town Clerk for a few years; but eventually changed from clerking to music making, and now play the accordion at a wide range of events. I have a lot to thank WWOOF for; it enhanced my life immensely and helped create new paths through life. To read an extended interview with Sue go to bestculturaldestinations.com/visionaries1/sue-coppard-wwoof
Tony Chalcraft – Trustee
I became a trustee of WWOOF UK in 2011 after escaping from half a lifetime working in higher education. Becoming a trustee enabled me to begin repaying the huge debt I owe to WWOOF. As a long term host with my partner Jane on a suburban smallholding and nearby field and woodland on the edge of York we have gained immensely from WWOOF. For twenty odd years we’ve been privileged to receive hundreds of WWOOFers from the UK and across the world. Being hosts has transformed our lives, informed our growing activities and opened up a new world of contacts and ideas.
In trying to repay WWOOF my focus is on how we can develop and build on its values and aims in a changing world, what is sometimes grandly called ‘strategy’. Having a longer term view is important but we also need to focus on the here and now and I’m also helping ensure we remain financially sustainable and, as a host myself, never lose sight of the needs of hosts. Above all I’m always conscious that the strength of WWOOF lies in its members, hosts and WWOOFers, as well as its excellent staff team.
Having worked in education and as someone who now provides training sessions on fruit and vegetable growing to people of all ages and backgrounds, WWOOF’s educational role is also something that’s important to me. Seeing some of our WWOOFers learn from what they are doing with us is one of the most rewarding aspects of the WWOOF exchange. How WWOOF can become even more of a learning organisation is something I’m especially keen to develop.
Susan Moores – Trustee
After a 15 year break here I am returning to the Board of Trustees, to support the wonderful world that is WWOOFing. I discovered WWOOF UK when I was travelling around intentional communities around the South West. I remember picking up a trifold leaflet at Monkton Wyld. Since then I have had the fortune and opportunity to WWOOF in Ireland, France, Italy and New Zealand and represented the movement visiting 3 farms in the Suba district of West Kenya whilst on leave from a job with VSO and the British Council.
As a next step to all this I took a break from my ‘primary work’ as a youth and community worker, studied at Lackham Colleges for a horticultural qualification and did a few months as a paid gardener. Very quickly I stopped that. I didn’t want to lose the joy. For me being in nature, growing, connecting with others in community is a life essential and so for these and other reasons WWOOFing remains very important to me. I continue a long relationship with Lower Shaw Farm (since 2006) always delighted by the warm welcome and invitation to make my contribution, which is what I will be hoping for as a returned Trustee to WWOOF. Whatever your motivations and life path if you love WWOOF then please do get in touch and see how you can support this global movement and community.
Jo Thomas – Trustee
After studying an MBA and spending years in the business world in London and Brighton, my journey has now led me to Wales where I am co-founder of a permaculture-led community. However, moving from a flat in Brighton to taking on 70 acres of land has been no mean feat!
WWOOFing has enabled us to surround ourselves with amazing people who are just as passionate about the environment as we are. We have learned so much, made life-long friends and some WWOOFers have even become permanent residents.
The journey we are on wouldn’t be the same without WWOOF and so I have become a Trustee of WWOOF to try and give something back.
As a Strategy Consultant I have experience in innovation, marketing, product development and business transformation, working with startups to larger businesses and membership organisations. I hope to use my skills to help WWOOF UK grow sustainably, ultimately future-proofing and protecting an organisation I love so much.
In my spare time I enjoy exploring folklore and mythology, reading, writing and crafting. I am a yoga instructor and mum.
Carmen Ho – Trustee
Since my first WWOOF experience in December 2015, I’ve come to deeply appreciate how essential— and rewarding— it is to be immersed in alternative approaches to food-growing and connecting with the land. WWOOF has shown me the immense value of a thriving network of ecologically-conscious growers and communities. This is a culture I’m passionate about nurturing, both through my skills as a creative producer and strategist, and my hands-on experience with food-growing. As a Trustee, I hope to express my gratitude for these opportunities and to actively support the organisation’s movement-building efforts.
With over a decade of international experience in social and cultural initiatives, food systems research, and practical horticulture training, plus an MA in Global Political Economy, I’m actively involved in community food gardens in London. I’m also launching a social initiative focused on seeds and food cultures, setting up community ‘seed libraries’ and developing green spaces that promote health and well-being.
I’ve been a member of WWOOF in China, Brazil, and Canada, and worked on organic farm and food security projects in South Africa and the UK, including permaculture, dairy farms, food cooperatives and food waste networks. WWOOF introduced me to the interconnected themes of food, agroecology, and land use, and I’m grateful for the knowledge, purpose, and community that I’ve cultivated. I look forward to supporting WWOOF in enabling these transformative experiences for others.
Oli Al-Rehani – Trustee
I work in consulting and have a background in economics, but my time as a WWOOFer remains one of the experiences that has stayed with me most.
WWOOF introduced me to a generous and welcoming community, and gave me the chance to learn through practical work and connection to the land. I became a trustee because I wanted to give something back to an organisation that helped me and that I care deeply about.
I hope to bring useful experience in growth, finance and strategy to support WWOOF UK’s future development in a way that stays true to its values.
I’m based in Reading, and outside work I coach football, love cooking and enjoy growing things.
Amrit Sachar – Trustee
I joined WWOOF as a Trustee in early 2024 and I am unusual amongst my wonderful colleagues here, in that I don’t have experience of WWOOFing or hosting for WWOOF. I came across the amazing work that WWOOF does through my husband, Dave Darby who works for Lowimpact.org (formally Low Impact Living Initiative) which used to host WWOOF UK, and have met some amazing hosts and WWOOFers who feel that the experience has been life changing.
We are living in challenging times with climate and food insecurity as well social isolation and I believe that what WWOOF offers its hosts and its WWOOFers is unique and very special as a way of reconnecting with each other, with the land and the food we eat. Providing people with the skills and confidence to self provision and nurture our environment is vital and I feel honoured to be able to support that.
I am an NHS consultant psychiatrist, an advisor for Lowimpact.org and a founder member of Stroud Commons, which seeks to bring community assets into community ownership without shareholders and debt. I have been a Trustee/Director on the Board of two other charities, Hounslow Action for Youth (HAY) and The Wilderness Trust, where I was particularly involved in enshrining good governance procedures and financial stability to ensure the sustainability of the work of these organisations.
You?
If you have any specific skills, some brilliant ideas or want to help, you are really welcome. Just send us an email.