Meet the team

Adrian Jarvis

Chair

I have lived in Leicestershire all my life and my love of the local countryside started at an early age. I have precious memories of time spent with family and friends in Bradgate Park, Swithland Wood, Beacon Hill and other delightful places around the city and county. From the freshness of spring, the warmth of summer, the renewal of autumn, to the crispness of picture postcard winters.

Our Leicestershire countryside faces substantial challenges, but the rewards for its protection and enhancement will leave a legacy that future generations can cherish. I am honoured to be Chair and it is a privilege to work with Trustees and Members and to collaborate with partners and the wider community, so we can all make positive progress for our countryside.

John Marriott

Trustee

Before I retired I used to be a Chartered Civil Engineer with a career embracing transport and planning and I am concerned about the lack of integration between the two. I have visited many parts of the UK and I am constantly amazed at its hugely varied and enjoyable countryside and am keen to help ensure it is not wasted. We must reduce our adverse impact on the countryside to help the environment and tackle Climate Change.

Rita Bullivant

Trustee

I was born in Leicester and grew up in the city centre. My primary school teacher to whom I shall be eternally grateful introduced all of us to the countryside and I have been passionate about the countryside around us and how precious it is. I recently became a trustee so I could help and do more to help the cause. I am a full-time working mum with 2 young girls, a dog, cat & plenty of fish – in the pond….

Anne Thomas Hughes

Trustee

With extensive experience over 27 years in business growth, marketing, tech, HR and operations, I feel privileged to be working with CPRE Leicestershire to drive new initiatives to see its success over the coming years. This is a very important charity that connects people with the beautiful countryside of Leicestershire and empowers communities to protect and improve it.

I am a strong believer in community and as I spend many of my days walking in the Leicestershire countryside, it is clear there is a large population here that appreciates it and are motivated together to effect positive, local, changes that will perpetuate. I am passionate about conservation, encouraging nature and wild spaces and have been studying hard and taking action to do everything I can within my own environment and sharing the knowledge I gain.

(pictured with my favourite walking buddy)

Tony Simpson

Treasurer

Tony joined CPRE in 2017 and became Honorary Treasurer soon afterwards. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has worked within Finance for the NHS since 2005, but his passion is the preservation of the countryside of his beloved Leicestershire. He is a keen cyclist, and his travels have taken him all over the county, making it clear to him that the natural environment is under threat from development and needs to be protected.

Having stood down as Treasurer in 2023 after six years in the role, as required by the Branch Constitution, he was reappointed in January 2025.

Sarah Cunningham

Branch Administrator

Sarah grew up in the far west of Cornwall then rural Oxfordshire, and spent much of her childhood exploring the local countryside. This gave her a lifelong love and respect for nature which continues to this day. Now living in the East Midlands close to the Leicestershire border, she still gets out in the countryside as much as she can.

Sarah has had a varied career, having worked in the commercial and higher education sectors before moving into the voluntary sector. After more than ten years working for an environmental NGO on direct marketing campaigns and events, followed by a longer-than-expected career break as a stay-at-home mum, she is delighted to be back among like-minded people, working to protect the natural world on our doorstep.

(pictured at a wear it wild day)