Meet the team!
The Directors
Steph Holland
Steph is the founder of The Hive - a self-confessed gatherer of lovely people, home educating mum, forest school leader and music teacher. She has spent the last seven years running various community groups in Bury St Edmunds for families and this project is the culmination of that journey. Steph will be managing the project both creatively and physically, and once it is up and running, hopes to be there every day either playing in the woods or eating gluten free cake in the cafe. She brings her experience in event management, retail management, barista work, nature-based education and music teaching to the project, along with a whole load of enthusiasm. |
Claire Unwin
Claire is a youth worker, forest school assistant and home ed mummy. She is passionate about creating space and opportunity for children and young people to develop confidence in their unique sets of skills and abilities, and believes there is no better place to nurture this than outside surrounded by the natural world - preferably up a tree picking an apple! She is also an enthusiastic home gardener and veg grower, and is currently studying permaculture. Claire will oversee the sensory garden, vegetable garden and café at the Hive, and will make it her mission to provide delicious, seasonal lunches, cakes and snacks that everyone can enjoy – gluten free to vegan, everyone will be catered for. |
Kimberley Goldsmith
Kimberley is the founder of the beautiful and high quality baby classes for Baby Massage and Sensory Play 'Awe & Wonder'. The environment she provides for babies and their carers is enriching and thoughtfully presented to ensure that play, fun and bonding is at the heart of everything! Before becoming Mummy to Oliver, Kimberley was an outstanding Early Years Leader/Teacher. With training from some incredible specialists (if we're name dropping then Anna Ephgrave, Alistair Bryce-Clegg and Kathy Brodie) and a love of alternative educational philosophies such as Waldorf, Reggio-Emilia and Montessori, Kimberley really understands the art of allowing babies and children to follow their own interests and development ... It's not a race! She is devoted to ensuring Bury St Edmunds has its own community hive to improve mental health amongst new parents. Kimberley is a home educator, eco-warrior and, by night, a pampering princess. |
Founding Members - The Hive Trustees
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Stephanie Holland
Claire Unwin Kimberley Goldsmith Adam Surgenor Cristina Froehner Debbie Willis Eleanor Boreham Emma Pollard Emmie Stocking |
Grzegorz Skic
Gina Roark Helen Hopkin-Jones Helen Vicat Jody Manning Paula Burl Pauline Goodchild Sarah Chandler Tina Gibbons |
Supporters |
Associate Members |
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West Suffolk Council
Bush Adventures UK CIC Orchard Barns CIC Nature Explorers St Edmundsbaby Organisation West Suffolk Home Education Hub Centred in Nature Suffolk Wildlife Trust Our Bury St Edmunds BID Happy Food Coop Sustainable Bury Happy Planet Heroes Bury St Edmunds East of England Training Alde Garden Pico Planet Limelight Print and Design Oakes Barn Greener Growth |
Bronze Members
Centred in Nature Silver Members Our Bury St Edmunds BID Gold Members Muddy Fingers Gardening and Landscaping Services |
Our Values
Our work will be guided and informed by our beliefs and commitments to:
The Community
We will bring members of our community together to learn new skills, meet new people and work together in the development and care of the site and the environment. We will be a safe retreat providing child-friendly and accessible facilities, committed to decreasing loneliness and creating opportunities for connections across a broad range of ages and abilities.
The Environment
We will promote a strong connection with nature in every aspect of our work. We will collaborate with environmental and conservation organisations and charities who share our values. We are committed to improving biodiversity and the restoration of the land. We will aim to be self-sustainable and maintain a low impact by using renewable sources of energy and locally sourced materials, tradesmen and craftsmanship. We will use recycled, renewable and reusable materials where appropriate.
Improving Wellbeing
The site will provide a variety of services and activities to enhance the mental wellbeing of the community. There will be a focus on nature connection throughout the project. Indoor and outdoor spaces will be available for group and private therapy with local practitioners. Sensory spaces and natural play areas will be provided for enjoyment by babies, children and adults. There will be opportunities to take part in nature therapy, art, music and dance sessions, as well as relaxing and reconnecting in our café.
Sharing Knowledge
The site will be a place to learn, both for children and adults, including opportunities to learn traditional skills from local experts and artisans. It will provide a venue to host workshops, classes and activities and a place for local artists, crafters, writers and tutors to work, display and sell their work. There will also be a library of educational resources to share and borrow.
Managing the Land
We will work in harmony with the land and the seasons, growing crops in the garden to serve in the café; using woodland management techniques such as coppicing to provide materials for building and furniture-making; digging a pond to create a natural source of clay to build with, whilst creating habitats for aquatic and amphibious species; and encouraging the return of pollinating insects such as bumblebees and butterflies with the development of wildflower spaces and natural shelters and habitats.
Inclusiveness and Accessibility
We respect people, value diversity and are committed to equality. Anybody using our site and facilities will be respectful to others, regardless of their age, ethnic background, gender, sexuality, ability, race, religion or political beliefs. Abusive and discriminatory behaviour towards our members and service users will not be tolerated. We will aim to make our services affordable to many and accessible to all. Most areas of the site will be child and dog-friendly and accessible for wheelchair users. No smoking is permitted within the site at any time.
The Community
We will bring members of our community together to learn new skills, meet new people and work together in the development and care of the site and the environment. We will be a safe retreat providing child-friendly and accessible facilities, committed to decreasing loneliness and creating opportunities for connections across a broad range of ages and abilities.
The Environment
We will promote a strong connection with nature in every aspect of our work. We will collaborate with environmental and conservation organisations and charities who share our values. We are committed to improving biodiversity and the restoration of the land. We will aim to be self-sustainable and maintain a low impact by using renewable sources of energy and locally sourced materials, tradesmen and craftsmanship. We will use recycled, renewable and reusable materials where appropriate.
Improving Wellbeing
The site will provide a variety of services and activities to enhance the mental wellbeing of the community. There will be a focus on nature connection throughout the project. Indoor and outdoor spaces will be available for group and private therapy with local practitioners. Sensory spaces and natural play areas will be provided for enjoyment by babies, children and adults. There will be opportunities to take part in nature therapy, art, music and dance sessions, as well as relaxing and reconnecting in our café.
Sharing Knowledge
The site will be a place to learn, both for children and adults, including opportunities to learn traditional skills from local experts and artisans. It will provide a venue to host workshops, classes and activities and a place for local artists, crafters, writers and tutors to work, display and sell their work. There will also be a library of educational resources to share and borrow.
Managing the Land
We will work in harmony with the land and the seasons, growing crops in the garden to serve in the café; using woodland management techniques such as coppicing to provide materials for building and furniture-making; digging a pond to create a natural source of clay to build with, whilst creating habitats for aquatic and amphibious species; and encouraging the return of pollinating insects such as bumblebees and butterflies with the development of wildflower spaces and natural shelters and habitats.
Inclusiveness and Accessibility
We respect people, value diversity and are committed to equality. Anybody using our site and facilities will be respectful to others, regardless of their age, ethnic background, gender, sexuality, ability, race, religion or political beliefs. Abusive and discriminatory behaviour towards our members and service users will not be tolerated. We will aim to make our services affordable to many and accessible to all. Most areas of the site will be child and dog-friendly and accessible for wheelchair users. No smoking is permitted within the site at any time.