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MEET THE TEAM

We are an award winning farm park and it’s all thanks to our amazing team. We have many part time, full time and seasonal staff who are all on hand to make sure you have the best day out with us!

Ed Dee

Farmer/Ideas Man

Ed grew up on the farm and many of the initial ideas for the farm park were inspired by his childhood. Ed’s a bit like Peter Pan – he’s never really grown up! He left the farm in 1992 to become a medical representative. He thought up the concept of West Lodge Rural Centre whilst sitting in a traffic jam on M11 between appointments in 1993 – yes he’s that old!

He returned to the farm that year and began converting the old Rickyard Barn into a tea room with the support of his parents, Tony and Margaret. He’s never looked back!

Mo Dee

Busy Mum

Mo qualified as a nursery nurse in 1988 and worked in special education for 14 years. She set up the children’s day nursery on the farm in 2003. She and Farmer Ed have 3 children who are all growing up very fast.

In between school runs, sporting fixtures and general kids taxi service Mo still oversees the running of the nursery and does most of the marketing and social media for the farm.

Tony Dee

Mr West Lodge

The grandfather of the farming family, Tony built most of the farm sheds that you see around West Lodge and was instumental in bringing the barrel ride to the farm. He had always dabbled in diversification, running a haulage business and B&B as well as the farm during the 80s and 90s.

When the farm park started he and his late wife Margaret could always be seen around the farm entertaining visitors. Tony sadly passed away in November 2019 but his legacy will live on here at the farm forever.

Ryan Thompson

Farmer/Makes Ed’s crazy ideas happen!

Ryan studied Ecology and Conservation at Sussex University. He played rugby in London for a few years then joined the local club (Kettering) where Farmer Ed was captain.

Ed convinced him to come and work at the farm for the summer in 1997 to help out with the conservation side of things and school trips – longest summer job he’s ever had!

James Tite

Farmer/Builder and Man on the Mike

James arrived at the farm as a work experience student in 2004 while studying Conservation and Land Management at Northampton University.

He then joined the farm team and worked part time in any hour he wasn’t at college but he never left! James has always been very passionate about the countryside and loves working in the great outdoors and playing on big boys toys and managing our big build projects. Most of us would agree he’s definitely at his best behind a microphone!

Ed Jackson

Head Chef

Ed joined the kitchen in October 2016. Having previously worked in a Michelin starred restaurant it was quite a culture shock joining our small farm café.

Ed has transformed the food that we now serve offering greater choice with more options for special dietary requirements. Ed works hard to source locally produced food and use food produced here on the farm with minimal wastage. Ed was the driving force in developing our new butchery and delicatessen in 2020.

Lisa Male

Education Officer and Forest School Leader

Lisa began her career at West Lodge in 2003. After 10 years of working in and managing West Lodge Day Nursery Lisa took up the new challenge of managing the ever growing school visits at the farm park.

Lisa is also our Forest School Leader and a bit like Farmer Ed, she is reliving her childhood memories – making rope swings and building bridges, the only difference being she was afraid of creepie crawlies back then!