Meet the Team

Partner & Finance

Anna Ruggles-Brise, Archie’s wife, works on a part-time basis for the estate overseeing the accounts, finance and bookkeeping of the business as well as bringing up their three young boys.

Anna and Archie met at Newcastle University and have a shared passion for the great outdoors, wildlife, the environment and sustainability. 

“Living and working on the estate is something I love. Archie has very ambitious plans to transform the estate into having a more environmental approach – something that I fully support him on and can’t wait to see develop over time. We are lucky to live and work in a relatively unspoilt part of the Essex countryside – it’s a great place to bring up the boys who spend hours splashing in muddy puddles and exploring the estate.”

Estate Team Leader

Jamie is responsible for the day-to-day practical work on the estate. With the help of his assistant Sian, together they maintain the upkeep of the estate’s woodlands, open spaces, beaver enclosures, public rights of way and agroforestry. 

Jamie is also heavily involved in the estate’s sustainable land management programme and leads many of our public beaver tours. He is passionate about sustainable farming practices and agroforestry and is a firm believer that these methods are the future of farming. 

Having studied Geography at Bangor University, Jamie went on to work for several local authorities (most recently Essex County Council) where he managed woodlands, open green spaces and heathlands.

“What attracted me to working at Spains Hall Estate was the revolutionary way Archie uses his land. Integrating multiple systems within one estate to create a sustainable, long-term, environmentally friendly, and profitable form of farming is something I am passionate about. It’s brilliant to work alongside Archie and the rest of the team to bring his vision to life and see the benefits it will bring to our environment, landscape, and wildlife.”

Outside of work, Jamie is a member of the Halstead Young Farmers Club and the Chairman of the Essex Tug of War Club where he represented England in the Tug of War World Championships. 

Sarah is the estate’s resident ecologist. She is responsible for co-ordinating all ecological monitoring and research of the land as well working alongside Archie to manage the estate’s agri-environmental and BNG schemes. She also helps the team with beaver tours and our programmes with young people including our educational partnership with the Wilderness Foundation.

Since graduating with an Honours degree in Zoology (Ecology) from the University of Aberdeen, Sarah has worked as a Research Scientist for Aberdeen and York Universities and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust where she researched and monitored wildlife such as butterflies, hares and harvest mice as well as plant, soil, seed, bird and invertebrate surveys. 

She has also worked for DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and Natural England as a Technical Advisor which involved advising farmers on agri-environmental schemes. 

Sarah joined us from Oakbank Game & Conservation Limited where she worked for eight years putting together agri-environment schemes and ecological management plans for landowners and farmers, ran two farm clusters and developed and delivered the ‘Farmed Environment’ Workshop for the Princes Countryside Fund Farm Resilience Programme. 

She has a wealth of experience in habitat, woodland, wild game management alongside species -specific management and Biodiversity Net Gain projects and is a real asset to our team.

“I’ve spent years advising landowners and farmer how to link wildlife and farming to restore the balance between the two. It is possible to have a profitable farming business alongside successful and meaningful biodiversity, and it’s great to work as part of a team here at Spains Hall Estate who have the same belief and vision.”

Assitant Estate worker

Sian works alongside Jamie helping with the day-to-day practical work on the estate. She maintains the upkeep of the estate’s woodlands, open spaces, beaver enclosures, public rights of way and agroforestry. 

“I have always loved being outdoors so it’s a dream to work in the countryside in such a beautiful part of Essex. Every day is different working on the estate – whether I am planting trees for the new agro-forestry programme, helping with general maintenance or assisting Jamie on public tours, it’s really varied work.”

Assitant Estate worker

Daisy works alongside Jamie helping with the day-to-day practical work on the estate. She maintains the upkeep of the estate’s woodlands, open spaces, beaver enclosures, public rights of way and agroforestry. 

Freelance Wildlife Photographer

Simon Hurwitz is one of Spains Hall Estate’s regular wildlife photographers and over the years has taken some of the most beautiful footage of the animals that live on the estate. 

A born and bred Essex boy, Simon has always loved the countryside having grown up running wild in fields and woodlands. His passion for wildlife (especially birds) came later in life when he saw a kingfisher for the first time at Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire. He joined his local RSPB group, bought himself a camera and learnt how to take fantastic photographs. 

“It started off as a way of switching off from my busy life working as a painter and decorator and having young children – I used to go out at the weekends trying to identify birds, but it soon turned into an enjoyable and addictive (if not a little frustrating at times!) passion. I have spent ten years volunteering for the RSPB as well as developing my own Barn Owl Project where I erect, monitor and film owl boxes. Some of my work has appeared on BBC and ITV and used by various wildlife organisations

I have recently retired and now have more time to dedicate to my photography, particularly video.  I love to visit Spain’s Hall Estate and photograph their beavers and other incredible wildlife.”

To see more of Simon’s work visit Zenfolio | Simon Hurwitz

Freelance Wildlife Photographer and Camerman

Colin Shead is one of Spains Hall Estate’s regular wildlife photographers and cameramen. Over the years, he has taken some of the most beautiful footage of our beavers, deer, foxes, birds and other wildlife on our land. 

Colin is a Detective Inspector for Essex Police and took up wildlife photography as a hobby as a way of helping him tackle PTSD, which he was diagnosed with after suffering a serious injury at work and witnessing traumatic events.

“Wildlife photography has been my lifeline – it takes me away from the day to day stress and trauma of policing and gives me time to relax and enjoy being in the moment with some nature’s most beautiful creatures. I have gone from seeing things at work that nobody should see, to seeing things that I now want everyone to see.”

“I love the trust the wildlife has with me. Sitting in amongst nature for hours at a time, helps me to switch off from work as you have to concentrate on what is going on in front of you and around you. I love waiting for the light to be right, getting the focus right and waiting for that perfect shot. Nothing else matters at that moment in time.”

Check out Colin’s work at Colin Shead Photography (@colin_shead_photography) • Instagram photos and videos