Ali is a graduate rural surveyor who joined the team in November 2019 after graduating from Scottish Rural University College (SRUC) with a 2:1 BA Hons degree in Rural Business Management.

From a young age, Ali had an interest in the agricultural sector through growing up in the countryside and assisting with livestock on a range of holdings in her later years. Realising this was a career she wished to pursue she enrolled in SRUC in 2015. Ali is involved in many aspects of the firm’s work including property management, residential sales, countryside stewardship & agri-environment schemes, mapping, forest and woodland management, utilities and valuation work. She is a member of the South of Scotland Border Valuers Association, a probationary member of SAAVA and currently studying towards her APC.

In her spare time Ali enjoys attending young farmers, keeping fit, being outdoors and embarking on various hill climbs in the borders and highlands.

Ben started at Edwin Thompson in 2014, having previously worked as assistant to the head forester at the Lowther estate, and now manages woodland throughout Cumbria, Northumberland and Durham. Ben is a graduate of Forestry and Woodland Management from the University of Cumbria.

Whilst he is involved with all aspects of woodland management, Ben specialises in Woodland Management Planning for clients and leads on client applications for new planting grants, and the subsequent design and delivery of these new woodland schemes. Ben has also qualified as a Professional Tree Inspector and leads on dangerous tree assessment and subsequent advice for clients. Ben is an active member of the Institute for Chartered Foresters, and in 2018 gained chartered status.

In his spare time Ben is a keen walker and cricket follower.

Dave is our Senior Forestry Manager for Edwin Thompson having joined the firm in 2013 and leads in providing professional forestry services for our woodland owners and clients.  Dave is a Professional Member and part of the National Council of the Institute of Chartered Foresters and is currently the Chairman for the North of England Regional Group.

Before joining the firm Dave worked for six years as a Lecturer for the University of Cumbria’s National School of Forestry and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.  Prior to this Dave worked for over ten years in the private Forestry sector in West Scotland and for the Forestry Commission in Cumbria.

Dave brings a wide range of practical forestry experience covering large scale commercial plantation management, new woodland creation, environmental impact assessment, timber harvesting and marketing and woodland certification.

Dave lives in Ennerdale, West Cumbria, with his family and when away from work can be found in the hills or sailing off the west coast.