Business

Andrew Coleman

Chalk downland geomorphology

Andrew is a retired engineering geologist/ground engineer who has spent the last 30 years based in East Kent specialising in slope instabilty and hazardous ground. He has recently become interested in chalk downland geomorhpology. Andrew  continues to develop a web site which illustrates some of the landscape features peculiar to this part of the UK, with explanations of how they were formed, and which is hopefully accessible to the non-specialist.

Web Site: geomusings.org

Contact: reod.glida@outlook.com.

Ben Crozier

Mythology, history & folklore

Location: Dover, Kent.

About: Ben is a secondary school history teacher and enjoys walking and running in the Kent region of the Geopark at every opportunity. Ben has a YouTube channel which explores stories of history, folklore and mythology of Kent and is keen to share his knowledge on guided walks.

Services offered: Guided walks along the North Downs Way with a focus on history, folklore and mythology.  As a trained Geopark ambassador Ben can share the exciting geodiversity and geological story of The Warren in Folkestone.

Suitability: Adults and families with children.

Contact:
Telephone: 07913027038
Email: benjaminjohncrozier@hotmail.com
Website: crozieronstuff.com

Simon Drake

Short walks & geology

Location: Kent; Folkstone Warren, Harrietsham and Lenham.

About: Simon is a research field geologist based at Birkbeck College, University of London where he is an an Honorary Fellow. For over 15 years Simon has been involved in enthusing and teaching first year university students about geology and has led field classes in Kent, Cumbria and North West Scotland. Simon is passionate about getting non-geologists interested in geology.

Services offered: Easy-going, relaxed, short walks (2-3km) around Folkestone Warren to explain the geology and landslip of the area. Around Harrietsham and Lenham; easy-going walks of around 5km explaining the geology and landscape of the area. The onus on Simon’s events will be talking about geology and explaining rocks rather than covering long distances. The walks will assume no previous geological knowledge. As a trained Geopark ambassador Simon can share the exciting geodiversity and geological story of The Warren in Folkestone.

Suitability: Adults & families with children, adults and/or children with limited mobility.

Contact:
Telephone: 07762538457
Email: drakesimon1@gmail.com
Website: simondrakegeo.co.uk

Rainna Erbas

Community, arts and creativity

About:

Rainna is a community artist and project coordinator in Dover, and everything she does is about bringing people together, getting creative, and making sure we look after the world around us. She loves inspiring the next generation to connect with nature, protect it and live healthier, happier lives.

Getting involved with the Geopark Ambassador programme feels like the perfect way to connect what Rainna does with her home town, Dover, and she hopes to get exploring, creating, and raising awareness about our environment in fun and meaningful ways.

Services offered:

Community arts & nature workshops – Pottery, nature-based crafts, paper-making, sculpture.

Eco-friendly, seasonal activities – Foraging natural, recycled, and sustainable materials.

Family & child-friendly projects – Engaging young minds through art and nature play.

Raising awareness & inspiring action – Practising natural living and teaching others.

Contact:

Tel: 07541411691

Email: rainnaerbas@hotmail.co.uk

@little_artlings_dover

Steve Friedrich

Geology, palaeontology and natural history

About: With over 50 years experience studying the geology of the area, and having had several papers published as co-author over the years, Steve thought that becoming a Geopark Amabssador would be a fantastic way to pass on his experience to young and old alike.

Services offered: Field work relating to the Geology and Palaeontology of our area, as well as general natural history. Steve is also a professional workshop provider, capable of bringing his experience into classrooms, field meetings and do talks for groups/societies at all levels. Steve can run activities in the field, or at schools etc. His history workshops are tailored to fit the school curriculum in subjects including the Stone age – Iron Age; Roman Britain and World War 2, as well as a workshop about our recent discovery of dinosaur footprints in Folkestone.

Suitability: Anyone with an interest in local history or geology. Moderate fitness required for walks, any fitness for in house workshops.

Contact: Telephone: 07594210706
Email: stevef.1703@outlook.com

Website:  https://www.facebook.com/steve.friedrich.566

Victoria Field

Guided walks, literature & pilgrimage

Location: Canterbury.

