jeni

Director of operations

Jeni has been working in Early years for over 20 years. Her journey began when trying to find her eldest son a suitable nursery which would meet his needs. She volunteered at the nursery, which led her to undertake her Childcare qualifications. She then went on to manage the nursery before branching into her teaching level 3 Childcare Diploma qualification course and then moved into Regional Manager roles.

Living in the rolling countryside of South Downs, Jeni enjoys spending her time walking her dogs. Jeni loves to watch the children grow and develop in the unique and engaging way which makes Little Forest Folk so successful.

XIAO

Operations MANAGER

Xiao knew he wanted to work with children from the moment he left school and is enjoying his career in early years. He has worked with children with profound and multiple learning difficulties where he loved making sensory stories and has also been a nanny on skis.

More recently he has been teaching 16-19 year olds to be early years’ practitioners and loved nothing more than getting his students outdoors to build dens and help them rediscover the magic of outdoor play.

He is so happy to be part Little Forest Folk and share in children’s wonder as they make relationships with their outdoor environment and uncover new discoveries in the great outdoors. Xiao managed our Twickenham nursery before stepping into the Operations Manager position.

Mollie

Senior people guru

Mollie has always been green fingered! After training and working as a florist for 10 years, she decided to change career and took on a role in HR. 

Growing up locally, on the leafy Farthing Downs in Surrey, Mollie has a passion for influencing young people to explore the great outdoors and as a regular “fun” runner (although we won’t talk about another marathon!) and she’s keen to see our future generations getting active and staying healthy. 

Mollie is excited to see how teaching extends outside of the traditional classroom and to support our teams to deliver the best care and education for our young people.

Suzie

people guru

Suzie originally started in the forest in 2019, but after being away for a couple of years has returned to support HR and recruitment alongside Mollie.

Suzie comes from a food background, with over 25 years in the hospitality, catering and retail sectors, most recently with a US retailer focusing on health, nutrition and organics.

Living in Kinston Suzie has wonderful access to the Thames tow path and Richmond Park, which enables her to get outdoors and enjoy the great walking and biking. Being outdoors combines with her interest in gardening, which takes up a lot of her free time.

Suzie loves being a part of the Little Forest Folk team, and is excited to be able to support the teams out in the forest.

Lauren

Families Experience co-ordinator

Lauren joined the Little Forest Folk team in early 2022. She is passionate about empowering young people to love and protect the natural world around them, and loves being a part of Little Forest Folk’s friendly and hard-working back office team.

Lauren has 16 years experience across the hospitality and customer service industries and is passionate about providing friendly and high-quality service to anyone she meets.

In her spare time she loves exploring new outdoor areas and bakeries across London and has many creative hobbies such as jewellery making, performing and roller skating!

Georgia

Families Experience co-ordinator

Georgia started her career with Little Forest Folk in 2022. She loves exploring new things, surrounding herself with friends and family. Her favourite thing to do on the weekend is venture to a new place with her German Shorthaired Pointer; Boo - she loves dogs!

Georgia has been in customer services for over 7 years and can proudly say that she delivers exceptional customer service. It’s also made her very flexible with meeting different people day in and day out. 

She will be very proud to say that she has been able to see young children grow and learn in and around nature and has had some impact on the next generation, especially when they have been under the care of Little Forest Folk.

Kat

Families Experience co-ordinator

Kat joined Little Forest Folk in 2022 with almost 20 years experience in administration and customer service and is excited to put this to good use with the back office team, in order to support our lovely educators in the forest!

Having spent the last few years as a stay at home mum, exploring London’s parks, she is happy to be working for a company that understands the importance of empowering little minds through nature.

In her spare time she can be found accompanying her daughter on adventures around London, or singing with her local community choir.

GEMMA

finance Assistant

Gemma has a background in finance administration and has picked up a lot of experience across various roles and now wants to progress further into accounting. 

Being an avid nature lover herself, Gemma is excited to be part of a team that encourages children to find that connection with nature and the outdoors. 

In her spare time, there is nothing more that Gemma enjoys doing than getting out and about and going for walks exploring the outdoors, and always by her side is her beloved lurcher India. 

BECKY

chef

Becky has always loved to cook and can’t recall when cooking hasn’t been one of the favourite parts of her day.

Becky feels passionately that children should learn about food, not just the sheer pleasure from cooking and eating but some of the basic issues that surround food, seasonality, provenance and sustainability. Children love to cook, enjoying the taste, smell, feel of food and the freedom to make a mess!

Becky’s mission is to make tasty, wholesome and nutritious food for the children to enjoy during their time at Little Forest Folk. She uses simple, natural ingredients with a focus on taste, nutrition and creating proper homemade food suitable for active little people.

jay

manager

Jay was born in Burgas – a lovely city by the sea in Bulgaria. Bulgarian seaside has diverse nature and a big part of it is covered by amazing Natural reserves, where she used to camp with her family from an early age. Part of her family comes from the mountain region in Bulgaria, where she spent half of her childhood hiking in the woods. Spending her childhood in nature has left a warm memory in Jay's heart and she was inspired to provide such unique experiences for children, especially in a city like London. When she first came to London, Jay enrolled in Roehampton University, where she graduated in Early Childhood Studies. Not long after, she heard about Forest Schools and immediately knew that this is what she wanted to do and that someone like her would fit perfectly in a wild “classroom”.

Briya

deputy manager

Working with children has always been a passion for Briya. She enjoys the various forms of development that a toddler undergoes, having learned from them and enjoyed being a part of that process, as at this age it is the most pivotal, starting point of development in their lives. Briya has worked with children of all ages, and knew that Early Years was where she wanted to continue to progress. Briya has always felt that being in a city like London means there needs to be space for nature and exploration, forest schools provide exactly this! Briya has always had a love for nature and love to explore. She has travelled to many countries and worked abroad, relishing in the hidden, non-tourist parts of a country. Briya loves to walk, explore and am a little of an amateur photographer. Forest schools fit very much in her ethos of being holistic and child centred, giving every unique child the opportunity to flourish.

Tania

Third in charge

Tania graduated in Social Work and has 10 years experience working with children with additional support needs both in residential and educational settings. An outdoor lover and adventurer, Tania moved to the beautiful Scottish countryside where she worked in a Waldorf School and trained as a Forest School leader. She is now embarking in a new adventure in the big city, where she will join the Little Forest Folk team and continue further her training in early childhood studies.

Tuğba

forest educational leader

Tuğba studied in Turkey and has a bachelor’s degree in early years teaching. Part of her education also saw her studying in Lithuania studying social pedagogy - she then went on to train at an international Kindergarten in Helsinki. During Covid she worked in a kindergarten back in Turkey, both online and with many outdoor activities. Once she was able to return to Finland she completed her bachelor's degree in early years teaching. Now she knows many things about the Finnish curriculum and its fundamentals.

