Meet the team

Bev Robinson
Project and Operations Manager

Bev leads the delivery team, making sure its various strands stay on track, while helping to shape future plans and direction. Her work on the Tyne Derwent Way brings together her professional expertise and personal passions - heritage, culture, and the natural world. 

When she's not working, you'll likely find Bev exploring woodland trails or jogging along the beach with her dog Frida.

 

Lucy Zwolinska
Community and Participation

Lucy has a background in community development and leads the Tyne Derwent Way's engagement with local people and communities. This is through events, partnering with local groups, and devolving decision-making to local people through things like the Community Steering Group.

Lucy loves being outside and is happiest in her hammock reading a book. She works one day a week for the Poverty Truth Network and is part of the Moderation team with the Aspen Institute UK. She is proud to be a trustee of the Comfrey Project.

 

Stewart Turnbull
Volunteer and Community Manager

Stew's background was in film and television but 20 years ago he made the switch to the voluntary sector and volunteer management.  He works four days a week on the project and leads the Tyne Derwent Way's volunteer programme.

Outside of work, Stewart enjoys going for walks and being out and about in nature and green spaces. He is happiest in the company of family and friends and may just be partial to binge watching box sets!

 

Imogen Cloët
Heritage Engagement Officer

Imogen is originally from a theatre and visual art background and for the last 18 years has worked in heritage as a designer, curator and project manager. Working locally and nationally she has created projects for museums, heritage spaces and site-specific installations that deliver unique and engaging visitor experiences. 

As Heritage Engagement Officer for the Tyne Derwent Way, her main role is to work with the team, local history groups, communities and volunteers to explore, capture, raise awareness and engage people in the rich heritage of this unique and interesting part of North East.

Outside of work, she's interested in food history, going to flea markets (but not fleas), swimming in the sea and walks with friends and family and her miniature dachshund, Otto.

 

Paul Brook
Communications Lead

Paul is a freelance copywriter and communications consultant, and for two days a week he's the Tyne Derwent Way's Communications Lead. Since August 2024, he's been looking after all our different communications and marketing activities, including our social media, media relations, newsletter, and content for the website.

Paul is also a keen birder and wildlife lover, a father to a daughter, son and a Yorkshire terrier, and plays either the daft lad or the baddie in his local panto (oh no doesn't...).

 

Heather Devey and Cain Scrimgeour, Wild Intrigue

Heather and Cain are Co-Directors of Wild Intrigue, a not-for-profit based in Ouseburn, which has worked to inspire, educate and rewild through experiences, projects and media for over 10 years.

Wild Intrigue look at the 'more-than-human' features of landscapes, to discover existing and potential opportunities for wildlife, and create interventions to replicate natural processes in the city.

On the Tyne Derwent Way, this has so far included projects like woodland restoration and a nest box scheme in Gateshead Riverside Park, rewilding St Mary's Heritage Centre churchyard, and species-rich grassland management at Swalwell Park. 

Both are very passionate about sharing the urban wilds, and host nature-based events and training opportunities through the Tyne Derwent Way. Come along and join them!

 

Sam Tranter, Stomping Grounds NE

Sam is the Gateshead Riverside Park Project Manager working for Stomping Grounds NE. She set up a forest school as part of the Tyne Derwent Way in 2024. Her work involves building community engagement locally and beyond with the site and wider park.

Sam grew up in the wilds of Northumberland, so she has always been a child of the woods. She has travelled and worked in East Africa, Australia and New Zealand, which has influenced her approach to community engagement and led her to run the John Muir Award in the North East on returning home. Sam led multiple projects for the North Pennines National Landscape focused on engaging the public by fusing her love of arts and science to inspire social action. 

Sam took her MSc in Conservation Biology at the University of Cumbria, where she also qualified as a Forest Schools HE Level 4 practitioner. Having worked on multiple funded community conservation programmes, this led her to Stomping Grounds NE.

Sam is passionate about forest bathing - immersion in nature - and often takes her boys out into the garden and the woods barefoot. She loves nothing more than being amongst the trees and connecting to nature no matter where she is. She is very excited to be in her old stomping ground of Dunston and to bring forest school to Gateshead Riverside Park.