About: Victoria is a writer, poetry therapist, and researcher currently undertaking a doctorate on pilgrimage and transformation at Canterbury Christ Church University

“I consider myself a pilgrim-writer and will include writing and poetry as part of my walks. I assist the Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome and have had some involvement with the Green Pilgrimage Network. I live in Canterbury so have a special interest in walks in East Kent.” Victoria Field.

Services offered: Guided walks in the Canterbury area during which participants will share and respond to poems and other literature, and have the opportunity to process their experience in writing. The process is open and non-judgemental and no previous writing experience is necessary.

Suitability: Adults only.

Contact:
Telephone: 07887560018
Email: victoriafield376@gmail.com
Website: thepoetrypractice.co.uk

Liz Garnett

History, culture & natural history

Location: East Kent.

About: Liz is a travel photographer and writer who sees Kent as a travel destination. Liz is passionate about Kent’s rich history and believes it has a wealth to offer the visitors from its landscape to culture as well as good from excellent local producers.

“The North Downs Way is a walking artery through the Geopark which leads the walker through surprising landscapes, stunning views, history and culture. Walkers can dip down into villages or towns or take a detour into a lost landscape.” Liz Garnett.

Services offered: Introductions to the history, culture and natural history of the North Downs Way National Trail in the Cross-Channel Geopark.

Suitability: Adults only.

Contact:
Email: liz@lizgarnett.com
Website: www.lizgarnett.com

Phil Hadland

Fossil finding and ID, talks on local fossils and collections

About:

Phil is a geologist and palaeontologist working in the museum sector where he specialises in natural sciences and public engagement. He is also an author and produced the book “Fossils of Folkestone, Kent”. Two of his main passions are carrying out research in the fields of the history of geology and ichnology (the study of trace fossils).

Over the last few years he has published a number of articles with others about dinosaur footprints that he discovered at Folkestone, which are the youngest known in Britain.

Phil is passionate about sharing the stories of the amazing geology and fossils that local residents can find on their doorstep, or that visitors to these places can experience. The ambassador programme is an ideal opportunity for him to do more of this, while contributing to the development of the geopark.

Services offered:

Short courses, talks and walks focussed on fossils, museums, geology and the history of geology. They can be anything from 1 hour up to a whole day, costing £55 per hour.

Contact:

Telephone: 07948159127

Email: fossilphil83@gmail.com

Website: https://fossilphil83.wixsite.com/thefossilman

Myriam Hamelin

Guided walks, city tours, nature outings

Location: Côte d’Opale

About: Myriam is a certified tour guide specializing in the discovery of the Côte d’Opale. Passionate about her region, she offers thematic walks that blend history, nature, and built heritage. These explorations invite participants to discover iconic sites such as the Caps, the Denacre Valley, and the coastline, as well as more unusual locations, through captivating stories and intriguing local anecdotes.

Services offered:

• Thematic walks: Guided tours through emblematic and preserved areas of the Côte d’Opale, highlighting their history, wildlife, and flora.
• Urban guided tours: Exploration of historic towns such as Boulogne-sur-Mer, Ambleteuse, and other sites of cultural and architectural interest.
• Unusual walks: Original routes featuring local tales and lesser-known anecdotes.
• Geo-immersive approach: As a Géoambassadrice, Myriam combines landscapes, natural treasures, and cultural heritage for a unique and enriching experience.

Audience: The walks and tours are designed for a broad audience: families, adult groups, or anyone curious to explore the region from a new perspective.

Contact:

• Email: laboiteabalades@gmail.com
• Phone: +33 6 71 30 05 10

Michael Harden

Wellbeing walks

Location: All Kent Downs and Surrounding areas

About: Michael is a Director of Wild With Wheels CIC, and a Geopark Ambassador, with 25 years+ experience of working in community, mental health and disability settings.

Michael is passionate about promoting nature, and our wild open spaces as accessible places of enjoyment, connection, rest, and healing, that in both the short and longer term improve our health and wellbeing, especially our mental wellbeing.

