The Harehope Quarry Project offers environmental education, field studies, rural skills training, community development, and community arts based from a limestone quarry in the North Pennines.

You are here: Home > About > The Group > Co-op Members

Workers Co-operative Members

The co-op members bring a large variety of skills and expertise to the project including education and training, community development, environmental consultancy, community arts and practical conservation skills. Currently we have 12 co-op members:

Jill Essam - jill@harehopequarry.org.uk: A qualified teacher of geography and science. Jill has considerable experience of teaching mainstream education as well delivering field studies and environmental education. She also has also worked in rural community development work and has used these skills in helping to develop and manage our project. She leads on our education and community programmes as well as fund-raising for specific projects and activities.
Tom Mercer - tom@harehopequarry.org.uk: An aquatic biologist with considerable consultancy experience and an environmental educator in a former life. He takes the lead on the smallholding; managing the chicken flocks, carp ponds and the ‘Pig Club’. Tom generally keeps the day-to-day project infrastructure going, such as our ‘off-grid’ alternative energy system, milk float and eco-classroom maintenance.
Ray Gill - ray@harehopequarry.org.uk: A musician and green woodworker. Ray has been a crucial member of the classroom's construction team. He will be involved in green woodworking training at the quarry as well as other rural skills training projects.
Liz Gill - liz@harehopequarry.org.uk: Teacher and musiciany arty person. Liz teaches full time at Wearhead School in upper Weardale and gets involved as and when.
Rachel Clarke: An artist and arts co-ordinator. Rachel is one of the evil geniuses behind the amazing 'Rock Cops' and 'It Rocks', educational entertainments for young people. Rachel is involved in a long term arts project 'Semi-Precious' which stems from her residency in the Klondike tracing the life of a 19th Century Weardale miner.
Jill Dales: An educator at Newcastle University medical school. Jill brings her educational expertise to the project as well as devoting time to the construction of the classroom.
Steve Dales: A visual artist and film-maker. Steve is developing arts and media activities based in the quarry.
Dave Stevenson: IT specialist in earth sciences and physics but experimental green allotmenteer and "Good Life" wannabe. Interested in local food and traditional cooking and brewing skills. Likes to build stuff using wood, stone and occassionally bamboo. Musically inept but blows Japanese bamboo flute anyway and enjoys other zen arts.
Becky Haynes
Martin Haynes
Louise Clark
Tony Clark

Latest News

Harehope becomes a LAND Demonstration site: 15th Nov 2011
The Harehope Quarry Project has successfully become a LAND learning centre. The learning centres are permaculture projects, who show, explain and describe to volunteers, visitors and an interested public, how the principles and ethics of permaculture are applied to their project. As a LAND learning centre Harehope Quarry will form part of an England-wide co-operative network.
Trees for Harehope: 15th Nov 2011
The Harehope Quarry Project has received a grant from Durham County Council for 80 trees. The trees will be planted during National Tree week - 26 November - 4 December 2011.
Frosterlety goes plastic-free!: 22nd Nov 2010
Traders in Frosterley, with the help of the ‘Working for a Future in Frosterley’ project, are introducing a scheme to reduce the use of plastic bags in the village. The scheme will be launched on 27 November 2010. Cotton bags will be available in the Frosterley branch of the Penrith Co-operative Society and at Gardiner’s Country Store on a ‘borrow and return’ basis and Turtle Bags at The Village Chip Bar. Frosterley Community School are designing their own bags that will be for sale at £2, with all proceeds going to the school. These will be available in early December.

Next Events

Volunteer Day: 25th Feb 2012
10.00am – 4.00pm. Join in our regular volunteering event. Tasks will include the continued work on the eco-classroom and nature reserve management. Refreshments and a light lunch are provided so if you intend to come please let us know so we have an idea of numbers.
Art exhibition and workshops with Johnnie Foker: 10th Mar 2012
Family workshop – ‘Flying Things'. 1.30pm – 4.00pm. Join this family art workshop, with artist Johnnie Foker from Bearpark Artists Co-operative in Durham. Booking essential. Families £12.00. Refreshments available.
Art exhibition and workshops with Johnnie Foker: 10th Mar 2012
Art exhibition. 11.00am – 3.00pm. Johnnie will be exhibiting his work at Harehope Quarry throughout the weekend. He is well known for original work inspired by his love of birdlife. There will also be an opportunity to see and buy some of Johnnie's work. Refreshments available.