Richard Andrews - Director
Sheila and I set up Grow Together in 2020, when we were fortunate to acquire an overgrown allotment. It took us around 2 years to develop the site into a productive no dig, organic (no chemicals) growing space. This was only possible due to the unstinting support of our regular volunteers.
My particular area of interest is in soil health and producing homemade compost. As well as working at the allotment, I enjoy getting involved with the Grow Together school programmes, working with the teachers and delivering practical growing classes to the children.
Prior to joining Grow Together, I worked as a Civil Engineer and Project Manager in the water industry
Paula Kennion - Director
I joined the community allotment as a volunteer in 2022 and Grow Together as a Director in March 2023. Becoming part of the nurturing community allotment and working together with Richard, Sheila and other fellow community volunteers re-ignited my life-long hobby in growing vegetables and organic, no dig practices. I realised how rewarding, enjoyable, and valuable learning, sharing and growing together as a group can be.
My career background has spanned the retail, financial, security and wastewater industries, focusing predominantly on Business Management, Marketing and Business Development.
Colin Richards – Interim Director
During Covid I transformed part of my garden to growing vegetables and discovered both how satisfying the process is and how much more taste the produce delivers. Being a convert to home grown produce it was natural for me to become involved with Grow Together Bucks and I’m looking forward to a new challenge and helping the company develop further in 2024. My career background resides within the IT industry.
The last 25 years of my career I started and ran various successful businesses in and around the software and services industry. In 2013, I sold the business and retired. I now enjoy playing golf at a local club and manage their Senior’s Section IT system too! I also volunteer my services to a number of local ‘not for profit’ entities.
Sheila Bees - Director - Retiring April 2024
I studied Crop Protection & Ecology working in Keele and Birmingham University and then trained to be an Environmental Health officer, specialising in Public Health & Health Promotion at Wycombe District Council.
This involved supporting staff and the community by helping them understand and remove barriers to their wellbeing. My work encompassed healthy eating, physical activity, loneliness and mental wellbeing. In 2014 I trained to be a Mental Health First Aid trainer (MHFA). In 2016 I developed a project called ‘Community Grow’ and later joined with Richard in 2020 to set up Grow Together as a not for profit, Community Interest Company.
