Keith Obbard was ‘born and bred’ in Sussex. His interests have always been in sustainability and rural affairs and he spent 25 years running the successful Cherry Gardens Farm at Groombridge with his wife and family, the fourth generation to do so.
He is an active member of the local Beekeepers Association, Community Speedwatch, and has been a Parish Councillor for Withyham for several years.
Always an active member of the Green Party, Keith was elected to represent the Withyham Ward at the Wealden District Council in 2019 and is now engaged in shaping the New Local Plan and working with other Councillors and Officers to implement the WDC Climate Action Plan.
Keith has worked with his colleague Patricia Patterson-Vanegas to embed more sustainable conditions into the planning process and aim to get all housing development in Wealden to be Zero Carbon within the next two years.
Protecting the High Weald AONB and the Sussex Countryside from excessive development is high on Keith’s priority list, and directing new investment into local Green jobs such as retrofitting houses to create more sustainable homes, local renewable energy, and locally produced organic food will continue to be
important aims.
