Carole’s background is in teaching – she took a Degree
in special educational needs in London. She has taught in residential
special needs units focusing on behavioral management, and in nursery
and primary schools, again with a strong emphasis on special needs.
She has also worked as a community development leader for a district
council rural art and sport project, and has twenty years
of experience as a trainer and workshop leader in Devon whilst
also chairing a charity promoting health and wellbeing of children
through play. Above all she has both a passion and a strong ability
to enable others to thrive.
Jonty’s interest began with a Degree in ecology and genetics
at Lancaster University. This led, through an interest in all things
to do with soil, to a five year apprenticeship in husbandry. He
was taught and mentored by a countryman called Walter Edwards,
who was brought up in Devon’s finest traditions of looking
after the land and all things on it. Jonty went on to run a successful
dairy herd for many years, and lately has taken on the task of
understanding and learning about how we can renew the practices
of husbandry today.
Prior to their move into the Husbandry School, Carole and Jonty
together set up and ran a 40-tutor Course Centre in Arts, Crafts
and Rural Skills on their farm in Devon.
Crew members
Chris Thompson
Chris joined us in 2009 to take a major role in the design and
build of our beautiful hexagonal building – the heart of
the Husbandry School. Chris’s creative and practical input
was invaluable in achieving the stunning space that we have today.
Sula
I have been working at The Husbandry School for 2 years now. I
began on a casual basis and as my interest grew it seemed an
easy flow into getting formally qualified in this type of work – Carole,
Jonty and their amazing project have inspired me to start a degree
course at Bicton college in Horticulture and Plant Science.
I am now in my 2nd year and with one more to go I hope to become
full-time garden manager and help teach the bounty of courses
on offer at The Husbandry School. Jonty and Carole have made
it possible for me to remain employed for two days a week while
I study. This works well as i think it is important to have
a good resource for vocational work to put theory into pratice.
Without starting work here I wouldn't have discovered my love for
plants and the art of husbandry. It has led me down a path with
endless possibilities and Carole and Jontys inspiration, hard work
and focus has helped me to make real and valuable choices in my
life and to further my career ahead.
Dan Handley
Working at the Husbandry School has really changed my life. It
is an experience I will never forget and I’ve loved every
minute of it. The skills I’ve learnt from Carole and Jonty
in the last two years will stay with me for my life. They have
taught me loads about being self-sufficient, growing and harvesting
produce and how to look after the land. I now would have the confidence
to become self-sufficient myself sometime in the future.
Carole and Jonty have now helped me find my own path by connecting
me to James Knight-Pacheco, a top quality chef and the Ashburton
Cookery School.
Choosing the Husbandry School for work experience was perhaps the
best move my life so far has had. I often wonder how different
my life would be if I hadn’t been sent there.
Earth Skills Tutors
Hilary Burns (Basketmaking)
Hilary has been living in Devon for over 25 years, working
as a basketmaker using locally grown willow and hedgerow materials.
She is a member of the Devon Guild, a Yeoman of the Worshipful
Company of Basketmakers and author of Cane, Rush and Willow:
Weaving with Natural Materials.
She weaves contemporary, functional and sculptural pieces.
Over many years she has studied with makers from Europe, Japan
and the USA. She exhibits her work in galleries and makes pieces
to commission.
"Basketry is the hidden craft of archaeology, its material
nature always moving towards a slow return to the earth. Evidence
of basketry’s role as the original craft is found only
in a few fragments preserved in silt or desert conditions and
as traces of pattern on coiled pottery made using a basket
as a mould. Yet thousands of containers of all shapes and sizes
have been the workhorses of fishing and agriculture and early
industry from mining to charcoal burning."
David Norrish (Stone wallng, hedging)
David Norrish was born in Widecombe-in-the-Moor in 1951 to
a farming family, his father raising sheep and cattle on the
edge of Dartmoor. The family later moved to Dean Prior, where
David has been living and farming the 200 acres there ever
since, mainly raising beef cattle. The farm is within an Environmentally
Sensitive Area, and is farmed very traditionally with managed
hedgerow schemes for wildlife.
Over the years, starting with Young Farmers’ Clubs he
has developed an expertise in traditional hedging techniques
and stone walling, winning prizes in competitions. Much of
his experience was gained at first-hand by watching and practicing
how his father and grandfather built and repaired stonewalls
and laid hedges. Both disciplines have become 'labours of love'
for David, and he uses them on a weekly basis. Much of rural
skills knowledge he has gained also gets applied in his work
as a builder and conservationist in projects all over South
Devon.
Sean Hellman (Wood
working)
Sean has been
practicing, teaching and demonstrating green wood-work skills
for over 20 years. Based in South Devon, he runs a business
selling bespoke sculptural and traditional wooden seating,
and original items for the home and garden. Sean’s passion is learning and teaching traditional wood
crafts, including making wooden spoons, carved cups, bowl-turning,
shrink pots, etc. He is the only professional green woodworker
making and selling ‘fan birds’ in the UK.
Sean not only teaches and makes, but is an
active writer and has a regular blog about woodworking, offering
advice and inspiration about the joys of working green wood.
He is an active member of the ‘Bodgers Forum’ the
largest green woodworking forum in the world.
Some of his articles can be seen in various woodworking magazines
such as Living Woods. Sean last TV appearance was on Edwardian
Farm making a coracle with Alex Langlands.
Sean has recently taken on a full time apprentice.
Creative Programme Tutors
Sara Hurley
Sara is a story worker, educator and artistic explorer, a teller
of traditional stories and an experienced creative facilitator
who is passionate about working outside. She guides and encourages
people to be creative in nature and brings stories to life
in accessible and fun ways.
Lucy Lepchani
Lucy Lepchani writes poetry for stage and for page, and also
short fiction, and life-writing. Her work has been published
in a number of magazines and anthologies.She has a working background
in a broad range of arts media, youth and community, and therapeutic
roles.
She currently works freelance as a visiting artist and writer in schools, theatres,
and for youth and community groups; and is also employed as a creative writing
and poetry tutor with the Workers Educational Association.