After Finland, she came to Wales as a volunteer on an organic farm for 6 months. During this time she experienced different kinds of weather and challenges.

Learning about forest education is her next goal, as she is passionate about education systems and creating opportunities for kids.

Kaitlyn

Forest Nursery educator

Originally from the United States, Kaitlyn moved to London to pursue her masters degree in early years from the University of Roehampton. Prior to her studies, she has held a variety of positions in education and childcare. She initially worked with primary school children but fell especially in love with the early years after working at a Montessori preschool – a job that consisted of frequent trips to the community gardens, encouraging the children to engage with nature!

She strongly believes in letting children be children. Having spent her own childhood in New Hampshire, a state known for its beautiful lakes and mountain regions, Kaitlyn understands firsthand the benefits that an outdoor education brings. As a child, she would spend lots of time playing in the forest with friends, building fairy houses and collecting found materials for art projects.

In addition to her love of nature, Kaitlyn enjoys arts, crafts and all things creative! She also likes to read, write and travel. She loves living in London and based right in between Richmond Park and Kew Gardens, she especially loves living in an area with so much green space!

Angelica

Forest nursery educator

Angelica grew up in a small coastal town in southern Finland. Spending time in nature, whether it’s going on walks in the forest, wild swimming or finding a sunny spot to draw in, has always been an integral part of her life. Angelica has worked as a nanny for five years. She has recently graduated from the Master’s program at The London Interdisciplinary School, where she wrote and illustrated a children’s book on climate change and researched ways to discuss the topic with young children without increasing anxiety. She is currently working on writing and illustrating more children’s books and aspires to one day be a published author.

lena

Forest nursery educator

Lena is a qualified teacher from North West London. She spent years working as a primary school teacher before she decided to try something new. She wanted to work in an environment where children were given the space to be creative and curious and ultimately turned to forest schools

Stine

Forest nursery educator

Stine grew up in a small town on the west coast of Denmark. She spent her childhood playing in the dunes off the coast of the North Sea and foraging with her family. She believes that a childhood outdoors teach children to be respectful of and love nature. And she is very exited about finally being able to work with it daily! She has got experience from previous positions as nanny, substitute teacher and organiser of language improving clubs for children. She loves to spend her weekends on walks in the parks, going to exhibitions and concerts, and working on crafts. She is very interested in textile print, knitting and crocheting and has a big passion for songwriting and composing.

Charlie

Forest nursery educator

Charlie comes from a beautiful concrete jungle - Hong Kong, where there are a lot of high rise buildings and it is not easy to see the sky. Children only go to the little park that is near their home. She has always believed that children should grow up in a natural environment rather than playing with digital devices everyday. Even if they just have a rope, thay can play all day long!

She likes to explore with the children together & believes they are both are learning and improving at the same time.

In her spare time she loves to join different outdoor activities, like sunbathing, wake surfing, diving and camping. Also, she likes to use her film camera to record her life. She enjoy the sun, the rain, the ocean and anything from nature.

She loves children and nature, she feels excited to be part of Little Forest Folk!

Jasmine

Forest nursery educator

Jasmine joined the team as a Forest Nursery Educator after graduating from her degree in contemporary dance. Due to her creative and active background, she values embodied ways of learning and believes in the benefits that this can bring to a child’s development. She recognises the importance of both creative freedom and exploration, which forms innovative thinkers and allows children and adults alike to discover their unique passions—ultimately leading to a more fulfilling life. Jasmine has always loved the outdoors and is passionate about sharing her love for nature with with others. She believes that developing an appreciation for nature early on is a key part in creating a brighter future. She finds that children are such a joy and is excited to begin this new chapter with Little Forest Folk.

Alex

Forest nursery educator

As a child, Alex was fascinated by the insects, the trees, and all the wildlife that surrounded their home in West London - and not much about them has changed. Now, come rain or shine, you’ll find them collecting leaves, trying to identify mushrooms, or catching creepy crawlies in the green spaces this city has to offer. Alex’s lifelong love of the natural world has informed many of their choices, especially the decision to start in Early Years. They believe green spaces are vital for community building, offering places where people connect and children thrive. By cultivating these spaces, we create environments where children can play, explore, and belong. The happiness of children reflects the health of a community, and a strong, caring community is often defined by the joy and well-being of its youngest members. Each year Alex has spent working with children has taught them something new, and they look forward to all the discoveries they’ll make with Little Forest Folk!

donna

Nursery manager

Donna grew up in South East London in a large family surrounded by lots of nieces and nephews and that’s when she knew childcare was the career for her. Donna has been working in private nurseries now for over 11 years gaining both NVQ Level 2 and Level 3. Donna believes that children learn through exploring and playing. Donna enjoys being able to be a part of our younger generation’s future, teaching them basic skills and knowledge that will go on and help them in their older years at school and eventually into adulthood. Donna is an outdoorsy person and loves to explore and get messy. She is excited to be passing on some of her knowledge and skills with the children out in the Forest!

Weiran

Forest nursery Educator

Weiran is doing her postgraduate studies in Early Years Education at UCL IOE. Growing up playing in forests and riverside wetlands is one of the best memories of her childhood, which has developed a deep passion for nature. She often travels and hikes outdoors to explore different types of nature. She graduated with honours from China obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Pre-school Education and has experience as an early childhood teacher in China. During this time, she most enjoyed and was good at doing various kinds of outdoor play with children. She also loves doing arts and crafts, singing, playing piano, and other creative arts activities and has more than ten years of experience in classical Chinese dance, she hopes these skills will better help her as a nursery educator creatively! Weiran is eager to bring her passion for education to support children in enjoying the fascination of the outdoors, she finds becoming a Forest Educator with Little Forest Folk fulfills her dream of becoming an educator. She cannot wait to become a part of the Little Forest Folk team to support children to explore nature and the world!

ella

Forest Nursery EDUCATOR

Born and raised in South West London, Ella’s love of forest school grew through her own childhood experiences - her summers spent wild camping are some of her most precious memories. She is thrilled to be joining the team and hopes to cultivate the same joy and love of nature that was sparked when she was younger.

Ella has always loved working with children, as they never fail to amaze her with their creativity and compassion. In her spare time, Ella enjoys reading and cooking (but mostly eating), alongside spending time with her extremely energetic little brother, who has inspired her to get back outside and seize the day!

sabrina

Forest Nursery EDUCATOR

Sabrina grew up in the heart of East London. She has always had an amazing interest in working outside and exploring nature - she loves the sound of birds, leaves blowing & seeing all different kinds of animals running around.

