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The Heartwood Team

Who We Are

Mark Lloyd

Woodland Crafts Master/Forest School Facilitator 

Mark originally trained as a Bushcraft Instructor 16 years ago and has been a forest school leader for the past 15 years. In this role, he has worked extensively with a wide range of people and abilities from primary school children, children with SEN- including a visual impairment, young people who have struggled within the school setting and with their mental health, adults with learning difficulties and older people with dementia., 

 

HIs love for nature led him to want to immerse himself in the land more and for the past 13 years he has had the privilege of tending, working, sharing and playing in his own woodland. He produces charcoal for barbeques, firewood and does a lot of green woodworking.

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Helen Stringfellow

Forest School Facilitator

Helen has extensive experience sharing forest school and nature connection with adults, families, children and young people with a wide range of abilities and additional needs. These include working with children and young people who have complex needs, are on the autistic spectrum, the visually impaired community, as well as those who have SEMH.

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She has experience supporting adults with learning disabilities when working as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. This included enabling people to participate in their chosen leisure activities, developing social and communication skills and supporting their daily living.

 

Helen is passionate about inclusion and enabling access to nature connection for all, regardless of age or ability. She is keen to share the joy, wonder and freedom of nature and the many benefits it has to offer.

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Forest School Facilitator and Nature Connection Practitioner

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Sam Finn

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Sam has a natural childlike curiosity and playfulness and loves helping children and adults to find their confidence in nature. She likes to meet people where they’re at and find what excites and motivates them. She studied sculpture, then worked in practical countryside management and ecology for the National Trust and Sussex Wildlife Trust. She is a L3 forest school leader and has been working with children in nature since 2012. For the last 9 years Sam has been studying and practicing nature connection with Jon Young and the 8 Shields movement where supportive practices of gratitude, mentoring, storytelling and deep listening, among others, help to build healthy, connective communities.
 
“Some of my earliest positive memories are around experiences with nature...exploring and taking apart leaves and flowers, watching leaves flicker in the breeze, and these memories remain strong. As I got older I started to notice a feeling of deeper connection on occasions when I allowed myself to slow down and be truly present in nature. This feeling of being held, of community and kinship, of interconnectedness is the feeling that I want to help other people experience.”
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