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Meet the Trustees

The Trustees of The Golden Grove Trust have taken on the responsibility of maintaining the special parkland and arboretum with beautiful views, as well as preserving the stunning gothic historic buildings.
   
The Golden Grove Trust is a non-profit, charitable organisation.

Trustee

Henk Smit (Chair of Board of Trustees)
 
Henk moved to the UK in 1994 from The Netherlands, and after an Academic career as a Research Scientist in the area of Nutrition & Behaviour lasting over 25 years, has now been in private practice as a Counselling Therapist for several years.  

When first visiting Gelli Aur, Henk felt drawn to the dramatic and green space that is the estate. Having moved to the locality in 2022, Henk is determined to help the Gelli Aur estate become the viable business and social hub it was meant to be, providing a much-needed service to the local and wider community, and having been a member of National Trust for many years, he is aware how important it is that we contribute to help preserve the rich heritage of the Gelli Aur Estate.

Trustee

Daljit Singh (Trustee)

Daljit was born and bred in Bristol and has always been passionate about Wales as a country with its amazing landscapes, castles and rich heritage. 

Daljit has many years of experience in both Operational Management and Business Transformation/Change, and sees inclusion and diversity as key elements which enable us to harness the skills and experience of the local community. Since moving to the locality in 2022, Daljit has been keen to see the Gelli Aur Estate resurrected, and reopened, for the benefit of the local and wider community.  Daljit has been an active member of the National Trust for decades and thus appreciates the importance of preserving historical buildings and estates for the benefit of current and future generations

Trustee

Debbie Ince (Trustee/Treasurer)
 
Debbie became the Trust’s Treasurer in February 2024 and Trustee in May 2024.  Debbie has a wealth of experience in finance and business.

Debbie has a passion for woodlands and wildlife preservation, in addition to her love of historic buildings, and thus is keen to ensure the Trust is able to achieve its stated objectives for the benefit of the local and wider communities.

James Smith (Trustee)

James became a Trustee in November 2024.  With a Background from Engineering Operations Management he took a role at the National Botanic Garden of Wales as the Head of Operations, managing seven listed buildings and a Grade II* Estate.  He also advises Strata Florida Board on their exciting project with the Farmhouse and yard development.

With a wealth of experience in compliance, legislation, and latterly Tree Safety, James is a key member to assist the Golden Grove Trust Board in managing a complex landscape.

Our Volunteer Teams

Sandra John (Volunteer Coordinator)

Sandra....

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Volunteer Teams

GROUNDS TEAM
Huw Jenkins - Team Lead

The Grounds Team is a small but growing army of volunteers with a variety of skills, ranging from raking leaves and fighting back brambles, to cutting down trees.  We maintain the Parkland and are working hard to re-open the Arboretum, whilst planning ahead to re-instate the circular walk in the future.

FUNDING APPLICATIONS TEAM
Teresa Metcalf - Team Lead

The Funding Applications Team researches funding opportunities that align with the objectives and the priorities of the Trust.  We are looking for more people to join the team to reduce workload and to increase the funding scope for the Trust.
 

ARCHIVIST TEAM
Mandy Crofts - Team Lead

The Archivist Team researches and uncovers historical documents and facts, as already evidenced in some of our social media posts (see also Mandy's video blog!).  There is a lot to be investigated, documented, stored for future generations and shared where we can.

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SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE TEAM
Henk Smit - Team Lead

And last but by no means least: Friends Of Golden Grove | Gelli Aur, whom we are truly grateful for.

All vehicles must be removed from premises by café closing time

Charity registration number - 1143416
Registered company number - 07736018 (England & Wales)

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