Sabrina has two nieces and three nephews, so she has always enjoyed being round them and playing. Sabrina has volunteered in childcare but her goal is to further develop her skills and knowledge and is excited to do this in a forest setting.

jemima

forest nursery educator

Jemima, a two-time philosophy graduate, finds joy in pondering questions big and small, which ultimately led her to transition from her TV job to pursue work with curious young minds. Her undergraduate degree from Edinburgh and her master's from Cambridge have provided her with a strong foundation in critical thinking. This academic background has sparked a passion for early years education, Montessori principles, and the significance of nature in child development. Specifically, she is interested in movements like "1000 hours outside" and the benefits such movements have on developing minds. This passion has driven her interest in early years forest schools. Jemima is also a passionate advocate for non-violent communication, believing in its power to foster understanding and connection. Additionally, she is a strong advocate for disability positivity and neurodiversity, striving to create inclusive environments where every child feels valued and supported.In her spare time, Jemima enjoys traveling, especially to off-the-beaten-track destinations, and indulges in creative writing.

Dan

forest nursery educator

Dan is an Australian musician and music teacher who grew up in the scenic Perth Hills. As the eldest child with four younger siblings and numerous foster siblings, Dan was always surrounded by a lively and nurturing environment. This upbringing instilled in him a deep appreciation for nature, creativity, and the importance of caring for others. Now based in London, Dan brings this passion for the outdoors and education to Little Forrest Folk, where he hopes to help create enriching experiences for children to explore, learn, and grow.

Eftela

forest nursery educator

Eftela is an undergraduate student, studying game design, who realised that working in an office wasn't quite the right fit for her, and can't wait to move over to a role in childcare! She believes that children are the future and by working with them she hopes to help create a happier future with more creativity in all aspects of life.

Having worked previously with children in a daycare, she realised that the creativity of children's imagination is endless - she was inspired by the ideas the kids came up with for "monsters" in her game to create characters that were unique and fun. She also believes that being outdoors is crucial to the development of a child as nature allows children to connect to the world around them and not feel as conformed to standards set by regular classrooms. In her free time she creates and plays games and paints portraits. She enjoys creating art and believes that it is a key part in everyday life, as there are just some things words cannot express, which shapes and colours can capture perfectly.

Sarah

Nursery manager

Sarah grew up not too far from Morden and is very happy to be enjoying the local forest area in one of the best ways possible. Sarah has experience working on placements in hospitals and children’s wards, as well as schools, both mainstream and schools focused on additional needs, both educational and physical. She has also spent time in Borneo playing with, and teaching, the local children while enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

Sarah loves bringing music into the forest with songs, rhymes and instruments, and enjoying making up songs with the children. She is inspired by the development of the children while in outdoor play, and is very proud to be a member of the LFF team.

charlotte

deputy manager/Educational Lead

Charlotte thought she was an indoorsy bookworm until she went to study in Canada and fell in love with the mountains! She then set off to New Zealand with the idea of training as an outdoor educator but got happily sidetracked helping out at a nursery in Wellington. She really loved working with young children and realised this had been the missing link all along, so she returned to the UK to retrain as an Early Years Teacher and complete a masters with a focus on the value of outdoor play. She loves supporting children to become confident adventurers, investigators and nature lovers.

Migs

third in charge (maternity cover)

Growing up near Epping Forest Mignon loved playing in between the trees with friends, foraging blackberries and going for bike rides and picnics with her family in the woods. After graduating from the University of Sussex in 2012 she started working on the Brighton and Hove City Council Playbus as a Play Worker doing outreach work across the city.

More recently Mignon has been a member of the Woodland Tribe crew where she has been involved in lots of exciting adventure playground building projects including the build in the Tate Modern’s turbine hall and at the Brighton Fringe Festival. In 2020 she completed her primary PGCE with Goldsmiths University of London with a specialism in Children’s Literature and has had a great time working in different schools across South West London and Surrey as a Primary School Supply Teacher. Having seen the benefits of attending LFF in her own son Mignon believes that all children have the right to play and that access to nature and the outdoors in the early years gives children the best start in life.

Sunarika

third in charge

Growing up in the vibrant surroundings of Delhi, Sunarika always had a deep love for learning and exploring the world around her. This passion for education and discovery led her to pursue a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Delhi, followed by a Master's in Early Childhood Education from the University of Hertfordshire.

Sunarika began her career as a Primary Teacher at Krims Lotus Veda, where she taught various subjects, including math, language arts, science, and social studies, to young learners. Her early experiences in the classroom fueled her dedication to fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment for children. Over the years, she has taken on diverse roles, including teaching English at St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School and serving as a French teacher at 21K School. These experiences have deepened her understanding of the importance of adapting teaching methods to meet the unique needs of each child.

Sunarika is a strong advocate for the benefits of forest nurseries. She believes that immersing children in nature from a young age fosters resilience, creativity, and a deep sense of curiosity about the world. Exposure to the natural environment encourages children to explore, take risks, and develop a connection to the earth, all vital for their overall development. In her view, forest nurseries provide children with invaluable experiences that cannot be replicated in traditional classroom settings, making them an essential part of early childhood education. Sunarika is passionate about creating these enriching experiences for young learners, ensuring they have the best possible start in life.

Robyn

forest nursery educator

Robyn has spent time with little ones when volunteering at nurseries and schools since 2009 and is excited to put children at the centre of her work in early years education. She believes that our relationship with the outdoors is significant, and that children should be encouraged to connect with nature to support their growth and happiness. Guiding them as they explore and bond with the natural world, is a true honour for Robyn. With a degree in Fine Art and a multimedia creative background, she is keen to nurture children's artistic abilities using the materials found around them in the forest. Previously, Robyn worked with families in east London to deliver healthcare advice, food and physical education as well as producing a documentary short about the childcare system in Glasgow. Insuring that all young people have access to a healthy lifestyle is a cause close to Robyn's heart. With her free time, she mostly loves going off grid on camping trips deep in nature, and also enjoys supporting her housing cooperative community as a conflict mediator, volunteering at art and music festivals, hosting mediations and sound baths, studying natural building techniques, gardening, yoga and cooking with veggies!

Caitlin

Forest Nursery EDUCATOR

Caitlin has known she wanted to work in childcare since she studied child development at GCSE level whilst completing her work experience in a primary school nursery. This further grew when she started babysitting her niece and nephews, who bring so much joy. 

She has always been an outdoors person, who loves a long walk, come rain or shine.

She is so excited to be a part of something to get young kids back into loving the outdoors again.

