We’re thrilled to introduce the individuals from our Broadway community who have stepped forward to join the Broadway Village Gardens Steering Group! Each of them brings a unique blend of skills, experience, and passion for our community, and now it’s over to you to help shape the future of this project.
Below you’ll find statements from each applicant, sharing their motivations and what they hope to contribute to the Steering Group. We encourage everyone in the Broadway community to take the time to read through these applications and cast your vote for the six new members who will help drive the project forward.
Our Criteria
We’re particularly looking for people with strategic focus who are passionate about the site and our village, and can dedicate time to the project. We also need someone to take on a secretarial role, managing communications, taking minutes and keeping us organised.
For a project as diverse and exciting as Broadway Village Gardens, we’re looking for a wide range of skills and expertise to bring our vision to life. Here are some areas that we believe would be particularly valuable for the Steering Group:
• Business Management and Strategy
• Finance and Administration
• Project Management and Organisational Skills
• Gardening, Horticulture, Landscaping and Land Management
• Conservation and Biodiversity
• Community Engagement and Event Planning
• Education and Outreach
• Inclusivity and Representation
Thank you to everyone who applied and to the wider community for your continued support. Read on to meet the applicants and make your vote count!
Applicant Statements
Alysha Loveridge
Tell us a bit about yourself
I am a long-term resident of Broadway, having lived here for 12 years, during which time I have actively contributed to various aspects of the community. My professional background, combined with extensive volunteer experience, has equipped me with the skills and passion necessary to help shape an inclusive and thriving community garden.
As a parent and advocate for inclusivity, I am passionate about ensuring that the community garden becomes a space where everyone feels welcome. I would be honoured to bring my expertise, local knowledge, and commitment to inclusivity to the steering group, helping to create a space that reflects the diverse needs and aspirations of our community.
What skills and expertise can you bring to the Steering Group?
I bring a wealth of experience in working with children and adults with disabilities, gained from my five years at the Vale of Evesham School and my involvement in the Wychavon Disabilities Stakeholder Group. As a member of this group, I have successfully advocated for inclusivity and challenged decisions to ensure that services meet the needs of disabled individuals and their families. This experience allows me to provide valuable insights into creating a garden that is accessible and welcoming for all. I have volunteered with the parish council, contributing to local initiatives and supporting the community through collaborative decision-making and planning for the past 2 years.
What relevant experience do you have?
My professional roles have included working with schools, the Broadway Museum and Art Gallery, and the Broadway Business Association. I currently manage social media, membership volunteer coordination supporting strategy for the museum, a role that has honed my skills in planning, communication, and community engagement. These skills would be invaluable in promoting the community garden and fostering a sense of ownership among residents.
In addition to my professional work, I have been deeply involved in volunteering within Broadway. I have served on the parish council, contributed to the Broadway Magazine, supported the youth club, participated in Pilots, and co-organised the Chocolate Festival in 2024. These roles reflect my dedication to community development and my ability to work collaboratively with others to achieve shared goals.
Which sectors of the community do you represent or hope to give a voice to?
I represent a broad range of voices within the community, including individuals with disabilities, young families, and community groups. Drawing from my listed experience, I bring a strong understanding of inclusivity, accessibility, and community engagement. I am committed to ensuring the garden becomes a welcoming and inclusive space that reflects the diverse needs of our community.
Do you have any other skills or resources you’d like to share with the project?
I bring a combination of skills and resources that I believe would greatly benefit this project. My experience in social media marketing, planning, and strategy allows me to effectively promote initiatives, engage the community, and build awareness for the garden. Additionally, my strong organisational skills and background in coordinating events, such as community festivals and youth initiatives, equip me to support planning and execution processes.
I also have a solid understanding of accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring the garden is designed to be welcoming to individuals with disabilities and young families. My deep connection to the Broadway community and familiarity with its networks provide valuable insight and potential opportunities for collaboration and support to enhance the success of this project.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know?
I love art and gardening, I have grown vegetables each year for the past 13 years and I keep 2 happy chickens and 2 energetic children.
Jess Nicholls
Tell us a bit about yourself
I’m Jesse Nicholls, 29, I have lived/ worked in Broadway for nearly 12 years and have always been a local girl. I was absolutely thrilled to see the idea of a Broadway Community Garden come to life and am eager to volunteer my time and expertise to support this wonderful initiative.
I am a local garden designer with extensive horticultural knowledge and a deep passion for creating naturalistic landscapes that inspire connection and learning. My experience spans a variety of garden types, land management projects, and community initiatives, including previously serving as a trustee of the Winchcombe Community Garden and Orchard, where I contributed to its setup.
