About

A view from Finings Wood across the valley

About us

Finings Wood Community Group is a limited company registered in the UK with the company number of RS009264
We are also registered and regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority),
governed by the Co-operative and Community Benefits Act. Reg number 9264

All of our committee are volunteers from Lane End village and surrounds and bring a wealth
of experience and passion to the team and to this cause.
We also have volunteers who are fantastic in their support and knowledge. Come and join us!

Officers of our group

Alastair Broom

hairman
Alastair has lived in Lane End since 2006 so admits to being a 'newcomer'! He was a Director of Hamptons International before launching Garageflex, a business providing storage solutions to private garages throughout the country. Alastair sold Garageflex in December 2021 but stays on as a part time consultant.
"On becoming involved with the opportunity to purchase Finings Wood", Alastair says: "I see this as a wonderful, once in a lifetime opportunity for the village and the people who live here."
Alastair also is a keen sportsman, allotment holder, and grandfather to four grandchildren.

Paul Thomas

Secretary
Paul has been a resident of Lane End and walking in Finings Wood for 43 years. He is a wood carver and designer with passion for tree culture and making things in wood.

Paul attended Wycombe College years ago when it had the best furniture making course in the country, then joined the design team at Ercol furniture.

Paul has been a self-employed business owner for 30 years.

Paul looks after our Facebook page and is the Finings Wood expert at most of our local events! His wonderful artist wife Pauline is responsible for the incredible art installations in the woods including Hedgebeard, Sylvania and little mouse doors dotted about.

Andrew Daw

Treasurer
Andrew has lived in Lane End since 2016. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1982 and worked in both professional practice and industry until 2020, when he changed direction to become a postgraduate student of history at Oxford University. He has worked for businesses and clients globally, specialising in corporate finance, restructuring and turning round heavily indebted companies.

Andrew is a trustee of Marlow Sports Club and treasurer of Marlow Hockey Club, and after a 33-year rest from the game turns out in goal regularly for the 6th XI. He has been known to cycle to Italy and follow Arsenal over much of the UK and Europe.

Rest of our committee

Trevor Mansfield
A lifelong environmentalist, Trevor moved to Lane End in 2015. Having worked for environmental organisations in the voluntary and public sectors, he was keen to get to know the local area – and the local community – by putting those skills to use locally. Trevor joined the Lane End Conservation Group and is now Secretary, looking to expand the capacity of the Group to enhance the natural environment across the parish. If the Friends of Finings Wood is successful in its campaign to purchase Finings Wood then the Lane End Conservation Group will help with the work to restore the woodland. Away from the local environment, Trevor is Dad to two young adults. When not spending time with them he can often be found singing in choirs or occasionally in the Grouse & Ale!

Alex Nelms
Alex is a Partner at Kensham Farms, Cadmore End, and his family also own and manage Cadmore Common and Bolter End Common for recreation and conservation to benefit local folk and wildlife.
Alex has a degree in International Relations and after a spell as a Ski Instructor in the USA, he completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Rural Property Management and then started working on the farm full time.
Alex resides just outside Marlow with his wife Annaliese, recent arrival Callie and Frodo the dog. He wants to assist the group in practical matters of land agency and achieving the objectives of securing and managing this unique and valuable natural resource for future generations.

Katy Dunn
Katy's experience is fantastic for our marketing and promotions, as she is currently working in Marketing and Communications at The National Trust.

Katy is also the much loved Editor of The Clarion - our parish magazine.

Outdoors enthusiast and writer and resident for 17 years, Katy brings her writing and editing skills to our group and very importantly her baking skills!

Caroline Watson
A resident of Lane End since 1991 , Caroline owns several businesses in gifting and marketing that originated in Lane End, and has volunteered in the past for the village playgroup, Lane End Primary school as a governor, local scout group as Beaver leader, and Stokenchurch Dog Rescue as a Trustee.

Caroline now volunteers at the Lane End Food Hub and our committee, and is often found in her sewing room in her spare time creating items to raise funds for dog rescues.
Caroline brings over 20 years of IT and E-commerce experience to the team, creating our website and helps with events and fundraising with the team.

Wonderful volunteers

No group or organisation can survive without a team of volunteers behind the scenes supporting the committee.
We would like to thank and name just some of our supporters who are ever growing!

Special thanks go to the following people for critical input and support:
Huge thanks to Dr Jill Eyres, who was an integral part of our committee helping us in our early stages of grant giving. Jill has now has returned to her normal work and speaker commitments. We will hope to see her at our events!
Other incredible supporters include:
Pauline Thomas, Ken Edwards, Stewart George, Ed and Will Lacey, Richard Wetenhall, Gary and Helen Anderson. William Dunn, Pauline Cavell-Northam, Bryan Edgeley, Margaret Adnitt, Donald Macleod, Louise Meakes, Ken Hanson, Buckinghamshire Councillor Zahir Mohammed, Dr Tim Harrison from the botanical society of Britain and Ireland , Nick Marriner from the Chiltern Conservation Board. John Morris previously from the Chiltern Conservation board, Mike Morley from Penn and Tylers Green Common Wood.

Thanks also to John Clegg, the agent selling Finings Wood who remains sympathetic to the aims and aspirations of the Finings Wood Community Group during this critical fund raising period.
To all supporters who have spurred us on, pledged money, suggested ideas and attended meetings, thank you and please don't stop spreading the message of Finings Wood Community Group. It`s a big hill to climb but we're beyond base camp!

New volunteers always welcome

Legal Support
We would be so grateful of any local legal expert who could assist us pro bono with certain questions we have. Please contact our Chairman Alastair Broom using our contact us page
Fundraising Team
Caroline and Katy welcomes any fundraising volunteers who might bring ideas and themselves to help support our cause.
Please use our contact us page to volunteer.