About Us
OUR STORY
The Pearce Coggan Foundation was created in 2014 by MaryAnn and Martin Richmond-Coggan, who grew up surrounded by the countryside and understood the freedom, confidence and wellbeing that time in nature can bring. Their wish was simple but powerful: to give others — especially children, families and communities without easy access to green spaces — the chance to discover that same sense of belonging and joy outdoors.
From this vision grew a charity rooted at Green Farm in Shadoxhurst, Kent. Over the years, the Foundation has expanded from its beginnings in woodland and farm experiences to a wide-reaching programme that includes a Community Wildlife Vegetable Garden, family camping for inner-city groups, hands-on apprenticeships for young people and much much more.
Set within a historic farm estate, a working livestock farm and ancient woodland, the Foundation has become a place where people can learn, play, and reconnect with the land.
OUR MISSION
We exist to inspire freedom, wellbeing and environmental responsibility by connecting people with nature. We achieve this through:
-
Outdoor Family Adventures – supporting urban families to experience camping in nature, wildlife and the countryside for the first time
-
Education & Skills – teaching communities how to grow food, care for the land and develop confidence through our community garden and apprenticeship programmes
-
Conservation & Stewardship – working with Kent Wildlife Trust, local schools and neighbouring landowners to protect ancient woodlands, restore meadows and enrich natural habitats
Our mission combines people, place and purpose: to nurture healthier lives, stronger communities and a richer natural environment.
OUR VALUES
Everything we do is guided by values that keep us grounded and forward-looking:
-
Freedom & Connection – giving children and families the chance to roam outdoors, to play freely and discover the wonders of nature.
-
Learning & Wellbeing – building confidence, resilience and healthier habits through gardening, camping and practical skills.
-
Sustainability & Conservation – protecting the land through regenerative farming, traditional woodland management and wildlife-friendly practices.
-
Inclusivity & Partnership – ensuring everyone, regardless of background, can access the countryside, while working hand-in-hand with schools, charities and local organisations.
-
Community Spirit – offering a space where people support one another, share knowledge and celebrate the outdoors together.
The Team
The Pearce Coggan Foundation has 4 Trustees
MaryAnn Richmond-Coggan
Joint Managing Director, Pearce Coggan Foundation & Trustee
MaryAnn has been a landlord and property investor for over 19 years, buying her own run down properties, doing them up and renting them out; this is where she developed a passion and flare for restoring property. Nominated by her tenants and property professionals, she was voted The Buy to Let Magazine “Landlord of the year 2010”.
She has appeared as a property expert in many articles including The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Times and the TV programmes BBC’S “Inside Out” and BBC 1’s “homes under the hammer” featuring Green Farm.
They have stunningly restored their home Green Farm and the Barn at Green Farm, and have built the Spa and the Studio. Guests also experience the lifestyle of the farm. MaryAnn puts her success down to creating partnerships with uniquely talented and committed builders and professionals with trust, integrity, workmanship, team work among its key values.
Martin Richmond-Coggan
Joint Managing Director, Pearce Coggan Foundation & Trustee
Before "retiring" to Green Farm, Martin was an army officer, accountant, sales executive and business leader. His main experience was in the software industry where, as Vice-President EMEA, he helped take Applix, a failing software company, to a successful sale to IBM. Martin then led IBM’s team of sales specialists for Financial Performance Management in EMEA for the five years before taking a non-executive director role at ICit Business Intelligence, IBM’s leading Performance Management reseller in the UK while he and MaryAnn started developing Green Farm.
Martin has a love of sailing and was the Commodore of the London Corinthian sailing Club in London for 4 years and was subsequently a trustee of the charitable organisation, the London Corinthian Trust.
Martin has a passion for the outdoors and is heavily involved with the conservation activities at Green Farm, determined to farm the livestock with sustainability and habitat improvement as a core goal.
Robert Crowley
Chairman, Pearce Coggan Foundation & Trustee
Rob Crowley is a HR Director with over 20 years’ experience who has a passion for learning, people engagement and making organisations great. Recently he has spent his career working with high growth FinTech’s who are disrupting their market space, including Nutmeg the digital Wealth Manager. Previously he has worked at Thomson Reuters, the Financial Times Group and Accenture.
Rob has three young boys and enjoys sailing, football and being outdoors in the countryside, especially cycling along trails in the local ancient woodlands and surrounding areas.
Rob holds a BSc in Business and Sports Science from the University of Surrey and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel. He holds an Advisory Board role with the Partnering Partnership, a HR networking community and sits on the local Parish Council. He is also an accredited Football Association coach, spending time coaching his son’s football team
Rebecca Lee
Trustee
Rebecca Lee is a criminal barrister. She was called to the bar in 2004 and has practiced at the bar since 2005. She prosecutes and defends people charged with criminal offences of every description. She has broad experience of working with people from every kind of background, with a wide range of advantage and disadvantage. This includes representing very young people, the elderly, and those with mental health difficulties, learning difficulties, or other physical challenges. Before becoming a barrister Rebecca worked for the British Council for six years and for the Law Society for three.
Rebecca lives in Sussex and loves walking, travel, wine and books. She loves being outdoors, especially the feeling of being part of the landscapes depicted by Ravilious, the paintings still finding echo in the fields and footpaths Sussex and the South Downs.
Rebecca studied history as an undergraduate at Pembroke College, Oxford. After university she worked for the British Council in Lviv, Ukraine for a year, making the most of the opportunity to travel within Ukraine and beyond. She went on to complete an MA in East European Studies at UCL while working for the British Council in London, before going on to qualify in law, and beginning her practice at the bar in 2005.
Shelly Woodcock
Community Garden Manager
Shellyis passionate about gardening, growing food and the environment. She works part-time at Green Farm developing our wildlife friendly community garden and running workshops.She is also a trained teacher; she teaches wildlife gardening workshops, food growing and other related topics.
Shelly is also a dedicated follower of no-dig gardening (exactly what it says - never dig!) as a way to improve soil health, capture carbon, retain moisture and, altogether, provide built-in resillience.
Find out more about Shelly and her passions. Click here
