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MEET THE COMMITTEE
Who We Are
We are a small group of local residents committed to celebrating and protecting the beauty of the Benfield Valley as an accessible green space for all to enjoy.
HELEN FORESTER
Chair (Founder)
Helen is the founder of the Benfield Valley Project, having created it in July of 2020 as a response to Brighton and Hove Council's proposal to develop a section of the valley as part of the City Plan Part Two.
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A mum of two, Helen can often be found out 'nature-hunting' in the valley with her children. She is passionate about accessible green spaces and the benefits that areas such as Benfield Valley can have on the mental and physical health of human beings, as well as the preservation of such spaces, the ecological significance of which can often be overlooked.
She is a big believer that 'people power' can create positive change that can safeguard and protect our natural world for generations to come.
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Helen is hugely grateful to Kayla, Carla, fellow local conservation groups, community projects and the wider Hangleton community for all the support since she set up the project.
KAYLA POTTER-JONES
Treasurer/Ecologist
With a lifelong passion for the natural world, Kayla holds a Master's in Ecology and Conservation. After graduating, she began to wonder how she could use her expertise to benefit others.
As a child, Kayla spent her days in Benfield Valley looking for wildlife, trying to catch grasshoppers or walking her dog so becoming a member of the Benfield Valley Project is to her, the perfect way to give back to her community and the wildlife of the space.
By undertaking our first ecological survey, Kayla's hope is to promote its significance in the local environment and encourage the community to reconnect with this wild space. We are very thankful to have Kayla and she is the whizz behind the incredible nature photography and information on our social media pages.
CARLA BLACKMAN
Secretary
Carla gets outside at every opportunity so growing up in Hangleton was perfect for her as she was never far from the Downs or the sea. She has always been at her absolute happiest when either very muddy or in the sea.
With a lifelong interest in nature and conservation, Carla had been looking to become more actively involved with something locally. This was when she came across the Benfield Valley Project on social media. She is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful group and am amazed at the positive response from the local community.
Carla is a huge asset to the project and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and expertise when it comes to bureaucratic systems and processes.