Michael aka (Walk Wild), leads and offers a range of creative, accessible walking and nature focused activities and experiences, including 1-to-1 walk and talk, wellness related, storytelling and other themed walks, which can be tailored to the needs of individuals, families or groups.

‘As an ambassador, I want to promote what a beautiful resource we have (on both sides of the English Channel) and to share all it has to offer with you. I look forward to walking or wheeling with you soon.’

Services offered: Wellbeing walks.

Suitability: Families with children, adults only, wheelchair users, adults and/or children with limited mobility.

Contact:
Telephone: 07563877583
Email: walkwild@mail.com
Websites:
www.wildwithwheels.com
www.walkwild.net
www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/smallgoodstuff/directory/walk-wild

Bryan Hawkins

Prehistory, the Arts, community collaboration

Location: Julliberries Grave on the Kent Downs close to Chilham; Kits Coty, Bluebell Hill and across the Cross Channel Geopark Geosites

About: Following many years in Higher Education as a Senior Lecturer in Education, Art, Film and Visual Culture, in the last three years Bryan has ‘set out’ and accepted the challenge of being an independent Artist and Artist/Activist.

Bryan has a long-standing interest in our connections with landscape, place, myth and story and their connection with our collective and individual senses of identity and humanity. His two-year residency at Canterbury Archaeological Trust deepened his interest in the processes, methods and metaphors of archaeology and the sense of deep humanity that attaches to our linking of the present with the deep history and humanity that a sense of prehistory can generate.

Bryan’s work includes curation, exhibition design and realisation, production of creative work and community activities exploring prehistoric sites. Bryan is very pleased to be a part of the Cross Channel Geopark team.

Contact:

Tel: 07595 668175

bryan.hawkins@canterbury.ac.uk; wyddershins2@gmail.com

Grace Johnston

Creativity, horticulture, writing & wellbeing

About:

Grace is passionate about the area and our community and is keen to get involved in celebrating the Geopark with others. She is enthusiastic about nature, horticulture, conservation, history, storytelling & wellbeing. Grace also loves walking and generally being outside.

Contact: @sweetpea_and_thomas

Gini Mitchell

Disabled guided nature walks

Location: Folkestone and Dover, East Kent.

About: Gini is a Disabled Rambler and nature lover, passionate about access to the natural world and advocate for disabled and inclusive access in the Kent Countryside and coast and the aspiring UNESCO Cross-Channel Global Geopark.

Gini has enjoyed spending time in the local Kent countryside including the Kent Downs National Landscape since early childhood, and loves studying native wildlife, identifying wild flowers and plants as well as appreciating the creatures living amongst them.

“Since I became no longer able to enjoy the countryside by walking, I became familiar with exploring on an all terrain mobility scooter. I like to meander off the beaten track and overcome obstacles along the way and, with the right equipment and experience, this opens up more opportunities for disabled ramblers to discover.
As ‘Mobility in the Wild’, I wish to share and promote this freedom to connect with nature and encourage others to do so, whatever the ability.”
Gini Mitchell.

Services offered: Gini brings a Forest School ethos to interactive walks whilst connecting therapeutically with the natural surroundings. Gini shares nature based knowledge of the landscape, nature, plant life and wild creatures along the path, as well as some geography and history stories to connect with the locations en route. As a trained Geopark ambassador Gini can share the exciting geodiversity and geological story of The Warren in Folkestone.

Gini has experience of supporting and teaching young adults with learning differences as well as interacting with elderly dementia patients. Gini set up a voluntary family community support group outdoors ‘Nature Fledglings’, during lockdowns to enable therapeutic access to nature in a safe setting.

Through Mobility in the Wild, Gini tailors the routes and activities to be suitable for a range of disabilities including impairments, neurodivergence and sensory friendly therapeutic walks. Arrangements can be made to hire suitable mobility aids and equipment to enable anyone to participate comfortably. Gini holds an enhanced CRB and has an outdoor first aid qualification.

Suitability: Families with Children, wheelchair users, adults and/or children with limited mobility, all disabilities and mental / neural impairments.

