Peter Waldron

Chairperson of The Papillon Project

Peter has spent his career as an academic historian, specialising in the history of modern Russia. He grew up in north east England and was a student in London, as well as spending time studying and working in Finland and the then Soviet Union. He taught at the University of East Anglia for nearly 15 years, publishing widely on Russian history, and is now emeritus professor of history. As a counterweight to the world of books and archives, Peter has always had a strong attachment to the outdoors, enjoying hiking, running and cycling. The north Norfolk coast is a particular favourite while, further afield – and as a contrast to the East Anglian landscape – the Swiss Alps have always been a challenge. Committed to sustainability and to the importance of rounded and broad education, he is keen to offer support to the Papillon Project.

Dr Diane Davies MBE

Trustee, Treasurer and Administrator of The Papillon Project

Diane started her career working in a bank and continued in the accounts’ offices of various companies, before starting her own business in administration. Having left school at 15 with no qualifications, she studied for a degree with the Open University before obtaining a PhD in Mathematics at the University of Hertfordshire. She regularly volunteered with various charities and became involved in The Royal Institution’s Masterclass Programme, subsequently working at The Ri and becoming Clothworker’s Fellow in Mathematics, responsible for the Mathematics programme and introducing Engineering and Computer Science Programmes.  Diane is also the Manager of the English Schools’ Orchestra, a charity offering opportunities in orchestral playing for the very best young orchestral players aged 13 to 18 around the UK, and has been Treasurer for a Scout Group for over 30 years, so has been involved in young people’s charities for most of her life. Her hobbies are gardening and craft, so The Papillon Project is an exciting development and any help she can provide to the project is willingly given.

Debbie Palmer

Trustee of The Papillon Project

I was lucky enough to spend much of my childhood outside in a fairly wild ‘garden’ climbing trees and digging holes.  I was given my own small garden at a young age and have always had an interest in things that grow, whether in the garden or the countryside.  My passion for the environment and man’s relationship with nature was kindled around the time I had my own children. Seeing the fascination they felt for the world around them, wriggly worms, mud pies and the like, opened my eyes to how precious our planet is and I subsequently went on to study Environmental Biology. As time went on I came to realise that not everyone has the opportunity to connect to nature I had.  I’ve worked with children as a dinner lady, a special needs learning assistant, as a childminder and volunteer for school gardening clubs.  In all of these roles I have witnessed the importance of connecting with nature for children’s wellbeing.

My horticultural ‘qualification’ was gained through the Royal Horticultural Society’s course undertaken at Easton College. This enabled me to work as a professional gardener for a number of years at an historical garden and then to set up my own gardening business working on a wide range of garden styles. I’ve been lucky enough to work with a number of assistant gardeners and have always enjoyed working with these young people. One in particular had difficulty in coping with modern life and all its demands, seeing the positive change that being in nature made to his life I felt inspired to take on some Social and Therapeutic training in this area of horticulture.

At home I grow as much of my own food as my modest plot will allow, but it is becoming increasingly apparent that we need to go further than this to maintain a balance in how much we consume of the planets resources. And we need to teach our children.  Something that embodies that idea is Permaculture, and this is something that I think can be applied to every aspect of our lives alongside conventional food growing

I feel very grateful to be involved in The Papillon Project.

Georgie Sheward

Trustee of The Papillon Project

Georgie was born in West Norfolk and has over 13 years’ experience working in the education and charity sector.

Georgie is a qualified secondary school teacher who currently works for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award supporting their licensed organisations in Norfolk. She is particularly passionate about extending the DofE to young people who experience marginalisation.

The Papillon Project’s aim to inspire young people to live more sustainably and be environmentally aware is what attracted Georgie to working with the charity. Through her role at The DofE she was lucky enough to see the charity’s inception through ‘The Allotment Project’ at Reepham High School and has been a vocal supporter since. As a teacher, Georgie was lucky enough to travel with a group of students to a small island in Indonesia to support a tree conservation project. Experiences such as this demonstrate that learning doesn’t just occur through exams but should be a rounded experience that includes the multifaceted opportunities of the outdoors.

Georgie says, “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to be a part of The Papillon Project. I have always been heavily invested in youth development in Norfolk and keen to contribute positive change as a volunteer. I have two young sons and would hope that a key part of their school life includes the experiences that The Papillon Project provides.”

As a trustee Georgie hopes to use her expertise that she has gained working for an international youth charity to support The Papillon Project’s work.

