Trustees
Meet the Countrymen UK Team
Julie Plumley - CEO
Julie was born and raised on a farm and is still heavily involved in the industry. She also had over thirty years of experience as a social worker before setting up Future Roots, her Care Farm in Dorset.
This was initially aimed at providing services to children and young adults but when Julie’s dad, a lifelong farmer, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, it was decided to start the first Countrymen’s Club.
This has now been used as the model for all the farms and gardens in the Countrymen UK Network
Countrymen UK - a Registered Charity
Countrymen UK became a Registered Charity in 2019
Charity registration No. 1184921
Our Trustees
Sue Spencer- chair
Julie Plumley CEO
Rose Lockyer
Jonathon Herbert
Andrew Woodcock
Lotty Woodcock
Harry Ridgewell
Rose Lockyer
I have lived in North Dorset all my life and first got to know Julie when our children were at primary school together.
For 20 years I was a very active and supportive farmer’s wife to my husband on our dairy farm.
Having sold the farm in 2004 my husband did agricultural contracting for 10 years, however, he was then diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinsonism’s. He started to attend the Countrymen’s Club in 2016. Although he is now in a nursing home I am still a passionate supporter of the Club and joined the board for this reason.
We have 2 daughters, both married and one granddaughter, and I just love spending time with them all.
Andrew ‘Woody’ Woodcock
I grew up in the New Forest then studied Mechanical Engineering in London.
I got my first ‘real’ job near Weymouth so was lucky enough to move to Dorset, I’d never go anywhere else! I worked in the Defence Industry on underwater equipment for forty years before health issues forced me to early retirement.
I’ve been volunteering with Countrymen UK and Dorset Wildlife Trust since 2019. Although both roles are very different they fulfil the mental and intellectual void that might otherwise come with retirement.
Having been an office-based, I don’t know much about farming although, I grew up with plenty of animals, so I enjoy learning from the staff and Countrymen at Rylands. My own skills lie in wood-working and horticulture but I’ll have a go at almost anything.
My interests extend to music, bee-keeping, maintaining mechanical things, cider and bread.
Rev’d Canon Jonathan Herbert
Rev’d Herbert lives at Hilfield Friary Franciscan Community, where he is Chaplain to the Franciscan Brothers and 20 other Community members. Here
he works on the management of 45 acres of land and is responsible for the
upkeep of the buildings.
He also works for the Diocese of Salisbury as Chaplain
to Gypsies Travellers and Showmen. Prior to this he was leader of Pilsdon
Community, which supports people in recovery from addiction and mental
illness in the context of a small farm.
He is a writer and his recent book ‘Accompaniment Community and Nature’,
looks at how working on the land and being with nature can vastly improve our
wellbeing.
He is now working on a book dealing with how building strong
communities can help mitigate against the effects of climate change.
Harry Ridgewell
I am a retired Engineer who worked for Leonardo Helicopters (formerly Westland Helicopters) for 34 years. I retired in 2008.
I married Rose in 1971 and we have two sons and a grandson.
My interests include gardening, skittles, football – a season ticket holder at Yeovil Town, I enjoy walking and being outside enjoying nature. Rose and I are life members of the Nation Trust.
I became aware of the Countrymen’s Club through my son Andrew’s involvement as a fund raiser. An opportunity to become a volunteer with the Countrymen’s Club was identified in 2012. I spent 3 years at the Whitfield site before moving to Rylands Farm to continue supporting the Countrymen and their families.
It is a privilege to be involved with this organisation to help and support others in our community. As a Trustee I look forward to furthering the aims and aspirations for all associated with Countrymen UK