Lucia

forest nursery educator

Lucia studied social work in Spain, before coming to England and working as a care assistant. After getting a job in a nursery she found a new passion & worked hard to progress her career. She really enjoys helping little ones discover the world around them as the grow.

Little Forest Folk offers a very different way of working, which Lucia is very excited about, as she loves nature and animals. She considers herself creative, energetic and really keen on exploring the outdoors!

Joe

forest nursery educator

Growing up in the countryside of Rutland, Joe loved having lots of outdoor adventures. Now living in London, Joe is looking forward to sharing the joys of the outdoor world with the children at Morden. Joe is very creative and loves storytelling, having studied Illustration at the University of Brighton and recently graduated with a masters in Animation - this feeds into his imaginative and whimsical style of play at the nursery.Joe is looking forward to teaching the children in an environment where their imaginations are free to run wild!

bridie

forest nursery educator

Bridie has always had a passion for the outside and working with children and is now working as bank staff with us, alongside her animal studies course at college!

In her free time, she enjoys long walks and hikes with her dog and riding her bike everywhere. Bridie loves collecting flowers during her hikes and using books to press them for her arts and crafts. Bridie sees working for Little Forest Folk as a great opportunity to get children growing up in the city to experience the wonders of nature and to learn about all different kinds of insects, plants and animals.

CONNIE

Forest Nursery EDUCATOR

Connie was born in Croydon, South London but spent her teenage years living just minutes from the beach in Eastbourne. A big lover of nature and the outdoors, Connie spent a year travelling around Thailand, volunteering at a turtle conservation in Bali and roaming the beaches of Spain, before returning to the UK.

After years working in an office environment out of necessity, Connie is now lucky enough to be in the position to combine her love of nature with her passion for teaching and inspiring the next generation. Connie believes that everyone can benefit from a connection to nature and cannot wait to start her Forest Folk journey.

katie

nursery manager

Bio coming soon…

Meredith

deputy manager

Meredith is originally from Detroit, Michigan. Growing up in Michigan offered her many outdoor experiences such as skiing and exploring Michigan’s many Great Lakes. After studying Early Childhood Development and Learning, and student teaching at Central Michigan University, she made her way to Shanghai, China to teach. While living in Asia, Meredith was able to travel and immerse herself in many different cultures. Since 2021, Meredith has been living and teaching in London. She is passionate about providing young children with the space to grow and learn at their own pace…which is why she is so eager to be apart of the Little Forest Folk team. In her free time, she loves to travel, listen to live music, spend time with friends and visit her family back in the US.

max

Forest Educational Leader

Max grew up in the Peak District and spent most evenings and weekends hiking around Derbyshire and Yorkshire. His family would spend their summers in the Swiss Alps hiking up mountains, glaciers and exploring forest areas, learning as much as he could about the nature around them whilst soaking up the views. His Dad was an avid rock climber and so Max was raised with a love for bouldering and, after teaching at a rock climbing wall for over 3 years, spent 5 consecutive summers working at Camp Canadensis in the Pennsylvania mountains. He loves to impassion children with a thirst for the outdoors and to safely seek adventure and fun. This triggered Max to get his Masters in Education in Derby before moving to London with his pet cat. Since then, Max has taught at two pre-prep schools in South London and looks forward to combining his passion for education with his love of nature and the outdoors in this role.

Emer

Third in charge

Emer is passionate about delivering high quality outdoor learning experiences to little people. Her love helped her obtain a first-class honours degree in the Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Education and Training awarded by Dublin City University.

Emer loves to motivate and create fun and thriving learning opportunities. She feels that by creating a safe environment, helps children to explore and be active in their learning. She believes that children learn best in the great outdoors, and she hopes to help our Little Forest Folk-ers thrive.

Nicolas

FOREST nursery educator

Nicolas has worked and volunteered within the Early Years Sector and is very much looking forward to joining Little Forest Folk, where he can put his knowledge and experience to the test He is looking forward to building relationships with the children, learning all about Forest Schools and growing as a practitioner!

millie

FOREST nursery educator

Millie grew up on the South Coast where her love for the outdoors began. Spending a lot of her childhood in the forest or at the beach has taught Millie to appreciate the green spaces available in large urban areas. Millie is a strong believer that all children should get the chance to explore and have fun in nature no matter where they live and believes forest school is one of the best ways for little people to get that experience. Millie’s own hobbies such as scuba diving, figure skating, and exploring reflect her love of nature. Millie is currently completing her BSc in psychology with her research area being focused on childhood development. She is passionate about childhood wellness and teaching children all about the world they live in as well as creating an environment where they feel safe and can express themselves. Millie is ecstatic about being part of the Little Forest Folk team and having the opportunity to show little people everything about the outdoors she loves so much.

Sitara

FOREST nursery educator

Sitara has worked in childcare for a few years now and it all began when she started her Level 3 Early Years educator apprenticeship. Sitara has a degree in BA Fine Art which brings in a creative look in things also a keen gardener and enjoying spending plenty of time outdoors planting and taking inspiration for my paintings. Sitara is keen to keep moving forward in her career and feels forest school is an amazing place to begin that journey!

Giuseppe

FOREST nursery educator

Giuseppe is originally from Italy but has been calling London home for the past ten years. His journey into early childhood education started because he believes in the power we have to positively shape a child’s development. After earning his degree, Giuseppe worked in a nursery that embraced the Reggio Emilia approach, which encourages children to take the lead in their learning and express themselves creatively through hands-on experiences. Over time, he realised how important it is for children to reconnect with nature. That’s why he is diving into Forest School education. Giuseppe believes nature has everything we need to grow, and giving children the chance to explore the outdoors from a young age is so beneficial. Outside of work, he is an active person who loves the outdoors. He regularly hikes to keep both mind and body in balance, and also enjoys indoor climbing whenever he gets the chance. Giuseppe is passionate about helping children grow, and is excited to bring his love of nature and active learning into their world!

Miranda

Manager

Miranda is a Montessori trained teacher who loves working with the early years ages, especially in the outdoors.  She has worked in day nurseries, private nurseries, as a tutor, as a nanny and she has also worked and travelled extensively abroad over the years.

Miranda loves walking and has conquered several coast lines and ancient walls, she loves creating and getting messy, she has climbed a few mountains, and has an allotment in her back garden. Miranda thoroughly enjoys exploring, learning and accompanying a child on their adventurous investigation of life.

Brenda

Deputy Manager

When Brenda visited Little Forest Folk for the first time, she didn't want to leave! All her adventurous early childhood experiences were replayed as she spent time in the forest. Her heart was touched by the sight of the environment, how children interacted with it and their laughter in the background. Muddy faces and hands.