I have a strong background in community engagement, having led horticulture workshops that make gardening accessible and enjoyable for all. My work emphasises biodiversity, sustainable land management, and regenerative farming practices.
Before establishing my own design studio, I honed my skills for five years as a gardener in diverse settings, including flower farms, kitchen gardens, estate gardens and private and commercial spaces. Beyond design, I’m a keen vegetable grower and am passionate about creating spaces where people can come together to learn about gardening, growing food, and supporting local ecosystems. Joining the Broadway Community Gardens team would be an incredible opportunity to give back to the community help create a space for connection, education, and shared growth.
What skills and expertise can you bring to the Steering Group?
Garden Design, Project Management, Horticultural Knowledge, Gardening, Landscaping and Land Management, Conservation and Biodiversity – Currently doing community engagement and Outreach for the new gardens I have designed at Evesham Library in collaboration with Wychavon Council.
What relevant experience do you have?
Yes work on similar initiatives. Have been incredibly lucky to have been involved with many community projects working with 4 different councils in creating/designing community gardens in towns/hospitals/ harbours. Previous Trustee for the setup of Winchcombe Community Allotments & Orchard- bringing back an orchard full of Gloucestershire counties heritage fruit trees.
Which sectors of the community do you represent or hope to give a voice to?
Local residents: Ensuring the garden reflects the needs and interests of people living in the area.
Garden enthusiasts: Representing those who love gardening and want a space to share their passion.
Families and children: Promoting gardening as an educational and fun activity for all ages.
Elderly or retired individuals: Offering opportunities for social connection and gentle outdoor activity.
People interested in sustainability: Advocating for those passionate about biodiversity, sustainable gardening, and eco-friendly practices. Potential to team up with local gardening groups, green groups etc
New or beginner gardeners: Encouraging those who want to learn about gardening but lack the knowledge, space, or confidence.
Underserved communities: Including individuals who might not otherwise have access to gardening spaces, fresh produce, or green areas.
Volunteers and community organisers: Giving a voice to those who want to contribute their time and energy to a shared cause.
Do you have any other skills or resources you’d like to share with the project?
Skills I could bring:
Landscaping Expertise- An understanding of designing and implementing functional, beautiful, and sustainable outdoor spaces.
Knowledge of how to plan layouts that suit diverse community needs, such as vegetable plots, wildlife-friendly planting, and spaces for workshops or gatherings.
Horticultural Knowledge- Expertise in selecting plants and trees that thrive in the local soil and climate. Familiarity with plant care, biodiversity practices, and strategies to create low-maintenance, resilient gardens.
Sustainable Practices- Experience in sustainable land management and regenerative gardening techniques- ie no dig practices. Ability to guide the project toward environmentally responsible choices that encourage biodiversity and carbon-friendly gardening practices.
Community Engagement- Skilled in organising and leading workshops, empowering people to learn about gardening, biodiversity, and vegetable growing. Experience working on community-led projects, including acting as a trustee for the Winchcombe Community Garden and Orchard.
Problem Solving & Collaboration – Adept at troubleshooting issues such as soil challenges, drainage, and designing for accessibility and inclusivity. Strong team collaboration skills to ensure smooth project execution.
Trade Connections- Access to trade-price materials and plants. Local knowledge of trusted suppliers for tools, plants, compost, and other essential materials.
Local Knowledge- Familiarity with Broadway’s unique environment, including its soil types and microclimate, to ensure successful planting and landscaping.
Design Tools- Professional design skills and tools to create plans, drawings, and visuals for the garden, helping the team bring ideas to life.
Practical Gardening Experience- Years of hands-on gardening. A strong foundation in practical techniques such as planting, pruning, irrigation, and composting.
Visionary Approach- A passion for creating spaces where the community can connect, learn, and grow together.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know?
I’m so thrilled to see a team of passionate individuals coming together to create a green space that will greatly enrich our community. I can’t wait to watch it flourish and grow in the years to come!
Rob Dagley
Tell us a bit about yourself
Lived in Broadway for nearly 6 years, and Longborough prior to that. I’m currently one of the Directors of a local resident’s management company and believe I can bring both my professional and personal experience to the Steering Committee.
What skills and expertise can you bring to the Steering Group?
I’m a senior IT Technical Executive, professional Project Manager and teacher within the IT industry and have significant experience of small and large projects, with budgets, deadlines and various stakeholders. I look after my own garden at home, which I personally designed and created, including all of the hard and soft landscaping. I have also recently raised money for the Birmingham Children’s hospital.
