MEET THE TEAM

 

 

 

Kelvin - Manager

 

Hello!

Since November 2023 I have had the exciting role of manager of Creekside Education Trust. Like the wildflowers around our Discovery Centre, my job and responsibilities are diverse, which I love. One day I could be working on setting and delivering the long-term ambitions of the charity with our Board of Trustees, whilst the next day I could be getting my hands dirty helping our conservationists. I enjoy the buzz of having curious learners visiting us daily and am delighted to be part of a team passionate about connecting people with urban wildlife.

I have been working in the greenspace and conservation field in South London since 2017 and am grateful that I can continue to support these places for people and wildlife in my working life. Outside of work I can be found rolling around the city and countryside on my bicycle, camping, swimming and just enjoying being outdoors!

 

 

 

  

 

Patty - Administration & Communications Officer 

 

I arrived in Lewisham nearly 17 years ago and have never lived outside of the borough. I joined Creekside Education Trust in August 2022 as administration support, and this quickly developed into engagement and communications responsibilities. My educational background includes a BA in Photography Arts and an MA in Social Media and Digital Communication.

Not one day is similar at my work. Sometimes, you can find me in the office replying to emails or posting on social media, and sometimes, you can find me in the bushes in Sue Godfrey Nature Park, taking photos of bugs and plants. Occasionally, I put waders on and go with Nick for a nature walk & talk in the Creek (that does not happen enough!). I treat my work as a path for new learning on how to be appreciative and support wildlife around us through the perspective of the climate crisis.

                  

 

 

 

 

 

Nick - Conservationist

 

I’m a conservationist here at Creekside and I was involved with Deptford Creek before it became a development hot spot. I started managing the land the Creekside Centre is on in 1996. The aim was/ is to try and conserve some wildlife habitat adjacent to the Creek. One of my driving forces is that we do not see ourselves as part of the natural world, when we should do. We usually know more about what is happening to wild species in other places than we do about the wild that lives around us where we can change things. The first step is getting to know those other species. We have a long way to go. Think global act local.

 

 

 

 

Julia - Education Learning Deliverer

 

I joined the learning team at Creekside in 2022 as a freelance learning deliverer before becoming a permanent member of the team in spring 2023. With a background in Early years, I started my outdoor learning journey splashing in muddy puddles. Turns out this was great training for wading in the Creek!

After retraining as a Forest School practitioner, I have been lucky enough to work in all sorts of urban wild spaces across London. I feel lucky to have settled here at Creekside Discovery Centre as it is such a unique site with no two days the same. From Eels to Egrets, sharing it all with our learners is so rewarding. 

                 

 

   

 

 

Andy - Conservationist

 

I started working as a conservationist at Creekside in 2018 initially to manage Sue Godfrey Nature Park for wildlife. Now, my role.... I started volunteering on nature reserves in 1986 on The Wirral and after various jobs came back to conservation in 2005, volunteering with London Wildlife Trust. Since then, I have worked on nature reserves all over London, as well as in Dorset with Butterfly Conservation.

I have lived in Deptford since 2010 and feel very fortunate to work locally. Also, the consistency of working throughout the year at the same sites has given me a deeper knowledge of the local wild environment.

 

 

 

 

Paddy - Education & Volunteering Lead

 

I joined the Creekside Discovery Centre team as a volunteer in 2019 when I was looking for a way to engage with the natural environment in a more hands-on way. My background is in secondary school science teaching, which I spent 4 years doing after moving from Ireland in 2015.

I was lucky enough to be employed at Creekside in November 2019 and since August 2022 I have been the Learning & Volunteering Lead. I love working outdoors and sharing this unique environment with learners of all ages! Creekside is a place that excites me throughout the year, and I am delighted to have found purpose and community in my work here, and elsewhere in the environmental sector.

                        

 

   

 

 

Tim - Freelance Education Learning Deliverer

 

After volunteering at Creekside for a couple of years, I joined the Education Team in 2023. My main job is leading school groups up Deptford Creek at low tide so we can all learn about life in and around the river. My background is in facilitating philosophical discussions with young people and I love hearing all the ideas and questions that our Creek visitors have. As a Deptford local, I feel incredibly lucky to be able to explore the wild river on my doorstep, and even luckier to share it with others – from curious humans to mysterious algae, and everything in between.