Contact:
Telephone: 07789777463
Email: mobilityinthewild@gmail.com
Facebook: /MobilityInTheWild

Helen Nattrass

Geology, geopoetry, earth processes

Location: Samphire Hoe, the White Cliffs centre, Dover Harbour,  Canterbury and Folkestone

About: A retired Civil Engineer and Geologist, Helen worked in the tunnels on the Channel Tunnel construction as a Geotechnical Engineer. Helen uses the local chalk geology and landscape to inform people about the earth, earth processes and deep time. She enjoys talking about the processes of continental drift, volcanoes, earthquakes and evolution, all of which find a narrative in the chalk. The long and varied history of our planet gives people a wider framework for understanding climate change, evolution and extinction.

Services offered: Field walks (not long distance) to show and tell about the chalk, field sketching, geopoetry workshops and events, swims in the sea. I am also interested in local beer and brewing – the water comes from the chalk!

Suitability: Lightly active, mainly for retired people, but open to other opportunities and collaborations. Some last 1 hour (a talk) half a day (geopoetry, local brewery visit) up to day (workshops)

Contact:
Telephone: 07803612556
Email: helennattrass@btinternet.com

Sarah Newman

The Darent Valley landscape and history, sustainable travel

Location: Darent Valley

About: The Kent Downs in the west of Kent make the valley in which Sarah lives a very special, beautiful and distinctive place. She has spent over twenty years exploring the Darent Valley – mostly on foot as there is such a fabulous network of footpaths – and is keen to share all that she loves about the area. With her background as a historian, writer and communicator, Sarah has always been drawn to stories, and has researched and written about the many extraordinary people who have lived here over the centuries. She also knows and loves the Pas-de-Calais area, having spent many holidays there with a French exchange near St Omer, and later with her family. To have the opportunity to understand, promote and deepen the links between the two areas is a real privilege. And there is a fascinating story about how knowledge of the chalk strata in both locations informed discovery of nothing less than the antiquity of humankind! Sarah knows the hills and river in great depth and supports a number of eco-initiatives restoring the river and the eco-systems nearby. In her work she promotes sustainable travel and  encourages visitors to come here sustainably – there are railway stations all along the valley and beautiful trails on which to explore the Kent Downs all around.

Services offered: Talks about the history of the area, which can be combined with walking tours.

Suitability: Walkers of all ages, family groups and adults in general for the workshop, anyone interested in stories, landscape Walks can be adapted for people with limited mobility. Activities in the village hall are suitable for all.

Contact:

Telephone: 07762 550772

Email: sarahnewman4@icloud.com

Gavin Oakley

Outdoor fitness and nature connection

Location: Brockhill Country Park; Devil’s Kneading Trough; Dover Castle; Farthing Common and Postling Down;  Folkestone Downs;  Folkestone Harbour and The Warren;  Perry Wood; The White Cliffs of Dover

About: Gavin is a Natural Lifestyle Coach and Director of Primal Runners, a Kent-based community group that helps people reconnect with nature through movement, adventure, and shared experience. He has led outdoor fitness programmes that not only boost physical health but also foster resilience, well-being, and a deep connection to the natural world. Through trail running, wild swimming, and exploring rewilded landscapes, Gavin has guided many—often facing personal challenges—towards greater confidence and belonging. His work with young people, refugees, and marginalised groups has shown him the healing and empowering power of nature. This passion led him to the Geopark Ambassador Programme, which aligns perfectly with his mission: to protect and promote these incredible landscapes while helping more people engage with them in meaningful ways. Primal Runners CIC offers trail running, cold-water immersion, breathwork, and nature-based adventure.@primalrunners

Services Offered: Natural Movement & Trail Running – Cold-Water Immersion & Breathwork –Nature Immersion & Rewilding – Outdoor Adventure & Survival Skills –Community Engagement & Youth Mentorship

As a Geopark Ambassador, Gavin is passionate about promoting the area’s landscapes and helping more people—especially those less familiar with nature—experience the benefits of outdoor movement and connection. He runs a year-round programme with twice-weekly sessions, offering accessible adventures for all levels.