What relevant experience do you have?
My employer runs a volunteering initiative, allowing employees to volunteer for a number of community projects. In the past, I have worked on community projects at an infant’s school and disabled children’s and young adult’s day centres.
Which sectors of the community do you represent or hope to give a voice to?
Nothing specific, but I believe I can equally represent all local communities with empathy and interest.
Do you have any other skills or resources you’d like to share with the project?
I have connections with the Cotswold Wardens and access to a variety of tools and equipment at home.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know?
I’m extremely organised and have a very high attention to detail. Strong leadership skills, great team player and good, dry sense of humour.
Phil Insley
Tell us a bit about yourself
I live in Broadway and have run the Horticultural and Craft Show since 2016. I qualified in Horticulture from Sutton Bonington (Nottingham University) in 1983 and have been involved in horticulture my entire life. I enjoy getting involved in anything that may get youngsters involved in gardening and the outdoors.
What skills and expertise can you bring to the Steering Group?
I have spent my entire life gardening and working in horticulture. My horticultural knowledge is therefore extensive. I set up and ran a large wholesale plant nursery and plant centre from 1983 – 2011 which at its peak turned over in excess of £3 million per year. I was in charge of the financial planning of the business and the entire production process. 2 of us set up the business and at its peak we employed over 100 people. Since 2017 I have been working as a self-employed gardener. Since 2016 I have also been organising the Horticultural and Craft Show. In 2022 I helped organise the Food Festival and in 2023 joined the new committee to run the food festival.
What relevant experience do you have?
While living near Badsey I was involved in the following: The Friday Club and then the BASH. The Friday Club organised local charity events and a Panto in the Village Hall ever other year raising funds for local good causes. I was on stage for 3 of the pantos. I was on the founding Committee of the BASH which was set up by the Landlord of the Wheatsheaf Inn to hold an annual weekend event at the Wheatsheaf, the weekend after August Bank holiday, to raise money for local good causes. This proved very successful over several years. Badsey Flower Show – I was on the committee for several years and was one of the main people organising getting sponsorship for the show. Carol Singing around Badsey – for several years I organised a gang who went carol singing around the village normally raising over £300 each year. Initially this was with a Horse drawn trailer (supplied by a local “character” Steve Thould) with Santa on the back and a choir made up by past members of the Friday Club and BASH. With the unfortunate death of the Horse this was then a pickup and trailer with Santa and small brass band on the back. The number of singers increased when we offered to donate the money raised each year to Badsey Church if they helped with supplying some more singers. I ran the Wheatsheaf Winos. This initially involved getting drink suppliers to come and do wine tastings at the Wheatsheaf. I then suggested doing a cheese and wine tasting where I purchased the cheese and wine and did a tasting at the pub. This proved very successful and this then evolved into having a 3 course meal at the Wheatsheaf with a cheese course supplied by me and 8 different wines purchased by me all for under £30 a head!! I organised these about twice a year and these were normally attended by 32 – 48 people. These came to an end soon after i moved to Broadway in 2011.
Which sectors of the community do you represent or hope to give a voice to?
My wife Jayne and I have been asked to organise a children’s gardening club in Broadway however we have not been able to as there is nowhere suitable. Perhaps this is something that can be incorporated in this venture.
Do you have any other skills or resources you’d like to share with the project?
I have a full range of tools for gardening.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know?
No.
Alan Young
Tell us a bit about yourself
We moved to the edge of Broadway in 2019. The creation of a new community garden in Broadway is an ideal project for me to get more involved with the local community. My professional knowledge and industry connections would undoubtedly help to get this project started at this primary stage for the community and visitors to our vibrant village.
What skills and expertise can you bring to the Steering Group?
I am a professional horticulturalist. I work for Wyevale Nurseries – a trade nursery in Herefordshire with 1000 acres growing native and ornamental trees, hedging and shrubs it is one of the UK’s biggest nurseries for landscape and amenity projects. I work as part of the sales team, so I am continually working on plant supply to UK landscape projects. I’m industry ‘well connected’ with garden designers, Landscapers, landscape architects, local authorities and private estates. I have thorough plant knowledge which I need for my career and I’m professionally qualified in horticulture from The Welsh College of Horticulture. Throughout my career I have worked on ‘major’ plant supply for RHS show gardens at Chelsea, Hampton Court, Tatton Park and more latterly Malvern…all of which require a lot of planning and project management.
What relevant experience do you have?
I used to live in Surrey and was part of the villiage ‘in bloom’ committee. Through my job I supply plants to many grant funded projects through local authorities or the Local Wildlife Trusts. I’m well connected to local authorities and wildlife trust contacts in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
Which sectors of the community do you represent or hope to give a voice to?
