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The Local Action Group

Decisions about what will be funded by RDPE (Leader) in the New Forest will be made by the 22 members of the Local Action Group (LAG).

LAG members are drawn from private businesses (including people involved in forestry, farming and other land-based rural businesses), the public sector and voluntary/community organisations. This ensures that RDPE (Leader) funding is being used to fund local responses to identified local needs.

The LAG meets approximately every 6-8 weeks to assess submitted Expressions of Interest, the first stage in the grant application process.

Full grant applications, the second stage in the process, are considered by the Decision Making Group (DMG). This is a sub-group of the LAG and their role is to consider the case for funding, and the viability of the business plan, which is being made by the applicant.

The LAG also ensures the New Forest RDPE (Leader) Programme is being delivered according to our Local Development Strategy (LDS). This is the document which details the local priorities for funding and the overall administration of the New Forest programme. The New Forest RDPE (Leader) LDS is available here.

Profiles of New Forest LEADER Local Action Group Members
* - Denotes LAG Members who also attend DMG Meetings.

Chris Gwyn-Evans * (Chairman) - Rural business, estate and forestry management
Chris is the Managing Director of the Longdown Management Ltd, which manages estates in and around the New Forest including forestry and farming activities. Chris is also a Director of New Forest Produce Ltd, the company which licenses use of the New Forest Marque.
John Durnell * (Vice Chairman) - Sustainable Land Management
John is head of Conservation for West Hampshire for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. He lives in the New Forest and is particularly interested in land management issues.
Gerald Lewis * (Vice Chairman) - Development & management of community facilities
Gerald is a Parish Councilor for Sopley and has lived and worked in the New Forest for the past 35 years. Qualified to MBA level, he has extensive professional experience of project and financial management in both the private and public sectors and is currently employed as a principal manager with the Childrens Social Care Dept of a neighbouring local authority.
Barry Olorenshaw * - Rural business management and skills development
Barry was previously responsible for Taylor Woodrow's property investment and commercial development programme in Southern England. He currently runs a commercial property consultancy and is Board Member of New Forest Business Partnership.
Anthony Climpson - Business development
Anthony is the Employment and Tourism Manager at New Forest District Council and has been Destination Manager in the New Forest for the past twenty-two years.
Cllr Maureen Holding * - Link between the LAG and NFDC & NPA
Maureen was appointed Portfolio Holder for Employment, Health & Wellbeing following the 2007 district elections. She represents the Brockenhurst and Forest South East District ward. Maureen sits on the Industrial Relations and Planning Development Control Committees at the District Council and is also a board member of the New Forest National Park Authority.
Sam Dovey - Farming and commoning
Sam is involved in both commoning and farming and has been the local Group Secretary of the National Farmers Union since 1999. He is a committee member of the Commoners Defense Association, New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society and the New Forest Livestock Society. Sam is also a trustee of the New Forest Trust and sits on the New Forest Consultative Panel.
Kate Ingram - Farming and commoning
Kate is involved in farming and commoning. She has developed new opportunities on the family farm through diversification into allied rural trades and the conversion of redundant farm buildings
Pat Thorne - Farming and commoning
After working in the NHS for many years Pat ran a smallholding and undertook freelance research. She represented Whiteparish on the consultative panel in the 1990s before moving into the forest, She is currently the Defra appointed Verderer and is also a practising commoner.
Harry Oram - Forestry and woodland management
Harry is District Forester for the local Forestry Commission. He has 40 years experience in forestry management, lives on a smallholding and is also a Parish Councillor for Brockenhurst
Andrew Tolfts * - Forestry and woodland management
Andrew is a professional forester with experience overseas including small business development and the use of mobile saw-mills. Since 2001 he has worked in the wood fuel sector in London and SE England promoting wood as renewable energy and developing wood fuel supply chains. He is a Director of SE Wood Fuels.
David Dibden - Forestry and woodland management
Dave has many years experience of working in the New Forest as a forestry and woodland contractor. In addition he manages a small area of coppice for the Forestry Commission and is a member of Hampshire Coppice Group.
Emma Rigglesworth * - Sustainable Land Management
Emma is Head of Sustainable Development at the New Forest National Park Authority. Emma has lived and worked in the New Forest for many years and has been involved in a number of successful initiatives to support farming and commoning in the New Forest.
Gerald Lewis * - Development & management of community facilities
Gerald is a Parish Councilor for Sopley and has lived and worked in the New Forest for the past 35 years. Qualified to MBA level, he has extensive professional experience of project and financial management in both the private and public sectors and is currently employed as a principal manager with the Childrens Social Care Dept of a neighbouring local authority.
Debbie Grace * -Development & management of community facilities
Debbie is a Community Development worker with the local Council of Voluntary Service. Debbie's role is to support voluntary and community groups across the Forest through the provision of advice on funding and sustainability.
John Sanger * - Development and management of community facilities and link with NPA
John has a background in business and was an advisor for Business Link for many years. He is currently a Parish Councillor for Woodgreen and a member of the New Forest National Park Authority.
Rachel Pearson - Rural business, estate and forestry management
Rachel Pearson is a qualified Chartered Surveyor and has been Resident Agent on the Beaulieu Estate since 2004. Rachel is a stakeholder member of the New Forest Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy and the New Forest Access Forum