In her spare time, Georgie likes to spend time outdoors with her family. She enjoys running, baking and travelling when possible!

Matt Willer (PGCE, QTS)

Schools' Project Lead, Designated Safeguarding Lead & founder of The Papillon Project

Matt was born and raised in Sussex. Unlike most state schools, Matt's former school (Oathall Community College) has a working school farm and market gardens which continues to offer a wonderful educational experience for many youngsters.

Matt studied history at the University of East Anglia, which included environmental history. He was particularly interested in the ‘wood shortage crisis’ which emerged during the early modern period. As a postgraduate, Matt completed fieldwork in post-war Bosnia to study how natural surroundings might help heal the wounds of war. Since university, he has worked and taught in rural Uganda where local food is grown because, with no local supermarkets, there was no alternative! In a previous life, Matt worked as a water sports instructor for many years working with children of all ages and abilities. Matt has also had the privilege of working for the New Zealand Red Cross in Christchurch following the earthquakes there.

With great interest, Matt has also visited Cuba to see the island’s success at growing food locally, without fossil fuels. He has also held an allotment in Norwich (Bluebell Allotments), and has completed an ‘Introduction to Permaculture’ course and holds a certificate in  Permaculture Design 

From 2013-2018, Matt was a full time humanities teacher at Reepham High School & College. It was during this time at this school that Matt decided to attempt to create a school allotment to inspire his students. After five years of non-stop work, and with the help of many amazing people, 'The Allotment Project' became a nationally recognised and celebrated secondary school allotment which subsequently won multiple awards. Alongside this, Matt has also had the huge privilege of taking many teenagers across The English Channel and North Sea onboard The Excelsior with The Excelsior Trust, sometimes in very choppy seas!

In 2018 his work and efforts at Reepham High School & College won him the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society's ‘School Gardening Champion of the Year’ award, which included meeting HRH The Prince of Wales. You can get a very clear sense of why Matt is ‘positively bonkers’ about trying to engage the next generation to grow their own food by viewing this nomination video (made without his knowledge) at the end of this bio.

Matt went on to win the 'Norwich and Norfolk Eco Hero Award', by public vote in 2019 with over 3000 people voting for him. He has published many articles, spoken publicly about his work and has made numerous TV appearances, including live on BBC Breakfast national news.

In 2019, Matt left full-time teaching to set up The Papillon Project, which is now a registered charity. The multi-awarding winning 'Allotment Project' which Matt began in 2015 at Reepham High School & College, in many respects, was the 'accidental pilot' project that inspired Matt to create 'The Papillon Project' so he, and others, can help other secondary schools and colleges in Norfolk to also inspire children and young people to lead more sustainable lives too!

He lives with his wife on a small-holding in rural North Norfolk along with some lovely animals including Dumbledora the Basset Hound.

Matt says:

“Going to school simply has to be more about just tests and exams. These are, of course, really important, but, encouraging and skilling our children and young people to lead lives that work with, and not against, nature is of the greatest urgency… The Papillon Project is all about doing this across Norfolk, by supporting High Schools and their local communities to set up an allotment project.

A school allotment is a place for young people, designed with them and to inspire them, so they can inspire each other to grow their own food and so help to restore and work with nature, mediate the impact of climate change and promote their own physical and mental well-being.”

Harriet Watson

Deputy Schools' Project Lead

Harriet has joined the charity since May 2021 and is professional gardener alongside a school gardening teacher. Harriet is currently supporting schools who follow the charity's 'Transformative' and 'DIY' programmes.

Holly Chantrill-Cheyette

Noticing Nature Lead

Holly grew up on the North Norfolk coast and was extremely lucky to spend her childhood surrounded by beaches, fields and forest which shaped her passion for nature. Inspired by a love of nature and interconnectedness Holly studied BSc Ecology, Conservation and Environment at the University of Sussex in Brighton. During her time at university Holly was particularly interested in biodiversity, climate change, natural resource use, sustainable development, environmental justice, community engagement and nature and wellbeing.

Holly is currently back in Norfolk and recently completed an amazing market gardening traineeship with Eves Hill Veg Co where she discovered a deep passion for gardening and community food growing. Holly is now working at Grapes Hill Community Garden, an urban community garden in Norwich where Holly’s role focuses on connecting with local projects and involving the local community in the garden.

