Jeremy Iles has worked in the environmental campaigning sector since 1983 & has a wealth of experience of developing collaborative projects across the UK.
What we offer – experience, flexibility, empathy, lateral thinking, co-development, networking, peer support, collaboration, advocacy, handholding, empowerment, enthusiasm, value for money.
We believe in – being honest, transparent, and positive, working effectively and collaboratively, delivering to a high standard, enjoying what we do, making a positive difference in the world.
We are based in Bristol, with extensive experience of working at all levels across the UK.
Previous clients and project funding
- The Watershed Bristol (2024-25): research contract into Bristol’s greenbelt
- https://www.urbanagriculture.org.uk/ongoing-projects/fringe-farming/
- Coventry University: work on Landed Community Kitchens and Pathways to Agroecological Urbanism (contract)
- Sustain: Food for the Planet (grant)
- Nottinghamshire County Council (2024): contract feasibility study into FarmStarts.
- Groundwork UK: (2021)advice to grants programme.
- University of the West of England (2019): guidance and training on careers in the NGO and environmental sectors.
- Humanists UK (2018): feasibility study into the scope for a natural burial ground to be run as a social enterprise. “Strongly recommended”
- City to Sea: (2017-19): Strategic consultancy and fundraising for campaign to combat marine plastic pollution. “Great teamwork“
- Horfield and District Allotments Association (2017-18): Delivering a 100th anniversary community and oral history project. “Beyond our expectations” –
- Big Lottery Fund (2016-17): Strategic consultancy on future local food funding. “Very useful“
Previous funders of the Urban Agriculture Consortium, managed by GFA
Our thanks to Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Plunkett Foundation, Necessity, The Lund Trust
- Jeremy Iles, GFA Founder & Director. Jeremy started “doing something useful” as a teenager and has kept to this ethos throughout his career
- 1983-84: cycle campaigner at Friends of the Earth in 1983,
- 1984-1990: first Director of the London Wildlife Trust
- 1991-93: Country Director VSO Bangladesh and Eritrea
- 1994-2000: Regional Manager for Sustrans
- 2000 – 2016: CEO of the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens. Projects and partnerships during this period have had a significant and long lasting impact nationally, including the Allotments Regeneration Initiative (2002-2014), the £57m Local Food Consortium (2002-2014), Community Land Advisory Service, and chairing the Growing Together partnership (2014-16).
- BA Hons, Sussex (1980), NVQ5 Management (2006), School for Social Entrepreneurs (2019).
- Jeremy rides his bike to his allotment, sings with The Island Folk, plays octave mandola with the All at Sea ceilidh band, and runs Stan Drew’s Folk club in Bristol. Jeremy is a qualified Yachtmaster exam and sailing instructor.
Maddy Longhurst – has been coordinating the Urban Agriculture Consortium with Jeremy since 2020. Maddy’s previous work focus has been campaigning for the protection of land within the planning system (Founder of Blue Finger Alliance, Bristol). She also works on low cost and free thermal imaging surveys to provide householders with data to inform housing retrofit as Survey Manager of The C.H.E.E.S.E Project CIC – Cold Homes Energy Efficiency Survey Experts). She is also helping to create the organisational infrastructure for the Tiny House Community Bristol, enabling the creation of common good regenerative settlements in the West of England using dynamic governance.