Meet the directors
Chris Bailey - Chairman
I have been a chef and publican for over 15 years, with the last 10 years spent working in and around the New Forest. As a food lover who lives and works in this beautiful area I have always had a great passion for using local and seasonal foods and really enjoy supporting our farmers and producers.
I have found that not only does this benefit our local economy by helping keep our great countryside traditions alive, it also benefits my business. The quality of produce is always of a much higher standard, plus the care and service received from a local business creates a far more personal relationship.
I believe that local food should be championed and celebrated in all its diversity, being a member of the New Forest Marque gives me the joy of knowing that my customers are receiving the best the New Forest has to offer and very low food miles.
Jim Greenwood
Jim and his wife Judith live on a Forest smallholding where he grew up. He has spent all his working life in agriculture and attended agricultural college at Sparsholt, near Winchester. Since then he has been involved with various aspects of agriculture both in this country and abroad and has experience of dairy, beef, pigs, arable and vegetable production and was a farm manager for a large estate within the New Forest National Park. He is now partially retired but is still retained as a farming consultant. He is also interested in the traditional rural crafts of the area and is a practicing commoner in the traditions and heritage of the New Forest. Jim has been involved in the New Forest Marque since its conception.
Paul Girling
Setley Ridge Vineyard & Farm Shop | Retail & Market Sectors
Paul owns and runs Setley Ridge Vineyard & Farm Shop with his wife Hayley. He was born in Lyndhurst and has lived in the New Forest for most of his life. Much of his childhood was spent at Slade Farm, Boldre a mixed farm of Hereford & Charolais beef cattle where he developed his love of local produce. He is a member of the New Forest Marque both as a wine producer and retailer of local produce.
Martyn Evans
A fish farmer for 17 years before moving into sales and marketing. He has been involved at the beginning of the New Forest Marque as the Forest Friendly Farming Local Produce Co-ordinator and held the post for just under four years.
Sue Cole
Sue has lived in Minstead since 1983. She started with a couple of sheep and a house cow while her children were young and has gradually developed her smallholding into a sucessful little business producing some Red Poll beef and lamb, hogget and mutton from her flock of Gotland sheep, together with a range of woollen products. As a long standing member of the Soil Association she strives to work as sustainably as possible and is committed to producing and promoting local food.
Sean Quinn
Sunnyfields Organic | Arable Sector
Sean started work as a meat apprentice with Sainsbury’s when he first left school, progressing after 15 years to meat manager and gaining great experience in the food retailing trade. Sean has been with Sunnyfields for several years and helped to establish and develop the company to its current position as one the few organic vegetable companies locally.
Jane Overall
Ron Lakey
Owls Barn Farm Shop
Ron has been producing lamb and beef since the 1980s. He opened Owls Barn Farm Shop in the mid 1990s to get full value from his own produce. He has since built the business to employ four other people. Apart from farm shop sales he has built a considerable wholesale business supplying restaurants and hotels throughout the Forest. Ron has been committed to New Forest Friendly Farming since 2001 and is strongly committed to taking the Marque further as he believes it is such a benefit to producers in the Forest.
Judith Long
Judith was born and grew up in Romsey but has lived in the Forest for the last 17 years. She taught Home Economics and Food Technology for 34 years at Burgate School and Sixth Form Centre at Fordingbridge and was Head of Faculty.
Judith was a trustee of The Mountbatten Memorial Trust and is a Vice-President and past chairman of The Romsey Agricultural and Horse Show Society. She and her husband (Jim Greenwood) live on a Forest small holding rearing cattle, pigs, sheep and chickens for their own consumption with a little spare to sell. They also grow most of their own vegetables and make cider and apple juice. She has helped create the Marque cookbook ‘Well Seasoned’ (link to sales) and with events, talks and promotions.