A Tribute to Peter Marsden

9 January 2025

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~ Mary Hext, Farm Discovery Manager

When I first met Peter, I was stepping into the Farm Discovery Coordinator role that he had nurtured for years. He was deeply sad to let it go, but his love for the Trust and its mission outweighed his personal feelings. That selflessness was a cornerstone of his character. As a mentor, Peter was extraordinary - patient, encouraging, and generous with his knowledge. I vividly remember sitting on a stool in his kitchen as he explained the nuances of the job. It was clear from the very beginning that this role was more than just a job; it was a family. That sense of belonging and shared purpose was something Peter fostered in everyone, and I’ve carried it with me every day since. 

More than a decade has passed, and I still feel the weight of responsibility to honour Peter’s legacy. He set the foundation for The Country Trust’s work across the whole country, not only in the North West, with such care and vision, and I strive to ensure that his values continue to run through everything we do. 

Peter’s ability to connect with people, especially children, was unparalleled. I’ll never forget watching him lead a group of children on a farm visit near Preston. With a shepherd’s crook in hand and a whistle around his neck, he guided them along a lane and into a field, playing a game of ‘Follow the Leader.’ The children hung on his every word, enchanted by his quiet, steady presence and his infectious enthusiasm. Peter had a way of making everyone feel welcome, weaving fun and warmth into everything he did. 

Today, the Farm Discovery team has grown to 35 Coordinators, supporting 22,000 children annually on farm visits; delivering Peter’s vision on a scale he could have scarcely imagined.  

The Country Trust has evolved, but Peter’s ethos remains at the heart of every visit. His belief in connecting children to the countryside, fostering curiosity, and making the outdoors accessible to all continues to guide us. 

I’ve collected some recollections from other Colleagues who worked closely with Peter. 
 

Lee Holmes, Farm Discovery Coordinator Yorkshire  

“My first recollection was in 2001 when I received a call to say there was a lovely gentleman at the Police Station counter in Bradford wanting to offer free visits to the countryside for any young people I was in contact with. The rest is history, he arranged dozens of farm and countryside visits for the local primary schools I was working with in Bradford and Keighley. It was Peter who first took me to Halton Gill Bunk Barn and convinced me that residential’s were a great way to build trust with children and the local community I served - more than 2500 children have experienced the Yorkshire Dales as a result.  
 
"When I retired in 2008 Peter suggested that I work for The Country Trust. He was the perfect mentor during those early months and is the reason I have loved working for the Trust ever since.” 
 

David Thompson, Farm Discovery Coordinator North East 

“A lovely kind-hearted man. I saw Peter quite a bit in the early days, sometimes working with him in the NE and Yorkshire. He made quite an impression on me when I saw how he communicated with young children and held them spell-bound with his stories. 

"I think the first time I met him (late 1999/early 2000ish) was when he arrived at Broxfield after dark one evening (after a visit somewhere in the region) with a telephone/fax machine under his arm, and various print outs of the forms we used in those days. We spent an hour running through which forms had to be sent to schools and hosts, and that was it, induction over!   

"As you say, he was a key person at the Trust in those days.  I can remember sometimes ringing him for advice.  He gladly helped with practical sensible suggestions.  I remember I couldn’t stop a class on a visit one day and they ran to the far end of the field…I told him about it and a few days later a whistle arrived in the post.” 
 

Kay Whitfield, Yorkshire Coordinator 

“I first met Peter at a networking event for environmental and sustainability practitioners around 2011. It was there that he introduced me to The Country Trust, handing me a leaflet with such genuine passion. He spoke about how The Country Trust focused on helping children who experienced disadvantage, and how a visit to a real working farm could transform their lives. His words resonated deeply, and I left the event with a new sense of purpose. 

"A few years later in 2012, I found myself in my early days working with the Trust. We had a rare staff gathering—just a dozen of us—and I remember feeling in awe of the setting. Mary was starting to take on some of Peter’s role, and the atmosphere was one of respect and warmth. After a lively discussion about the importance of pre-visits, we moved into another grand room for a buffet-style meal. It was then that I saw Peter in his element, quietly speaking with those around him, always gathering people to him with his calm demeanour and heartfelt passion. 

"Peter’s impact is immeasurable, and he leaves behind a legacy of having brought experiences to a generation of children who might otherwise never have experienced the beauty and wonder of the countryside. 

"As I reflect on what Peter contributed to The Country Trust, I can’t help but think he would look back at that chapter of his life with a sense of pride and fulfilment. He was one of the foundation blocks upon which the Trust stands. His legacy lives on in the children we reach, the farms they visit, and the awe they experience.” 
 

Jane Stanford, wife of the first Director of The Country Trust, Rodney Stanford 

Jane also worked so hard to establish The Country Trust, including our residential programme for London schools. 

“Peter was part of The Country Trust from the beginning.  He had taken children from his school on a Country Trust visit.  When he retired as Deputy Head of a Manchester School he joined Rodney in The Country Trust. He organised visits for schools not only in Manchester but in other big cities, London and Birmingham among the first. Peter made the visits eye openers for the children. He was very good at persuading schools of the advantages of Country Trust visits and how the visits widened the children’s horizons. He worked with several police forces.  They were pleased to have the opportunity to accompany the visits and be seen out of uniform. Peter was a good friend and my mentor.   He was a great support when times were difficult at the start up of The Country Trust.He was a very kind and thoughtful person.” 

 

For those of us who knew him, Peter’s passing leaves a profound void. Yet, I still imagine him somewhere, telling his captivating stories and bringing the countryside to life for new audiences. 

Peter, thank you for everything - for your wisdom, your warmth, and the unwavering spirit you instilled in The Country Trust.  

Your legacy lives on in every child we welcome, every farm we visit, and every story we share.  

You will always be missed but never forgotten. 

Mary Hext – Farm Discovery Manager