Women in the Woods - Ffion Farnell
Written by Tir Coed / Friday 08 March 2019
Ffion first became involved in woodland management as a teenager when she volunteered at her local millennium wood, (a woodland trust initiative)- Coed Y Bobl.
Prior to working for Tir Coed she has a background in arts and performance, community focused project development and management, fundraising, facilitation and youth work.
Ffion began her time with Tir Coed as a freelance support tutor in 2010 becoming development officer in 2012. Inspired and motivated by her time working in the woods, and witnessing first-hand the positive benefits to both people and the woodland, Ffion was able to develop & successfully fundraise for the VINE project.
In December 2013 she was promoted to Executive Director at the age of 27. Since then Ffion has grown the organisation from a staff-team of 4 to 18. Has increased the geographical reach of the charity as well as the number of people it engages each year and has secured well-over £2million to support the communities & woodlands of rural Wales.
In 2015, Ffion built a timber-framed eco-house with her husband. The timber was sourced from Ceredigion woodlands, showing that we really could be growing & building local; creating more meaningful employment opportunities and bringing underused woodlands back into sustainable management for environmental, social and economic purposes. In 2017 her first child was born, and, as any Mother will tell you the balance of family-life and work-life began. An incredible journey, but not an easy one.
On this day celebrating Women, I would say- You can do anything you put your mind to, so begin it now. Be kind to yourself because us women are under so much pressure, make time for what makes you happy and know that you are just as capable, intelligent, creative and strong as the men around you.
I have come across both sexism & ageism in my professional life (although on the most part I have received respect & encouragement) when I have, I have held my head up high and risen above it, the proof, after all ... is in the pudding!
