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LEAF Education Specialists
Our Education Specialists are a team of trusted, qualified teachers, with years of experience working and specialising in food, farming and the environment.
Based regionally across the UK, they’re passionate about sustainable agriculture and dedicated to connecting young people and communities with food and farming.
LEAF Education Specialists connect with teachers through the Demonstration School framework, offering:
Tailored, independent advice on activities and programmes that meet school needs, enrich the curriculum and support wider pupil development
Teacher training / CPD to build teaching confidence
Connections to a wide regional network of teachers and farmers
Extensive tried-and-tested learning resources
Guidance on safe, inspiring outdoor learning spaces
As a farmer, your local LEAF Education Specialist can help and support you to:
Explore hosting farm visits and connecting with schools, through practical advice, knowledge and guidance
Build connections with local schools
Develop your skills through training
Turn farming concepts and practices into classroom learning
Access high-quality, balanced, curriculum-linked teaching and planning materials
Meet our team
Lisa Dunne
As a farmer’s daughter who grew up on a traditional mixed farm in Cornwall Lisa has always enjoyed a practical ‘hands on’ outdoor life. In her academic career Lisa read agriculture at Aberystwyth University followed by postgraduate studies at The School of Agriculture in Aberdeen and six years as a research scientist in Scotland and Éire. On completion of her PGCE, Lisa spent six years teaching science, biology and agricultural science in a secondary school in Éire. Since returning to the family farm in Cornwall in 2006 she has combined farming with teaching biology at A level, HNC and HND at Truro & Penwith College. Lisa was delighted to join LEAF in a role that combines her passion for education, farming and the environment. She believes that people need to be given the opportunity to connect with and engage in food production and understand the important roles farmers play in management of the natural environment. In her spare time Lisa enjoys walking her dogs and hacking her Highland pony.
Faye Edwards
Faye is an experienced teacher with an Early Years specialism and worked in an inner-city school in Birmingham for 9 years. Faye lead on the curriculum across the school which has enabled her to have a broad understanding of the Early Years and National Curriculum and has cemented the importance of children learning through a holistic approach. This approach has huge benefits on the well-being and progress of children from inner city areas in particular. She has a passion for enriching children’s learning through experiences outside of the classroom. In her spare time Faye likes gardening and walking with her family.
Anna Fryer
LEAF Education Specialist | Leicestershire.
Bobbie Harvey
Before LEAF, Bobbie was deputy warden at an educational farm near Sheffield and worked for the Peak District National Park Education Service. She then worked for many years for LEAF Education’s predecessor, FACE (Farming and Countryside education.) With degrees in Fine Art and Environmental Science she enjoys being able to combine her interests whilst working for LEAF Education and in her freelance work as an artist and in environmental education. Her spare time is spent riding her pony, looking after a small flock of Jacob sheep and many different creative projects. Bobbie has established a wide network of farmers and teachers in her region and is well known for the creative projects she develops to help foster a wider understanding of countryside topics in schools.
Jo Hatton
Jo is an experienced GCSE and A Level Business Studies and Economics teacher, combining her teaching with a love for the outdoors, meant that she also led many Duke of Edinburgh expeditions during her time as a teacher. As well as working for LEAF Education, Jo led the Hampshire team of the Country Trust for almost 12 years enabling thousands of children to benefit from the opportunity of a safe and educational visit to a real working farm. When not working Jo enjoys walking and riding across the New Forest with her family.
Elizabeth Lake
Elizabeth has a passion for environmental issues and strongly believes in the importance of educating young people to think about how and why our resources should be managed sustainably. After studying for a Degree in Environmental Science at Brighton University, her career then began in countryside management with The National Trust as a full time Warden. It was working here which gave her the opportunity to work with children at the on-site education centre at Attingham Park, near Shrewsbury. This inspired Elizabeth in 2001 to complete a PGCE in Geography at the University of Birmingham and has since taught GCSE, A level and Access to HE in Environmental Science and Geography in both the independent and further education sectors; progressing to the post of Head of Academic, Professional & HE at Stratford-upon-Avon College. Elizabeth now balances the job between her role as a Geography examiner and looking after her three young children and works from her home office in Alcester.
Vicki McLaughlin
LEAF Education Specialist | East of England.
Julie Neale
LEAF Education Specialist | West Midlands & Northamptonshire.
Katy Pallas
Katy has always enjoyed being in the outdoors and particularly working with horses. Having taken a degree in equine science Katy became a lecturer at a large land based college. After a few years lecturing Katy then took a post managing the Schools Liaison team for the college. Katy took on the responsibility for developing links with schools, with a particular emphasis being placed on developing school visits to the college dairy and sheep farms. The school visits became very popular and the college farms were one of the first to achieve the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge when it was first introduced. After 10 years at the college Katy left to develop her role with LEAF’s predecessor, FACE (Farming and Countryside education). Katy loves the variety of work, particularly training teachers and farmers how to plan fun, safe, curriculum linked visits. In her spare time Katy is a qualified riding coach and splits her time between competing her own horse and coaching other riders.
Sam Wyman
Sam has always had an interest in the environment and the natural world. After studying for a Degree in Biology at the University of Durham, he initially began a career in pesticide regulation before completing his PGCE and becoming a primary school teacher. For almost 10 years he enjoyed what he describes as “one of the best jobs in the world”. He left primary teaching so that he could care for his two young children. He has close family links to the farming industry and enjoys spending as much time as possible in the countryside. Sam joined LEAF Education as it offers a unique opportunity to continue working with young people, and alongside those from the education, farming and food sectors who share his passion for learning.
Get in touch
Are you a teacher?
To work with our Education Specialists, you need to start your LEAF Demonstration School journey. Every school starts with a Pledge, and you can progress at your own pace through Bronze and then Silver and Gold.
To learn more and make your pledge, click here.
Are you a farmer?
Contact us at education@leaf.eco for more information about working with your local Education Specialist.