Meet the team

Bryony Cross

Volunteering and Programmes Manager

Bryony started her Royal Parks career with the Mission: Invertebrate project, working with volunteers on various invertebrate focussed citizen science projects whilst also volunteering to help with the hedgehog survey, corporate volunteering and other projects whenever time would allow. This inspired Bryony to want to be more focussed on volunteering and initiated the move into the volunteering team.

Bryony now heads up the volunteering team, leading on the strategy and direction of the team, growing the programme and working to help tackle the challenges our parks are facing. Whenever there’s an excuse or opportunity Bryony loves to escape the office and head out into the parks to get stuck in with some practical work and to have a good chat to some of the fantastic volunteers.

Rachel Dowse

Volunteer Officer

Rachel started out as a conservation volunteer herself, and has worked with volunteering groups across South London, including managing a small woodland. Now she supports volunteers of all kinds across the Royal Parks, including regular groups, one off opportunities, and corporate days.

Jo Haywood

Volunteer Officer

Jo runs the Royal Parks' Volunteer Ranger Service in Bushy, Richmond and Greenwich Parks. Having previously been a ranger who managed volunteers, a new role managing volunteer rangers is even more exciting, especially as this service is so new it didn't even exist when Jo started with the parks in 2018!

Jo spends her time planning direction for the service, coordinating the 150+ Volunteer Rangers, recruiting and training new Volunteer Rangers, researching and creating info docs about the parks and spending as much time roaming around the parks and talking to people as possible.

"My role is incredibly rewarding, not only have I been able to set up and deliver TRP's new flagship volunteer programme successfully, but I've also been able to meet so many incredible volunteers. I learn something new every day and love that I can then share this with volunteers as well as so many of our wonderful park visitors."

Lisa Stanford

Volunteer Coordinator and Admin. Assistant

Lisa works part-time as the volunteer coordinator for the The Royal Parks.  Her role supports the volunteer recruitment and management infrastructure for the organisation.

Lisa assists with the volunteer registration, induction needs, PPE and ensures volunteers are matched with appropriate work/park. Working closely with Volunteer Coordinators, she helps to ensure volunteers receive satisfaction in the work they participate with, and that the organisation is receiving the support from the volunteers.

Lisa also supports the administration of the Volunteer Team’s financial budgets together with their general administration.