Fund4Trees was founded by Russell Ball in 2011, who organised the inaugural Ride for Research event. Three fellow 2011 riders—Mick Boddy, Martin Gammie and Gabriel Hemery—joined with him to help create a new organisation in 2012. The four became the organisation’s first charitable trustees. Robert Penn was our first Patron. Tracy Clarke and Gabriel Hemery stepped down in 2022 and Peter Wharton joined us for a short time in 2024 but stepped down that same year.
Trustees (see profiles below) work closely with its Research Advisory Committee (RAC) in vetting submitted research bids.
Fund4Trees Trustees
Russell Ball BSc (Hons.), P.G. Dip. LM, CBiol., MSB.
From a very early age Russell’s had a keen interest in nature which led him to study botany, and it was while at university that he discovered the world of arboriculture – literally by picking up a “Tree Surgery” book at a local library. Since then he’s never looked back having been lucky enough to hold some key industry jobs: Executive Officer for both the London Tree Officers Association and International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) – European office. He also worked as a Tree Protection Officer for Harrow Council (London) and spent two years tree consulting in Madrid (Spain) where he researched how trees add value to property prices and was on the technical editing committee for the Spanish national standard for protecting trees on development sites: “NTJ 03E”. In 1996, he was voted Environmental Londoner of the Year and in the same year (jointly) won a Royal Horticultural Society (Chelsea Flower Show) silver-gilt medal for Rainforest Belize.
As a Chartered Biologist his qualifications also include an honours degree in botany and a post graduate diploma in landscape management.
Mick Boddy F Arbor A FICFor CEnv
Mick has been involved in forestry and arboriculture for over thirty five years and is a Registered Consultant of the Arboricultural Association and a Chartered Arboriculturist. His experience encompasses periods of employment within the state, private and local authority sectors, and Mick is currently a director Symbiosis Consulting Ltd, a specialist arboricultural consultancy practice he co-founded in 2000.
The ISA Conference and associated Tour des Trees fundraising ride coming to England in 1998 provided Mick with the perfect opportunity to combine his passion for trees with one of his favourite pastimes – cycling. He was so inspired by the 1998 ride he subsequently rode in the 1999 New England, 2002 Washington and 2007 California tours, before a temporary change of allegiance in 2008, when rode the first Big Battlefield Bike Ride for the then fledgling Help for Heroes charity. However, there was an inevitability about Mick’s participation in the inaugural ‘Ride for Research’ in March 2011 and he is proud to be involved with founding of the Fund4Trees charity-to-be and generation of much needed finance for research into the manifold issues currently threatening our tree stock.
Mike Connick
Mike Connick is the proud founder and Chairman of Connick Tree Care (CTC). He attended Merrist Wood College and completed a two-week introduction course into landscaping, nursery work and tree work. Drawn to tree surgery and working for different companies over several years, in 1985, Mike set-up CTC that provides quality tree care services to residents and commercial entities across London, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Berkshire, and Hampshire. At the beginning of 2023, CTC transitioned to an Employee Owned Company (EOT). In this EOT, his valued employees became joint owners of the business. CTC has been honoured with many awards, including for the second time, the Arboriculture Company of the Year in the 2023 Pro Landscaper Business Awards.
Anne Cruikshank BEc LLB, LLM, MSc Sustainable Cities, A-F RGS, FRSA.
A recovering lawyer, after over 30 years in legal practice, Anne’s focus now is on sustainability and particularly implementing solutions to deliver healthy, wealthy, nature-connected urban environments to address the triple planetary crises of biodiversity loss, climate change and waste.
She is the founder of Ecoflip Limited, an environmental and management consulting firm, having previously worked for large law firms, investment banks, start-up ventures and her own boutique corporate law and governance firm. She focuses on nature-based solutions and the green economy, aiming to drive systemic change, drawing on her grounding in infrastructure, finance and renewable energy paired with risk and governance expertise. Although a city girl by background, she has always had a strong affinity for nature and wildlife. She is also a part-time shepherd, being the proud owner of two entertaining black Ouessant sheep (the world’s smallest sheep breed).
Martin Gammie MICFor Dip.Arb(RFS) F.Arbor.A
Growing up on the country estate in Warwickshire, Martin developed a passion for the countryside, wildlife and especially for trees from a very early age and has had an affiliation with the world of forestry and related industries ever since. He has spent over 30 years working in the industry attaining a wealth of experience, credibility and qualifications.