Regular Sessions : Guided Trail Runs & Hikes –Wild Swims & Cold-Water Immersion – Bike Rides & Outdoor Adventures –Nature Immersion & Rewilding – Community-Based Challenges & Events

Gavin is also expanding into northern France, offering cross-border adventures that explore new trails and connect people with the wider Geopark. Open to all levels, his sessions aim to build confidence, community, and a deeper connection to nature.

Contact: Gavin Oakley – Primal Runners / Tel: 07841406070 / Email: gavin@primalroots.org.uk / www.primalrunners.com / @primalrunners

Dr. Jessica Potter

Creative processes, restorative ecological field research

Location: Wye Downs / Brook / Winchcombe Downs / Folkestone / Postling / Samphire Hoe

Jessica is an artist and research tutor at the Royal College of Art. Her work engages creative processes with restorative ecological field research. Recent work explores early photographic processes, drawing and moving image to attend to the natural world from erratic glacial rocks to meadow plants. Jessica is an editor at Copy Press, a founder member of the Health and Care Research Cluster at RCA and member of the Centre for Art and Ecology at Goldsmiths College. She lives in the Kent Downs and is passionate about supporting biodiverse habitats and working to expand engagement with the natural environment through her creative practice, teaching and research.

Jessica has designed and shared creative workshops with a wide range of publics. She has designed and developed curriculum that enables students to engage with the Kent Downs in Post Graduate Fine Art contexts. She has also worked with primary schools, charities and the public on the Geo Adventure programme.

Jessica has a specific interest and skills in photography, drawing and writing – developing creative methods of attention and care.

Suitable for: Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, multi age public.

Contact:

Email: jessica.potter@rca.ac.uk

Website: jessica.potter.net

Social media: @jessicalouisepotter

Scott Ryan

Guided walks and outdoor cooking workshops

Location: Folkestone and Wye, East Kent.

About: Scott’s skills and interests are outdoor cooking and the uses of trees and hedgerow plants for these purposes. Kent-native and school-teacher, Scott has good historical knowledge of the Kent Downs, particularly the Pilgrims Way and Canterbury Tales.

“After 20 years of classroom teaching, I decided to step outside and establish Wild Classroom, an outdoor education business focused on cooking local, seasonal produce over fire. A lot of my workshops are based in the Cross-Channel Geopark and with my own personal love of this unique and diverse landscape, becoming an ambassador alongside other like-minded people seemed an opportunity not to miss.” Scott Ryan

Services offered: Guided walks, outdoor cooking workshops.

Suitability: Adults, families with children, wheelchair users, adults and/or children with limited mobility.

Contact:
Telephone: 07939669365
Email: scott@wildclassroom.co.uk
Website: wildclassroom.co.uk

Lucia Stuart

Workshops on edible wild plants and outdoor events

About:
Lucia Stuart is a plant enthusiast, forager, and chef based on the Kent coast. She is the author of a children’s cookbook titled Eating Flowers and ran a rural café in France for ten years, promoting this approach to cooking. Her business, The Wild Kitchen, located in Deal, Kent, advocates a passionate food philosophy: eating locally, from the land, landscapes, and forgotten foods such as acorns, samphire, seaweed, and coastal vegetables for optimal health and overall well-being.

Services offered:
Lucia Stuart organizes foraging walks to identify and teach how to use and cook seasonal wild foods, particularly coastal products like seaweed. Nature walks are combined with cooking demonstrations, wild food recipes, or gourmet meals based on the harvest.

Suitability:
Forage and Feast days are suitable for all ages and nationalities.

Contact:
Website: www.thewildkitchen.net
Email: lucia@thewildkitchen.net
Phone: 07810317866

Emilie Questroy

Tour guide and lecturer in Calais and surrounding areas, group tour support

Location: Calais and surrounding areas

About: Emilie has been a lecturer since 2015 and a self-employed professional since 2022. Curious and passionate, she is interested in a wide range of topics related to her community and region. Sharing knowledge and expertise is a core value for her.