Holly is extremely passionate about deepening connections to nature, especially with children and young people, and working with nature to benefit both human and environmental wellbeing. In a world dominated by fast-paced lifestyles, our disconnection from nature is seen as a main cause for environmental degradation and mental health crises. Holly believes that reconnecting people to nature through mindfulness, creativity, slowing down, noticing nature’s beauty and cycles, increasing land access and cultivating food, gardens and a sense of community is essential. Holly is so honoured and excited to be a part of The Papillon Project’s inspiring and important charitable work which she truly believes is a massive part of the solution!

In her spare time Holly loves creating (and very occasionally selling) art inspired by nature, folklore and wellbeing. Holly also enjoys reading, listening to music, playing guitar, swimming, yoga, wild camping, exploring new places and of course, gardening!

Louis Johnson

Lead Film Biographer for The Papillon Project

Louis discovered his interest in filmmaking after volunteering to produce and direct Matt Willer's nomination film for School Gardening Champion of the Year in 2018.

After receiving praise and commendation for his own work on the film, he then went on to produce a short documentary 'The Allotment Project', using the footage from the nomination film, specifically about the project at Reepham High School. This gives people insight into how the project runs and is why it is successful. It also won an international film award: WWOOF's Future Food and Farming Youth Video Awards (September 2019). You can view the video, and others on the ‘Our Work’ section of this website

Today, Louis is working with The Papillon Project to advise and produce new video content, with the aim of disseminating the idea and some of the approaches and techniques to school gardening. This is helping 'The Papillon Project's' values and learning to reach a wider audience.

George Bates

Papillon Project Research Lead & Librarian

George lives with his family in the beautiful Norfolk countryside where he spent much of his childhood watching the local wildlife, cycling and playing with friends in the nearby villages. After completing his earlier education at his local primary and secondary school, George went on to study History, Geography and Sociology A Levels at Reepham College, where he became well acquainted with Matt Willer, in his lessons and at the Reepham Allotment Project. George regularly volunteered during and outside of college hours in constructing the Allotment Project, along with helping students at the site and teaching them about the importance of permaculture, growing food organically and the protection of the environment. After two incredible years of working at Reepham, George was inspired to help make Matt’s allotment charity vision a reality, and now volunteers with The Papillon Project developing new and existing allotments at local secondary schools.

During this Gap Year, George plans to learn first-hand about the dynamics of wildlife conservation and the threats species and habitats face, by volunteering with a variety of local and national wildlife organisations such as the RSPB and The Norfolk Wildlife Trust. In addition, he plans to travel across the UK to different nature reserves to observe different conservation strategies in action. And if that wasn’t enough, he also hopes to do international volunteering in the Galapagos Islands in order to help preserve and experience the abundant yet, fragile biodiversity of this unique archipelago. After this, George will be taking up a placement at Kent University to Study a BSc in Wildlife Conservation with a Year in Professional Practice.

In his spare time, George tends to his extensive vegetable garden at home and grows organic produce for his family to use. He is also a passionate outdoorsman; he enjoys annual country sports and taking regular walks and bike rides near his home and outdoor swimming and sailing on the North Norfolk Coast. When not outside, George can often be found reading about natural history, listening to classical music or keeping updated with and discussing current affairs.

George says of his role and expectations:

‘The Papillon Project helps to encourage shared stewardship of our planet’s resources, fairer societies and the transfer of vital knowledge and skills; simply by creating long-term, ecologically sound allotments. It is so rewarding to play an active role working alongside students who have come together from a diverse range of social backgrounds, to produce something for their school that, due to the constraints of the Education System, is often impossible to contemplate.

The Papillon Project will generate both a series of self-sufficient allotments that become integral parts of School life, and in time form a network that can share resources efficiently to help create and improve other sites- just like a healthy forest sharing water and nutrients to survive.’

Fuchsia Wilkins

Communications Lead

Fuchsia studied Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia and her professional background lies in marketing, communications and event management.

She first encountered The Papillon Project whilst working as Communications Officer for the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, and was blown away by the Project’s flagship allotment at Reepham High School.

On returning to Norfolk to work as a freelance writer, she got involved more directly, volunteering to sit on the Project’s Leadership team and Fundraising committee.

She spends a lot of her spare time growing vegetables on a patch of land in West Norfolk and is passionate about helping to connect everyone, young or old, with the great outdoors!

Eija Betts

Editor of The Kaleidoscope

Narelle Doe

Editor of The Buddleia (the charity's newsletter)

Narelle kindly supports The Papillon Project with coordinating the charity's seasonal newsletter: The Buddleia. This newsletter is very important to keeping everyone who is connected with the charity updated and also those who have shown an interested in following our charitable work across Norfolk.