Having worked in both the public and private sectors in the UK and overseas, Martin currently holds the position of Director at Consulting with Trees Ltd.
Promoting his industry and improving professionalism within it is at the heart of Martin’s work. Currently this includes working with the Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG) to develop and disseminate best practice guidance documents. In his previous role of Design and Environment Team Leader at South Oxfordshire Council he established the first Tree Warden scheme in Oxfordshire and was responsible for the launch of the South Oxfordshire Arboricultural Industry Forum.
Alex Needs
Alex’s career began with a Linguistics degree, leading to early roles in editorial creation and public relations. However, he soon realised he preferred life outside of the office and retrained in arboriculture, starting as a groundsman and later becoming a climbing arborist. His favourite job was probably with the National Trust at Winkworth Arboretum, caring for rare trees.
He spent twelve years as a tree officer in Surrey, leading a team managing public trees and achieving Chartered Forester status. Subsequently, Alex entered the private sector, specializing in tree safety, planning/construction, and ancient/veteran tree management.
In 2017, he earned Registered Consultant status with the Arboricultural Association, a peer recognition of his expertise. Alex also holds Civil and Criminal Expert Witness Certificates from Cardiff University Bond Solon and is an Accredited Mediator. So he can either help you go to court, or help you avoid it. In 2024, Alex established Holt Arboriculture, his own consultancy, serving diverse clients across the south of the UK. When he’s not looking at trees for a living, he’s avoiding hitting them on his mountain bike. Sometimes unsuccessfully.
Simon N’jie
Simon N’jie, owner of Artemis Tree Services, is pleased to join Fund4Trees as a Trustee, contributing to the charity’s mission to promote sustainable treescapes.
Company owner Simon, founded Artemis Tree Services in 1998 after gaining valuable experience in arboriculture across the UK and abroad, including Germany, Spain, and Australia. These opportunities helped shape his approach to tree care, emphasizing professionalism, flexibility, and treating clients with respect. This ethos became the foundation of Artemis, fostering strong client relationships and steady growth.
As Artemis expanded, Simon focused on building a team-oriented company culture. He prioritized staff satisfaction and development, an approach reflected in the loyalty of team members like Keith Hazel, who has been with Artemis for over 26 years. In 2008, a back injury prompted Simon to step back from climbing and focus on the company’s development. This transition inspired a shift in mindset from arborist to business owner. Within five years, Artemis grew to a team of 30 and relocated to its current headquarters at West Hyde Nursery. Twenty-six years on, Artemis has just opened a brand-new state of the art office and workshop and continues to thrive. A keen cyclist who has taken part in some of the charity’s rides, most recently in Brighton in 2024, Simon is excited to bring his passion for trees to Fund4Trees.
Matt Rew
Matt is an experienced project manager within the consultancy side of arboriculture, specializing in the appraisal and mitigation of impacts of proposed developments on trees, especially at the post planning, detailed stage.
He has a wide range of IT skills, particularly in AutoCAD. His experience has enabled him to develop strong personal links within the planning and environmental industries. When not working he’s busy with his family, out on his bike, trying to walk his dog or doing/helping out at Parkrun.
Patron
Robert Penn is a writer and broadcaster. His books include Woods: A Celebration published by the National Trust, The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees and the bestselling It’s All About the Bike. As a journalist, Robert writes for the Guardian, Observer and Financial Times. He has presented several TV documentaries including the BBC Four series Tales From the Wildwood. A keen cyclist, Robert has ridden a bicycle in over fifty countries on five continents. In his late-twenties, he gave up a career as a lawyer and spent three years cycling round the world. He lives with his family in a small woodland in the Black Mountains, South Wales, from where he runs a community woodland group. He joined Fund4Trees trustees on the 2017 London-to-Lincoln Charter Ride.
RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) members include independent tree research experts plus a Fund4Trees Research Co-Ordinator Dr Madalena Vaz Monteiro. The RAC members are:
- Professor Rob MacKenzie (Immediate past Chair): Birmingham University
- Dr Jon Banks (Chair): Bartlett Tree Experts
- Mr Jeremy Barrell: Barrell Tree Consultancy
- Dr Kieron Doick: Forest Research
- Dr Jon Heuch: Duramen Consulting Ltd.
- Dr Andrew Hirons: Myerscough College
- Dr Mark Gush: Royal Horticultural Society
Fund4Trees 
Great read thankss