
Nick Richards
I first camped at Woodlarks in 1977 while volunteering for a SEND school in SE London. I remember coming up the driveway, seeing this beautiful site & thinking, ‘Wow, this is something special’. After that, I was hooked, camping with the school twice a year until 2002 when Sarah and I, were offered the voluntary roles of Warden & secretary.
As site warden, I live on site, am heavily involved in all aspects of site maintenance, fundraising, organising volunteer working parties, general day-to-day running of the site & am on the management committee. For 18 years, I ran a successful work experience project here for students from my school. I look back on what we achieved with immense pride.
We have amazing friends who fundraise for, & run the annual Santa’s grotto event for over 200 disabled children. After 16 years of Grotto, in all honesty, I don’t know who enjoys it more, us or the children.
I started my career in construction, holding a managerial position. At the age of 32, I changed direction, starting work at the SEND school I had been volunteering at. I took early retirement in May 2024, ending a 47-year connection. During my time there, I held many roles, including Deputy Head of Care & overseeing a major refurbishment of the residential facility. I am proud, that in 2015, I received an outstanding leader award, having been nominated by my colleagues. I now work four days a week at a local SEND School.