If you are interested in receiving The Buddleia please email us to register your interest: info@thepapillonproject.com

Portia van de Braam

'Pap Up' Shop Lead (Papillon Upcycling Shop)

Portia originally trained as a ballet dancer at The Royal Ballet School and worked as a commercial dancer and model, before re-training as an actress at Drama Centre London.

Alannah Young

Papillon Project Upcycling Lead

Alannah says:

“The longer I spend in education, the more I realise how broad that term really is. Learning is not just about rearranging formulae and memorising facts and dates; we are learning all the time. The Papillon Project offers not only the possibility of learning about the environment and sustainability but other essential skills that the curriculum neglects; about co-operation and patience, about practical skills and the benefits of spending time out of doors, and it underpins the importance of all of these skills as part of ‘education'."

Alannah's role is to help source safe and suitable materials that can be 'upcycled' or 'creatively reused' at school allotments.

Libby Fox

School Convergence Lead

Libby is studying Fine art at Plymouth University. Currently in her second year, she often explores environmental issues through her work and is passionate about the preservation of the natural world. Alongside her art she enjoys being outdoors, whether its getting grubby in a horse stable or long walks with a dog or two.

As an ex-student from Reepham High School and College she was an early participant of 'The Allotment Project' which is where her love for the Project began.  Her creative practice has led her to enjoy thinking about new and exciting ways in which to portray the project to the wider community. Libby has been involved in past school allotment celebratory events such as 'Live at the Allotment' (click here).

Libby's role, as 'School Convergence Lead', works closely with Matt to help organise an end of year celebratory gathering (convergence) to bring Norfolk schools together to positively share all that has been achieved each academic year.

Graeme Tolley

Papillon Project's International Exchange Lead

Graeme’s passion for the outdoors began at a young age growing up in rural Lancashire and Cheshire. He spent his 20s as a Youth Worker in the North West, for local charities, such as the Canal Boat project, and for a secondary school. Graeme moved to Norfolk in 2011, to complete his PhD in International Development at the UEA. Living in a flat in Norwich, Graeme and his wife took on an allotment in order to grow their own vegetables and gain some outdoor space, which rekindled an enthusiasm and enjoyment for gardening, nature and sustainable living. Graeme and his wife have since moved to North Norfolk, where they spend most of their spare time in their garden chasing their chickens and continuing their desire to live ‘the good life’. Graeme is currently undertaking an RHS qualification in Horticulture and is really excited to be a part of the Papillon Project.

Graeme's role as the charity's 'International Lead' is to help school children and teachers from around the world to connect to with Norfolk secondary schools as part of a cultural and educational exchange programme. 

Helen Fox

Papillon Project Events Lead

Joseph O'Shea

Tool Bank and Workshop Lead

Joseph was born and raised in rural north Norfolk and grew up exploring fields, forests and beaches. Joseph decided to pursue a lifelong interest in nature and is currently studying BSc Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science at UWE Bristol. Joseph is particularly interested in woodland-pasture ecosystems, rewilding and also has a passion for history. Before attending university, Joseph travelled to Canada to explore the incredible landscape.

After volunteering with the project in his spare time, Joseph attended a Tool Restoration Day, which inspired him to join the project in a more involved role.

Joseph is also currently completing a university placement role with the North Norfolk District Council, working throughout various woodland environments to benefit and increase biodiversity whilst also working alongside public volunteering groups within the woodlands. Joseph also recently worked for the National Trust on Blakeney Point, helping to protect England’s largest seal colony as well as migratory birds.

In his spare time Joseph enjoys camping, kayaking as well as reading and listening to music.

Poppy Kirby

Project Assistant

Poppy lives outside of King's Lynn and is presently supporting the charity's work in West Norfolk schools. Poppy is currently completing landscape design qualifications and is hoping to run her own garden centre one day. Along with gardening being a great passion, Poppy is also a gifted and talented artist and loves to draw, which is ideal for garden design! 

Along with fellow Project Assistant Liam, Poppy helps to support the core charitable work of The Papillon Project and is a highly valued member of the team.

Liam Levy

Project Assistant

Liam lives in Norwich and has been working with the charity since January 2022 as a Project Assistant.

Along with fellow Project Assistant Poppy, Liam supports the core charitable work of The Papillon Project and is a highly valued member of the team.

Liam is currently on a gap year after finishing his A-levels and is hoping to study Criminology at university.