Brenda was born in Africa, in Botswana and spent most of her early years in Zimbabwe. Her visit to Little Forest Folk provided the opportunity for her to really reflect back on her early years experiences where she spent most of it freely playing, interacting with natural elements; exploring the outdoors, barefoot most of the time alongside her peers. Building dens, mud houses, climbing huge stones and trees, making fires and cooking. Weaving things such as hats and baskets using grass.

She came to the UK at the age of 9 and continued to find ways to interact with outdoors. For example regularly visiting parks just to climb trees. As Brenda grew older, she knew she wanted to learn from, as well as work with and help people of all ages and backgrounds. She embarked on a journey of studying childcare starting from CACHE certificate level 2 and learned her way up to her Level 6 BA Hons in Early Childhood studies with Performing Arts. Currently Brenda continues to spend her free time outdoors. She finds she gets lots of inspiration to create things that support children's creativity and thinking skills, using natures loose parts and through observations of the natural world. Over the past 20 years, she has had opportunities to work with children from the ages of 3 months to 5 years old in a variety of nursery settings such as community nurseries, school, private and Montessori whilst also leading and mentoring team members. She even became the outdoors lead at one of her settings. These experiences have tremendously helped Brenda to develop a strong understanding of Pedagogy in early years and the EYFS. She finds that children, teenagers and adults are naturally drawn to her and has experience of working with senior citizens. This has supported her to develop empathy skills, compassion and active listening skills which are all very important transferable skills in any early years setting. Brenda is very excited to join and be a part of a team of like minded individuals with a keen interest in providing the very best start for our children with an enabling environment.

Emer

FOREST EDUCATIONAL LEADER

Emer is passionate about delivering high quality outdoor learning experiences to little people. Her love helped her obtain a first-class honours degree in the Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Education and Training awarded by Dublin City University.

Emer loves to motivate and create fun and thriving learning opportunities. She feels that by creating a safe environment, helps children to explore and be active in their learning. She believes that children learn best in the great outdoors, and she hopes to help our Little Forest Folk-ers thrive.

denisa

FOREST EDUCATIONAL LEADER (in training)

Originally from Slovakia, Denisa is multi-lingual and has spent many years working with children through her work as a family photographer. 

Having lived in the countryside with an agricultural background, nature and gardening have always been a very important part of her life. Denisa enjoys going for muddy walks whilst camping with her family and dog and has also loved teaching her son all about plants, nature and animals, which has led her to pursue a career in forest education. 

She can't wait to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children to explore and learn in!

esther

Forest Nursery educator

Esther was born and raised in the beautiful city of Hong Kong. 

Working with children has brought immense joy to her life & she is so excited to be Forest Educator with Little Forest Folk. All throughout her life teaching has been her passion and her dream job. She has been blessed to be able to walk hand in hand with children and find opportunities for them to learn and grow together.

One of her passions is to travel to see different cultures and also to enjoy photography which can tell a story without a word, there’s no language barrier - it’s complete expression of the real moment through photos. In her spare time she loves exploring the outdoors and taking part in sports activities, especially swimming and hiking.

emma

forest nursery educator

Emma grew up in London loving the fabulous green spaces that this city offers. She loves being outdoors and connecting with nature. The sounds of the birds, the scent of the flowers, the changing seasons and inner city wildlife, all make London’s parks and riversides exciting places to explore and discover. Emma has worked in childcare for over 9 years and she has a rich understanding of child development and the Early Years curriculum. Emma strongly believes that children deserve the opportunity to play and learn in a natural environment, and that this environment builds their resilience and confidence as well as creating lasting memories for them. Emma enjoys walking and on a trip to Northern Ireland she found the Giant’s Causeway to be breathtaking and spectacular. Emma also loves photography and has captured some glorious images of nature and her environment through the seasons. Emma is both creative and fun to be with and she loves sharing her ideas with the children.

zach

FOREST EDUCATIONAL LEADER

Zach grew up in Teddington, where he first experienced the freedom, excitement, and self-expression that being in nature offers during countless hours spent in Bushy Park. Attending university in Exeter, Zach became an avid hiker, exploring coastlines, cliff faces, forests, and hills. Zach is never happier than he is lying in a field under the sun, and he remains reasonably happy when cowering under a tree to escape the rain!

Zach has always loved spending time with small children. He is fascinated by how often they ask questions that make him pause and think, or question something himself for the first time. He is excited to begin his journey educating children, instead of being taught by them.

jamie

Nursery Manager

With over 11 years of experience working in early years, Jamie became interested in forest schools through a college placement, and it is because of this that he has followed this path to where he is today. With previous experience of being Deputy Manager in a Forest School, his love for the great outdoors stemmed from growing up living near Kingston Gate of Richmond Park, with many fond memories of exploring the wilderness it has to offer (Penponds and Isabella Plantation being his favourites!)

Since moving to Worcester Park, he has discovered the natural beauty of the Hogsmill Nature Reserve, and enjoys regular walks here with his fiancé and daughter. Jamie has a real passion for early years, and believes the great outdoors is imperative to children's development.

Laura

deputy manager

Laura is an artist and workshop facilitator who lives in South West London but is originally from Leeds. She is very interested in alternative forms of education, having always enjoyed learning but not so much her experiences of the traditional school system in the UK. She is passionate about empowering children to make their own decisions and choices, encouraging them to problem-solve, be considerate and use reasoning and reflection to learn from their experiences.

Laura grew up in a very urban environment where access to nature was difficult without a car, so she now takes every opportunity to explore parks, commons, forests and nature reserves, especially in South London and surrounding areas. Laura has a BA in Theatre and Performance and a MA in Sculpture.

Laura is very pleased to be working at Little Forest Folk and particularly excited about the ethos and approach to helping young children learn and develop while also having fun!

SAM

third in charge

Sam has worked in 3 different styles of forest school’s over the last 8 years. He is keen on exploring new ways to support children learning in new environments. Sam has studied practical habitat management at Merrist Wood agricultural college in Guildford, Surrey. He also has his Forest School Leader, level 3 from the Surrey Wildlife Trust and a level 3 in Children and Young People's Work Force. Sam’s hobbies include going to music festivals, repairing and driving old British cars and cycling.

Paula

FOREST EDUCATIONAL LEADER

Paula is passionate about education and has spent the last 18 years in the primary sector. Whilst this has been a wonderful experience, she believes it does not always allow the time and space for children to naturally interact with the outside world. Paula believes that allowing children to take the lead in key areas of their learning, helps them to foster independence, encourages them to explore their interests and offers children a unique, hands-on experience that fosters curiosity, resilience, and a deep connection with their environment. Paula is very excited to join the Little Forest Folk Team so that she can plan for lessons that naturally fit into the outdoor environment, encourage projects that require children to observe, interact with, and learn from their environment, and teach children about the cycles of nature and the different flora and fauna they encounter throughout the year.

