Having grew up in Devon surrounded by beautiful countryside, Wildwood Adventures evolved as way for Rachel to pass on the wonder and magic of the natural world.
Spending time outside with her own children Rachel realised the importance and fun in engaging them in the outdoors which led to running regular sessions for children and undertaking her Level 3 Forest School qualification in 2012.
Rachel has years of experience working with public, private and SEN schools in and around Bristol developing and implementing short and long term programmes for children aged between 4 and 17. She enjoys practical skills development such as knife work and fire skills and has a particular focus on Forest School and wellbeing. In 2017 Rachel trained with Cambium Sustainable to run Outdoor Learning courses for adults and is part of a team setting up a wellbeing college in Tickenham.
Drawing on her experiences of working both home and abroad with Oxfam, for the Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust and the BBC, and teaching English in Ecuador has supported the context of outdoor sessions. I love spending time with family and friends, long walks, reading, wild swimming and fires under the stars.
Amy’s forest school journey began in 2014 when volunteering for a forest school whilst working as a lunch time supervisor.
The forest school ethos and approach really resonated with her. She trained to gain her forest school leader Level3.
Since then she has supported children and young people aged 4-18. She has spent time working as a camp leader and play mentor and Forest School Leader. She loves team work and collaboratively creating. Fire lighting and cooking are of her favourite activities along with opportunities to build and play.
Amy is interested in SEND and ASD within forest schools and feels it is great to support an atmosphere where children can be themselves, grow in confidence all whilst falling in love with nature.
Lottie graduated with a BA in Fine Art in 2015 in Bristol and since then has continued to contribute and work within Bristol’s vibrant communities.
Working with Bristol Refugee Rights, art groups such as Litterati and schools as an assistant teacher, play worker and workshop facilitator.
She grew up in rural Monmouthshire on a small holding and which she feels led her to undertaking her forest school training in 2017. She provides fun and exciting outdoor learning for children and has run inspiring sessions at QEH School before Easter. Lottie also works as a leader with the Outdoor Project, volunteering with the youth team at Bristol’s Drug Project and she is a keen gardener and cyclist.
One of Lucy’s greatest passions is to spend time in the woods around a fire, focusing on the wildlife. She feels that sharing her love of the outdoors as a Forest School Leader, is a fortunate and inspirational job.
Lucy truly believes in the healing effects of nature, the importance of our connection with the natural world and the positive effect it has on general wellbeing.
Over the past 9 years she has developed and run Woodland Wellbeing courses for adults as well Wild Baby groups for Pre-school aged children. She has worked in primary schools, setting up and running Forest School sessions and currently works with QEH Bristol, on a weekly basis. She has worked in collaboration with local branches of Mencap, Mentoring Plus, The Carers Centre and Chew Valley Community Farm. Recently she has been inspired to gain more insight into Neurodiversity in Outdoor Practice and her interest in this area has led to her working with and supporting children with high anxiety, ADHD and Autism.
She is a qualified Level 3 Forest School Leader with 9 years of experience and spent a previous 15 years of her life working in Television Production.
Qualifications include Outdoor First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Autism Awareness In Forest School, Earth Education and Child Protection Training as well as being DBS cleared.
Her passions include bike riding, looking after her horse, her children, her dog and her 2 cats! As well as practicing yoga and keeping fit whilst getting outside as much as possible.
Jasmin feels getting children outdoors is vital to children's learning and development. Jasmin has 20 years experience working with children all over the world, running kids clubs in 5* resorts, working at Summer camps in America and the UK, working at Outdoor Education residential's in Switzerland and France and being a skiing instructor in Switzerland for many years.
Jasmin is always keen to have an adventure and usually with children tow.
Jasmin Petty set up Muddy Tracks in October 2017 having completed Level 3 Forest School training at Bridgwater College and works for Wildwood Adventures at various locations.
Judi grew up in Berkshire where she spent most of her leisure time by the river, climbing trees or cycling around the countryside. She was a keen member of the Girl Guides, enjoying outside experiences and adventures. Later, she became a Special Needs teacher and worked in many beautiful rural locations which enabled her to carry on her love of being in, and learning about, the outdoors. After teaching for many years she decided it was time to put her experience and knowledge to use in a different setting. She retrained as a Forest School Leader and has rejoiced in what she has gained and the amazing possibilities that this path has opened up to her.
She opened her own business in Pembrokeshire and, after moving to Weston-super-Mare, worked in an outstanding Nursery and Pre-School in Bristol. She is now very excited to be working with Wildwood Adventures and continuing her Forest Schooling closer to home.
Judi is also a Shinrin-yoku (Forest Bathing) Guide and feels that the philosophy of this practice has helped her to a deeper understanding of what Forest School and the natural world can do for us all.
She loves encouraging independent learners, watching children’s confidence grow and helping them to develop an “I can do it” attitude.