Meet the Team

Richard Andrews - Director

Sheila Bees 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. Prior to joining Grow Together, I worked as a Civil Engineer and Project Manager in the water industry

Ellen Hawes - Development Director

Ellen has lived in High Wycombe for most of her life and is involved with a number of local environmental organisations, including as Trustee of Wycombe Environment Centre and regular volunteer at the Refresh shop

Ellen has been involved in fundraising as a Trust and Grant fundraiser for over 20 years working for a range of charities including Hearing Dogs, the Inland Waterways Association and Living Streets the charity for everyday walking. She graduated with a degree in Environmental Sciences from the Open University in 2018.

She is a keen artist, walker, quizzer, reader of humorous sci-fi and likes to get involved in anything that makes Wycombe a better and nicer place to be for everyone.

Paula Kennion - Head of Projects

Paula joined the community allotment as a volunteer in May 2022 and Grow Together as a Director in March 2023, stepping down in February 2026 to focus fully on running our community projects.

Paula's career background has spanned the retail, financial, security and wastewater industries, focusing predominantly on Business Management, Marketing, Sales and Business Development. Growing food and walking in nature have always been an important part of Paula's life and remembers pulling carrots from the garden with her Dad when she was 5years old.

Justin Warhurst - Practical Schools Programme - Teaching Lead

Justin has been a staggeringly keen gardener for pretty much all of his life. From growing lettuces, carrots and beans in his garden aged 8, he was given a part of his grandad's allotment when he was 9, before having his own whole plot when he was a teenager. Hence his desire to teach youngsters about gardening.

Since then his love for gardening has grown year by year. He gardens totally organically and with nature in mind in everything he does, with a pond both in his garden at home and on his allotment plot. Justin achieved a RHS Level 2 Qualification in Horticulture in 2023 and has worked many times at Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows. He loves chatting about gardening and plants at any opportunity!