Paula loves the outdoors and, because she doesn't have a garden of her own, spends a lot of her free time at her allotment, growing a wide array of flowers, fruits and vegetables. Paula especially loves the sound of the wind through the trees and finds being in a woodland a very calming experience - something she feels is especially important for children and adults, in an increasingly digital world. When she is not on her allotment, Paula loves to read, take short breaks to explore the world and go for long walks among the Surrey Hills.

iliana

FOREST NURSERY EDUCATOR

As an outdoor enthusiast, liana grow up in the countryside of Bulgaria, where going for a walk in the forest, foraging or camping always been a pleasure! A love of nature and healthy eating led Iliana to complete the Collage of Naturopathic Nutrition in London (CNM) and a previous BA from university in Bulgaria. With a vast experience in alternative healing, Iliana created own brand of crystal jewellery for healing. Iliana been enjoying working with kids helping them at a music exams and currently facilitating sound healing sessions for mothers and kids. Her natural approach and love of kids help her to inspire them. In her free time she often goes hiking, to waterfalls trips, wild camping, stargazing and music festivals. Iliana has been visiting the Well in Wimbledon Common (passing by Little Forest Folk) for the last 4 years on a regular basis, as the spring has been a main source of drinking water. She is a happy mother of a grown up son.

Shahana

FOREST NURSERY EDUCATOR

Shahana grew up in South West London as a proud British Bengali. She has a background in both Social Work and Primary Education, complemented by a special interest in English Literature. Most recently, Shahana has discovered her calling within the Early Years Foundation Stage and is beyond excited to dive deeper into all the crazy and beautiful things that this corner of the world has to offer! Her biggest passion lies in inspiring children's natural curiosity and wonder, whilst fostering an environment where individuals constantly feel inspired and can thrive freely and safely.

Shahana has always been a firm believer in the importance of holistic education for all - recognising that both developmental and healing processes rightfully prioritise mental, physical, and spiritual health. Through her nurturing approach she is dedicated to supporting the comprehensive growth of each child, ensuring they are equipped with the perspectives and skills for lifelong well-being and success.

In her spare time, Shahana can usually be found occupied with a good book! She loves to go on walks and cycling in parks across London, as well as exploring new places with her friends. She is the happiest when she discovers and engages in any and every activity that she feels rejuvenates and fuels her passion for her own personal holistic development and goals.

SIMON

HANDYMAN / OUTDOOR LEGEND

Simon has been running his own business for a number of years and spent 8 of these years in beautiful Spain. After having made the decision to return to the UK, he joined Little Forest Folk and has since enjoyed driving the children, supporting the team and helping as an all-round outdoor legend.

poppy

manager

From growing up in the Hampshire countryside, Poppy has always enjoyed being outdoors, and she is fascinated in the way in which children can use nature to learn, play and explore.

Poppy has a degree in Early Childhood Studies and is a firm believer in the Little Forest Folk ethos of giving children the freedom to learn through play.

cARRIE

FLOATING MANAGER (maternity Cover)

Carrie has been extremely fortunate to have been surrounded by nature for most of her life. She grew up on Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada where she spent her free time climbing trees, swimming, and riding her bike.

Her family have always been avid campers and they still consider muddy clothes, skinned knees, and a big grin a sign of a good day out! She was involved in Girl Guiding and worked at a camp and outdoor centre in Algonquin Provincial Park for 15 years, where she discovered her love for outdoor education.

As a qualified teacher, she has taught in both traditional classrooms and informal education settings, but has always found the most joy and fulfilment when working with others outdoors. Seeing children (and adults!) make new discoveries and become immersed in their surroundings always reminds her why the environment is so important for development and wellbeing. During free time Carrie can be found wandering the outdoors, reading in a sunbeam, playing volleyball, or working out how to keep parakeets from eating all the birdseed!

Olivia

Deputy Manager

Olivia has always spent time outside, as a child she loved going to local parks, beaches and forests with her family (& still does!). This inspired her to do her Adventure Education degree where she learnt outdoor sports such as: kayaking, canoeing, sailing, skiing and rock climbing. 

She now climbs regularly at different London climbing centres & her weekends are full of sport, anything from watching Crystal Palace in Selhurst or netball online. 

She completed her PGCE at Canterbury and taught in South London for a few years. She is now undertaking her Level 2 forest school training. She is really interested in how the outdoors and forest school ethos can benefit children and their development.

Lucy

third in charge

Lucy has a Primary Education degree, and her dissertation was on outdoor education.

She was a Brownie and Guide growing up and enjoyed camping and campfire singing with the Guides. She has been a Brownie leader for many years now.

Previously, she has worked with children in several different settings; including schools, holiday club and on a farm. Looking after the planet is important to her, she is making small changes to make a difference. When not at work, she enjoys gluten free baking, reading and sewing. She also likes walking in the countryside and spending time on her allotment.

Philip

Third in charge

Philip joins Little Forest Folk with 6 years experience working in early years. He spent 2 years in Beijing, China teaching in an international nursery. When he returned to the UK he continued working with children while studying at university for his BA in child education and psychology.

Philip believes that children are granted limitless opportunities to learn through outdoor play and exploration and jumped at the chance to work with a nursery that provides these opportunities.

When Philip's not studying he is in the woods with his nephews building structures and exploring.

rebecca

Forest Nursery Educator

Rebecca’s career background is originally in university libraries and more recently working with secondary age students. Growing up on the rural North Devon coast gave Rebecca an early appreciation of nature, wildlife and wild blustery weather. Watching her own three children grow up in the city Rebecca found it was important to find them good climbing trees, leaves to crunch and mud to squelch in. Rebecca in interested in the benefits of being outdoors both for adults and children and how playing in natural outdoor spaces can affect child health, wellbeing, confidence and resilience. Rebecca is intrigued by children’s connection with nature and it’s importance in early years as it enhances language, expands vocabulary and gives children an appreciation of the natural world.

Nicole

FOREST NURSERY EDUCATOR

As a child, when Nicole would visit her families home country, she enjoyed bike rides through the countryside and pick berries and mushrooms at the woods near her grandparents house. Now, Nicole enjoys going on walks with her dog and catching up with her cousins on late night walks. Nicole has a younger sister as well as a niece and nephew that she regularly looks after. In college she completed a Travel and Tourism course and in the future she wishes to fulfil her desire to travel. Nicole is excited to learn and to join the Little Forest Folk Team!

hannah

FOREST NURSERY EDUCATOR

Hannah has always loved being outside in nature and that's where she spends her free time. She is always going out on hikes with family and friends. Whilst studying animal care at college she found a new love and appreciation for the outdoors. She thinks this is a great program for the children to learn different skills and learn that nature is not just important but fun.

