TRUSTEES
Kerry Corbett (Chair)
Kerry served as the Manager of the Corporate Funding Programmes Team at Newcastle City Council. In this role, she was involved in managing European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) projects and provided advisory support to organizations interested in applying for European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) in Newcastle upon Tyne. Kerry brings a wealth of fund management to the team.
Catherine Carr (Treasurer)
Catherine’s interest in gardening began as a child enjoying picking strawberries from her grandad’s garden, which her grandma turned into the most delicious jam. Catherine spent over twenty years in further education teaching teenagers a variety of topics including nutrition, maths and early years education. Her previous role was working for a local authority supporting families in crisis and enabling them to improve both their physical and mental health. She is also a Parkinson’s UK volunteer.
Marianne Broadgate
Marianne is experienced in B2B business development, research and partnerships particularly in the field of information management, geoscience and the environment. She has a long-standing interest in creating an environmentally sustainable society and supports community groups such as Greener Melrose Transition Town (Former Chair) and Plastic Free Borders (founder).
Lorraine Burey (Secretary)
Lorraine joined the Board in late 2025, having worked as a volunteer in the Eyemouth Community Food Garden. Lorraine has worked in health care for over twenty years as a Community Specialist Nurse Practitioner, Improvement Manager and Project Manager. She has experience in health service research and has managed a variety of projects aimed at improving services and patient care.
WORKERS
Pete Saunders
Supported by National Lottery Community Fund, Pete joined the team as Project Co-Ordinator. He is now Operations Manager dealing with the day-to-day running of the Charity, as well as maintaining an active involvement in the community gardens.
Pete has had an interest in gardening since his student days. His predominant interest has been in organic vegetable and fruit production and his approach developed around holistic gardening and habitat provision.
Pete has a history of working with community projects, managing volunteers and community events as well as having a strong background in administration and finance. Over the years he has volunteered in a number of roles, including parish councilor, school governor and editor of a parish newsletter.
Carys Dawes
Carys developed a passion for gardening at home, where she grows organic vegetables for her family. As a former teacher, she has grown a variety of vegetables with her class to share with the whole school as part of school lunches. Carys loves to teach simple willow weaving to community groups and individuals.
The centrality of people and community to all that Abundant Borders does, is what attracted Carys to the organisation and she is looking forward to working with many volunteers and growing together in all senses of the word.
Bill Corbett
Bill manages the Community Food Garden in Hawick. He brings a wealth of experience in horticulture and community engagement.
Koren Calder
Our Green Spaces and Wellbeing Officer, a post supported by the Volunteer Support Fund. Koren will be developing a range of activities outside of our traditional food-growing to enable a wider range of people to access the benefits of our community gardens in the east of the Scottish Borders.
Angela Farnish
Our Wellbeing in Green Spaces Officer, a post supported by the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. Angela will be developing a range of activities outside of our traditional food-growing to enable a wider range of people to access the benefits of our community gardens in the west of the Scottish Borders.
ADVISORS
Karen Birch
Karen, co-founder of Abundant Borders, is an entrepreneur with a wealth of experience in creating and supporting enterprise. In 1995, at the start of the Internet revolution, Karen founded and created an ecommerce company which would become Scotland’s leading Internet retailer. Later she founded an innovative, online magazine for Women in Business, leading to her being nominated as one of Scotland’s most inspirational women in 2018.
An experienced non-executive director, Karen has held board positions including with BBC Trust, Audience Council for Scotland, Scottish Enterprise/Co-operative Development Scotland, Cooperative Business Consultants, Glasgow Women’s Aid and Scottish Women’s Football. Karen is a former Chair at Glasgow Women’s Library. She is a trustee at BAVS and represents Borders Social Enterprises on the South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership.
Karen completed her Permaculture Design Certificate in 2013 and is responsible for project delivery.
Annie Casey
Annie, co-founder of Abundant Borders, has a strong background in public policy, community development and inclusion programmes. Most recently Annie was General Manager at Comrie Croft with responsibility for all aspects of business management and development.
Annie is a keen grower and cook and is qualified to deliver REHIS accredited courses in Food Hygiene and Cooking Skills. Annie also teaches yoga, is a qualified massage therapist and a former Director with Reforesting Scotland.
Graham Bell
Co Founder Graham Bell, died after a short illness in March 2023.
The author of two books “The Permaculture Way” and “The Permaculture Garden”, Graham’s home was Garden Cottage, which is sited in part of the old walled garden of the Lees Stables, Coldstream. It is a forest garden started from scratch twenty six years ago, and is now sufficiently mature to show the intention of its original design. As well as offering advice and support to Abundant Borders on a voluntary basis, Graham taught the Permaculture Foundation Course to students in Eyemouth at the start of 2017 and in Hawick Spring 2018.
His inspiration remains core to the work of Abundant Borders
You can read more about Graham and his life in and out of permaculture, HERE
Sabina Sekowska
Sabina has a BSc (Hons) degree in Nutrition and years of experience working in the community food projects. She’s very passionate about reducing food waste and food insecurities whilst eating healthy, delicious and sustainable diets. Sabina volunteered with Abundant Borders for several years, in both food growing and cooking projects, and joined the staff team in 2024. She now runs her own Community Interest Company Let’s Eat Better CIC through which she delivers Abundant Borders’ cooking activities.
