Who we Are
Why we are here & what we bring
Wardens
The Hime Family
Toby, Helen, Grace & Emmanuel
Our wardens Toby and Helen Hime live on site and share the day to day running of Windsor Hill Wood. This includes selecting and welcoming guests, and ensuring they are looked after and encouraged during their stay. They maintain the daily rhythm and coordinate the work of the community including organising the volunteers.
Their daughter Grace is living & studying Art therapy in London. Their son Emmanuel is studying for his GCSEs.
Assistant warden
Candice Steen
Our volunteer Assistant Warden, Candice, also lives on site and supports the wardens in their role. She is a vital member of the community and allows the wardens to have time away from the frontline. Candice writes..."In my past 15 year of working with adults with Complex Needs, I've often felt frustrated by the limitations of the services I've been able to offer my clients. WHW offers a rare opportunity to heal in Community through radical love, acceptance, a sense of belonging and purpose. As a Warden at WHW, I get to go on that journey too and have the privilege of witnessing the profound transformation that can take place in our guests as they experience the beauty and tranquillity of the woods and learn to radically love and accept themselves."
Our volunteers
Our many other volunteers come to Windsor Hill from time to time, some are regulars every Wednesday afternoon and some come for specific building tasks or events or to support the warden team. They bring a range of skills and enjoy being part of the community and working in the peace of the woodland.
For more information, or if you'd like to join them, click the button below.
Our Trustees
Our board of trustees (pictured) are all volunteers as well. They support the wardens and make the key decisions about the direction and ethos of the charity while making sure that we stay legally and financially secure
Mark Bagott
I first met our founders Toby and Fra in the early days of Windsor Hill Wood and soon came to love the place. Once we were living nearer, my wife and were volunteers and I became a trustee in September 2023. After retiring as a community paediatrician in 2024, I've been chair of trustees since January 2025. I have a passion for nature, especially trees, so I feel at home in the woods at Windsor Hill and can appreciate how therapeutic this environment is for our guests.
Steve bruce-jones
I retired from a career in business in 2017 and moved to Somerset to restore a derelict farmhouse. I came across Windsor Hill Wood through Shepton Mallet church where the wardens and some guests attended. I've always wanted my faith to have an impact on those in need so supporting WHW was an obvious choice. With experience in finance, strategy, and admin as well as DIY I was invited to become a trustee and now serve as Treasurer/Secretary as well as doing the odd building task!
SUE CRISFILED
After training as a youth and community worker I have worked with young people and adults in a range of roles. I am currently a social prescriber for the NHS supporting those with chronic pain. I am passionate about supporting people in neeed and the work of Windsor Hill Wood. After a time as secretary after joining the trustees in 2019, I am now focussed on fundraising and events.
Sister Anne MARTIN
I am a nun and an educator with many years experience of teaching in schools, colleges and remand centres around the world. My passion is to and help people to reach their full potential. Windsor Hill Wood builds on this as we encourage our guests to take stock, to develop new skills and to make a new chance in their lives.
VIRGINIA MEMBREY
I feel my social work background, my experiences working as a Quaker Prison Chaplain and my extensive overseas experience help give me a broader understanding and empathy into the work of WHW.
Hazel Rumsey
I have been involved in Windsor Hill Wood since 2013 as a supporter, a guest, a residential volunteer, assistant warden and now a Trustee. As a social worker I am passionate about the fact that Windsor Hill Wood can offer support where statutory services end. We need many more Windsor Hill Wood's.
safeguarding@windsorhillwood.co.uk
wardens
from 2017 to 2023
The Thompson Family
Chris & Katharine on the One Show!
Archive footage after a day spent filming in the summer of 2020 showing a snapshot of life at Windsor Hill Wood Refuge - family football, a meal, and with Chris, Katharine and some guests. In October 2020 it was aired on the One Show, and you can watch the clip here...