Carla

FOREST NURSERY EDUCATOR

Carla has had a wealth of experience with childcare, after deciding to home educate her son. Her love for free play and education began at the start of her home schooling journey. Carla then went on to work in a primary school for seven years and gained a wealth of experience from this but the outdoors was calling.
She found that education outdoors with her son benefited him and became a big believer in outdoor eduction which led her to Little Forest Folk.

Her love of the outdoors and nature never ceases and working within the wonderful world of children, combined with the great outdoors, is what it’s all about for Carla.

Anamika

FOREST NURSERY EDUCATOR

Anamika has a background in Forensic Science and is working toward her master's in Criminology with a Forensic Psychology specialisation at Middlesex University. She is also interested in child psychology.

She believes life has to be bound to nature, especially at an early age, to develop the core skills of an individual.

Anamika is delighted to be a member of a team that encourages kids to develop in harmony with the environment.

Arron

FOREST nursery educator

Originally from Manchester, Arron has always loved the outdoors and from a young age would spend his summers exploring the Irish countryside, where his Mum's side of the family are from. Whether it was making dens, going for walks, collecting turf, or helping his Grandad with the gardens, he would always be out and about.  

Arron has younger siblings much younger than himself, as well as a niece and nephew with whom he is close too and has always enjoyed spending time with them. He has always been active and involved in multiple sports teams from a young age. This led to him volunteering as a children's football coach in 2019.  Arron has a degree in Music Production & Live Performance as well as Extended National Diploma’s in Sport Science & Biology and Computer Science. When he's not in the forest getting muddy, he DJs in clubs and radio stations around London, as well as producing his own music and watching his football team, Everton. Arron believes in a patient, understanding and fun approach to childcare and loves the concept of combining education with nature and believes the forest school is a great environment to ensure children excel in life. 

Cornelia

FOREST nursery educator

Cornelia became interested in early years education when she started her own family. She enjoys talking to children, finding out their interests and expanding their vocabulary. Using children’s illustration books, she helps focus a child’s imagination to explore independent learning using methodology and storytelling.

Cornelia grew up in south west London and she recalls vividly how children had the freedom to roam in the great outdoors and enjoy simple things like building camps and sunshine. Her playground memories are found tentatively walking through the ferns at Richmond Park past deer to Isabella Planation, climbing the chalky hills to Boxhill and relaxing on the grassy slopes. She studied Art and Design at university and specialised in the creative process and fine arts. Cornelia presently enjoys sourcing and curating pre-loved and vintage clothes. She finds relaxation by tending to her garden, nurturing the plants she loves watering and colour scheming. She has a poetic resonance with the natural environment and music.

Polly

FOREST NURSERY EDUCATOR

Having grown up in Moscow, Polly spent her free time between running the theatre and camping - from daily trips to three week rowing expeditions as far as Siberia (in the hot summer)! She believes that being outside in nature is an essential part of self-development and mental wellbeing - and the wilder the better!

She grew up surrounded by children and later found herself working with them in various roles, from teaching to organising birthday events. As well as being part of Little Forest Folk, she also teaches Drama to 10 year olds and a course of Entomology (the science of insects) to 4 and 5 year olds at a bilingual weekend school. She can’t wait to spend time outdoors with the wonderful resilient children at Little Forest Folk. It is truly a magical experience for both parties. She is also so excited about the training opportunities this workplace provides to develop her skills and knowledge around children’s education!

cassie

FOREST NURSERY EDUCATOR (maternity leave)

Coming from a retail and customer service background, Cassie loves building and nurturing relationships with people. Having spent time working in a corporate environment and office setting for most of the week, Cassie found her free time most valued spent outdoors in the fresh air and reconnecting with nature which is what encouraged her to make the jump into a new adventure. Cassie is also an artist and enjoys painting, with a particular love of portraiture. Cassie looks forward to incorporating art and exploring creativity within childcare and is so excited to be a part of the team and what Little Forest Folk have to offer.

Karlenne

Nursery Manager

Karlenne’s love for the outdoors started at a young age. When she was seven years old she became a Brownie as part of Girlguiding, then a guide and is now an active volunteering leader for the last 25 years. She enjoys taking them camping, teaching them to make and cook on open fires, respect the natural environment and enjoy the outside natural world which even included some international trips. It was this involvement and passion that she learnt that she really loved helping children and learning new skills in the outside environment. She worked as a Nanny for a year and then worked as a level three practitioner for the last ten years and took her Forest school Leadership qualification.

Freya

Playworker

Freya brings a rich background in the creative arts and a deep passion for sustainability, craft, and nature to her role at Little Forest Folk. After working in the textile industry, Freya realised she wanted to make a meaningful impact on children’s lives. She is eager to share her love for the natural world and the arts with children, helping them create special memories that will last a lifetime. Freya's connection to nature began in her childhood, spending weekends at her grandparents' home in rural Somerset. Many long walks with her family gave her firsthand knowledge of the joy and wonder that comes from being outdoors. She believes that access to nature is invaluable and is excited to start this new journey with Little Forest Folk, where she can inspire the next generation to appreciate and cherish the world around them.

flo

bank staff

Flo is a recent graduate who finds great inspiration and joy from the outdoors. Her favourite activity is exploring new rural areas with pencils and paper in hand and she wrote her university dissertation on the art of Walking. She respects the importance of spending time in nature and is excited to share in the children's curiosity about the world around them. After working in hospitality and retail, Flo is looking forward to a change of environment, to learn from the children, from the forest and to share her passion for nature and art with them by getting creative and embracing the mud and materials around them. In her spare time she draws, visits museums and galleries and plays guitar.

Katie

Bank Staff

Katie grew up in the Midlands making dens, picking up worms & getting muddy at every opportunity. After working for a forestry charity, she realised how much she loved working outdoors and learning about the plants and animals around her. Most recently, Katie has picked up foraging, which has lead her to learn more native plants than ever before and can often be found hunting through foliage for ingredients.

Katie studied art at university, where she also co-lead a dance society. She knows that sometimes words aren’t enough: sometimes you need to be a little more creative & find other ways to express yourself. Katie hopes to provide opportunities for the children to nurture their curiosity and enjoyment of themselves and their surroundings.

evie

bank staff

Evie runs her own business as a Wedding and Events Florist, she also has a BA in Fashion Marketing and before floristry worked at the National Trust in Retail Visual Identity. 

Evie lives in SW London and draws a lot of her inspiration and creativity from nature, which she implements in her florist work through colour, texture and form. She loves working outdoors and being up against the elements. Evie grew up exploring the countryside in Somerset and continues to explore the Royal Parks and the Thames Riverside in her spare time.