Services offered:
Based primarily in Calais, Emilie works with the Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode as a guide and lecturer. During the tourist season, she also leads group tours. Additionally, she organizes nature visits in collaboration with the Côte d’Opale Nature Guides Association. Working with diverse audiences is both enriching and rewarding for her.

Suitable for: All audiences

Contact:
Phone: 0663384505
Email: emilie.ternon@gmail.com

Dr Maryanne Grant Traylen

Walks and landscape inspiring language

Location: Chalk monuments and surrounding areas

About: Maryanne is a writer and walker of the North Downs with publications including A Dog on the Downs, Ring of Downs and Flights of Nature. Over the last ten years she’s explored the countryside especially in areas on what she describes as a Ring of Downs. This is the North Downs Way whose northern arc leads through Canterbury and southern through the Folkestone Downs.

As a Geopark Ambassador, Maryanne can share knowledge of the landscape on our doorsteps, and encourage walkers to respond to this in words of poetry or prose.

Knowing the topography well enables Maryanne to take walks in many different areas upon this ‘circle’ of the NDW. From open views to bosky tracks, she is keen to point out the contrasts and be aware of how geology has shaped the ground under our feet. Even how landscape, as in geopoetics, can provide inspiration for language.

Contact: mgtdash@yahoo.co.uk; 07952 058790

Mel Wrigley

GeoEcologist

Location: The White Cliffs of Dover – Folkestone to Dover and Dover to Kingsdown including Folkestone Warren.

About: Based at National Trust, White Cliffs of Dover, Mel has worked in and around the Folkestone and Dover area on chalk grassland, coast and inland on ancient hedgerows and woodlands, ponds as a volunteer since 1984 and as an employee since 1988.

Mel’s work includes land management to maintain and enhance the biodiversity of these habitats, and she has worked closely with local communities to encourage understanding and enjoyment of the geology and the special habitats, plants and animals the geology supports.

Mel is keen to share her love and knowledge of geology, fossils, landscape,  plants and animals, seashore and our cross-channel connectedness with our geology and habitats. Mel has a particular interest in the folklore and medicinal, human and wildlife uses of wild plants, as well as prehistoric flints. She is also interested in uses of chalk, flint, greensand/ragstone and clay.

Services offered: Guided walks and/ or talks in the communities or in the coast and countryside. Workshops in schools or community groups.

Contact: melanie.wrigley@nationaltrust.org.uk

Vincent Dumont

Nature animation, entomology, watercolors and illustrations

Location: Pas-de-Calais, specifically the Boulonnais region

About : Passionate about nature, and particularly entomology, Vincent has been a nature guide since 2007 with Eden62. He designs and leads activities for all audiences, from schoolchildren to biodiversity enthusiasts, combining pedagogy and scientific rigor. In parallel, he practices macrophotography and naturalist illustration. These visual aids enrich his presentations and provide a personal and sensitive perspective when interpreting the natural sites of Pas-de-Calais.

Services Offered: Vincent leads nature outings as part of the department’s annual activity program, covering a wide range of natural topics such as ornithology, botany, and geology. He also offers more artistic and sensitive approaches, incorporating landscape watercolor painting, naturalist illustration, and macrophotography, thus providing a unique way to explore and appreciate nature.

Target Audience: All audiences

Contact :

Tel  : 06 32 28 78 34

Email : vincent.anim@eden62.fr

Website : https://eden62.fr/

Jennifer Chilaud

Guided tours, lectures, children's workshops.

Location : Château d’Hardelot (Hardelot Castle)

About : Cultural mediator at the Château d’Hardelot, Jennifer brings to life the history of this site dedicated to Franco-British relations. A 19th-century neo-Gothic English manor, gardens, a theatre, and a nature reserve—everything you need for a truly British day out on the Opal Coast!

Service offered : Jennifer, along with her colleagues from the cultural mediation team at the Château d’Hardelot, offers various guided tours, children’s workshops, and conferences. The Franco-British theme and the manor’s permanent collection allow for a wide range of topics, from the medieval period to the Victorian era. Reservations can be made through the château’s online ticketing service.

Target Audience : All audiences

Contact :

Tel : 03 21 21 73 65

Website : https://www.chateau-hardelot.fr