I would be happy to work alongside volunteers, whether young, middle aged or senior and share my horticultural knowledge.
Do you have any other skills or resources you’d like to share with the project?
Through my job I can supply trees and plants at very competitive prices, as Wyevale Nurseries is a primary grower…i.e we grow trees and plants to sell onto the industry and wholesale nurseries. I am connected to the University of Gloucestershire – School of Landsacpe Architecture, so a project like this might be ideal to get students involved with for providing design expertise as part of their courses. Likewise, Pershore College runs horticultural courses and they might be useful for any construction projects involvement?
Is there anything else you’d like us to know?
I have thorough horticultural and plant knowledge and I’m enthusiastic for making gardens. My wife and I enjoy creating and looking after our own Cotswold Cottage Garden. I enjoy walking and am actively part of a Cotswold Walking Group.
Christian Lang (Secretarial Application)
Tell us a bit about yourself
I have lived in Broadway since 1988. I retired in 2016 having undertaken property development for a large Special Needs Housing Association for nearly 30 years. This included putting in over 300 planning applications all over the country (I only lost 2). I therefore have experience of estate/land/property matters. I have undertaken various pieces of voluntary work in Broadway over the years. Currently I am the ‘Genealogy’ volunteer at the Broadway Library, helping local people find their roots. I have been doing this for about 4 years. I am also Secretary of the Evesham Probus Club, where I manage the administration of the Club. I am familiar with secretarial requirements, as well as matters such as GDPR. This particular project appeals to me because of the hard work and aspiration behind it and I feel that it is something that I can competently contribute to over the next few years.
What skills and expertise can you bring to the Steering Group?
I am computer literate and and regularly use all the tools available such as Microsoft Office etc. I work quickly and accurately in my secretarial duties as Evesham Probus Secretary, and am into the detail, as evidenced in my Genealogical work for Broadway Library. I am also very discrete and maintain the level of confidentiality required in these sort of posts. At work, I was Project Manager for all the developments that I undertook, leading teams of professionals to secure satisfactory outcomes.
What relevant experience do you have?
Yes, as above, but not of this specific type. I am always interested to learn, but this application is for the post of secretary only.
Which sectors of the community do you represent or hope to give a voice to?
I always feel that the future of our village is the young people. Their aspirations must be given a voice, and this is but one opportunity to do so.
Do you have any other skills or resources you’d like to share with the project?
I can offer time-up to 1 day every week.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know?
Whilst I am getting on in years, I am fit, well and raring to go.
Emma Sims
Tell us a bit about yourself
I live in Broadway – and I’m interested in community initiatives – having had previous experience in how these community groups work and evolve.
What skills and expertise can you bring to the Steering Group?
I was Chair of Horsley Community Shop – which was a failing project – and it was dedicated team work that saved the project.
What relevant experience do you have?
As above.
Which sectors of the community do you represent or hope to give a voice to?
There shouldn’t be a distinction – the idea of community is to embrace and encourage all.
Do you have any other skills or resources you’d like to share with the project?
Connections via District Council,
Is there anything else you’d like us to know?
No.
Rob Fulton
Tell us a bit about yourself
I have lived in Broadway for about 5 years and I would love to join the Steering Committee as I believe I have a lot of skills which can be contributed to it.
What skills and expertise can you bring to the Steering Group?
I was a qualified solicitor (now retired) for a large aerospace company, a former trustee of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity for 8 years. I am a current trustee of Broadway Trust and volunteer for the Broadway Museum and the Gordon Russell Museum. I also renovate a number of the benches in the village and a lot of the skills (project management, secretarial, fund management, organisation, gardening etc) I have brought to the above can be applied to the Steering Group.
What relevant experience do you have?
See above.
Which sectors of the community do you represent or hope to give a voice to?
Older and younger residents alike, families, and those interested in the garden.
Do you have any other skills or resources you’d like to share with the project?
I have access to gardening tools and I can utilise contacts obtained during my other work.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know?
I believe I have a lot of the skills necessary to work on the project and be the representive of the Broadway Trust as well as I have the support of the other trustees.
How to Vote
Voting is now open and will remain so until Wednesday, 22nd January 2025 at 8pm. You can vote online or in person at our upcoming community update at Lifford Hall. Your input is invaluable in ensuring that the Steering Group represents a diverse and dedicated team to guide Broadway Village Gardens into its next exciting phase.
Can you tell me what the latest news is ? Do you now own the land?