Evie is really looking forward to working at Little Forest Folk and inspiring young children to use their imagination and creativity to explore the outdoor world. She really believes in the Little Forest Folk ethos and hopes to help to create a fun and nurturing environment for young children to thrive in.

LOUISA

BANK STAFF

On a visit to Norway, Louisa was inspired by the way they teach outdoors in all weathers. After learning about the growing inspiration of forest schools from Scandinavia and the impact it could have on future generations she had to get involved!  Having worked in horticultural therapy she has seen the various ways nature can help individuals.

She believes an early connection to our environment is essential to protecting it for the future but also hugely beneficial for our wellbeing.  Louisa set up a business in food refills in order to reduce food waste and preserve our biodiversity. She is now training in permaculture and rewilding and hopes to bring what she learns to Forest school. 

Junior

bank staff

Bio coming soon…

Martha

bank staff

Martha loves the outdoors and working with children.

From being in the Girl Guides and going on multiple camps a year from the age of 11 and then at 16 staying with the Guides and becoming a young leader, teaching all the younger guides the skills. With guides she also completed her bronze, silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh which involved doing a 5 day canoeing excursion whilst wild camping.

Also from the age of 14 Martha worked at a stables, teaching young children to horse ride and also working there on a weekly basis.

KATE

Bank staff

Kate graduated from Bath Spa University with a BSc in Diet & Health. Knowing she wanted to follow a career with children, she went on to complete a Level 3 in Childcare and has worked in a variety of early years settings and schools throughout Surrey & London.

Through working in a range of settings Kate has seen the importance of outdoor play on children’s learning and development and is now excited to pursue her career at Little Forest Folk. Kate loves travelling and spent a year working and travelling in Australia and has been lucky enough to travel to various other parts of the world.

Kate enjoys being outdoors, running and has completed four half marathons. Wanting to continue to develop her knowledge, she has completed a level 1 in British sign language and courses in play therapy and mindfulness.

TESSA

Bank staff

Tessa grew up in Dorset where she enjoyed spending her time at the local beaches and in the New Forest. She has wanted to be a teacher since she was young, so is excited to work towards this at the nursery, and in her Education Studies and Global Sustainable Development degree at the University of Warwick. Tessa believes that it is vital for children to spend time in nature in order to understand it and feel inspired to protect wildlife.

Tessa also loves baking, cycling and playing tennis in her spare time.

Emma

Bank staff

Emma has nursery experience spanning 3 years, starting with her first nursery role at 17. Right from the start Emma loved working with children and knew this was the ideal position for her. While studying Psychology at University she enrolled in multiple child related modules and continued to return to nursery work throughout her degree.

Now living in Greenwich, Emma takes advantage of London’s green spaces, often visiting national parks with friends. Her favourite spot is Greenwich Park for a picnic. Hearing about the forest School Emma felt it was the perfect opportunity to be able to support children’s learning and exploring in an outdoor space where they can really thrive.

Maisie

Bank staff

Growing up in South-West London, Maisie's love for nature grew from spending many of her early childhood years in Richmond Park discovering the outdoors with her siblings and family friends. She is passionate about enriching children's education through nature and the outdoors. Maisie is incredibly excited to be working for Little Forest Folk, and cannot wait to see the children connect with nature and learn about plants, insects and the great outdoors.

Peter

Bank staff

Peter has volunteered for the past few years at a children's summer camp, primarily working with 3-5 year olds. He is studying Religion and Politics at King's College London, and has an avid interest in both music and sports. Peter aims to bring a sense of fun to the forest, and also wants to support the children in building their confidence in themselves. Outside of work and university, Peter enjoys singing, acting, playing the drums, and rugby.

Carly

Bank staff

Carly grew up in London, and has been studying politics and international relations at the University of Sheffield. She loves spending her days outdoors with long dog walks and bike rides with friends. She loves London for both its bustling city life as well as its brilliant protection of green spaces, particularly Bayhurst Wood near Ruislip and Richmond Park near her home. She loves working with early years as she finds they are the most enthusiastic to learn and get stuck in to new challenges. Working outdoors is also a big passion for Carly, as she believes it encourages creative thinking and resilient minds. Carly recently became captain of her football team at university which she thoroughly enjoys as well as playing dodgeball and going running with friends.

Lucia

Bank staff

Lucia is a second-year geography student who grew up in west London. She has always had a deep appreciation for nature and the outdoors, which inspired her to choose her degree. She enjoys going on hikes and long walks with her friends and family, and wants to share this enthusiasm for the outdoors with others. Lucias work experience in a primary school as well as babysitting in her spare time have inspired her to pass on this love for nature to the next generation.

joel

Bank Staff

Joel was born in Milano and grew up in the Italian countryside until she turned 15, when her family had to move due to economic challenges. She cherished her childhood’s outdoor experiences so much that she has decided to turn those difficulties into a personal growth’s journey towards home, firstly by travelling and trying to find a creative means of expression in order to fulfil her dream and go back where she grew up. But in 2022, after the second big turning point of her journey, she finally understood that instead of going home, she could feel home everywhere she went by doing her part to make the world a greener place for every single child (like she was), so that we could call the whole earth our Home. Now she is a happy, qualified Early Years Educator and she hopes that one day she could combine her passion for art and illustration with childcare.

hugo

Playworker

Hugo is 28 years old (or young!) & has 5 years of teaching experience with predominantly nursery age children both offline before covid hit, and online when restrictions meant he couldn’t hold face to face classes. He has always enjoyed teaching/working with younger learners much more, as he feels the experience is much more rewarding. Hugo has also worked as an English Language teacher both abroad and in London. He is passionate about the outdoors and promoting sustainability so future generations can also benefit from the great outdoors like he has! Combining two of his biggest passions in life is a dream come true!

Lucy

bank staff

Bio to follow!

bethany

bank staff

After spending 9 years of her childhood in South Africa, playing in the bush, making dens and avoiding venomous snakes, it’s no wonder Beth feels more at home in the great outdoors.

Now based in Southfields, Beth spends most of her time in the common to escape the busyness of London. Working in a S.E.N school during term time, nannying for a handful of different families, running drama clubs and a trained T.E.F.L teacher, Beth has over 5 years experience in childcare and education.

In her spare time she can be found painting marine life, going on adventures with her friends, visiting her family in rural Somerset or reciting Shakespeare!

lena

Bank Staff

Lena is a qualified teacher from North West London. She spent years working as a primary school teacher before she decided to try something new. She wanted to work in an environment where children were given the space to be creative and curious and ultimately turned to forest schools