Emily Malik
Director & Practitioner
As a Biologist, Naturalist and Ecopractitioner, Emily uses cross-sectoral approaches to rekindle our relationship with the living world. Working in health, education, spiritual ecology and community engagement, she is fascinated by the potential for enhancement of wellbeing by reconnection with the natural world. She is a facilitator of The Work That Reconnects and has trained in Embodied Systems Practice. As well as her work with EcoWild Emily is on the steering group of the Nature and Health Practice Network which is linked to the West of England Nature Partnership. She sits on the board of the Nature and Health Strategy Group for WENP and on Bristol’s Thriving Communities Project board.
She is qualified yoga teacher with 25 years personal practice, sings with an acapella group, plays a little guitar and piano, and meditates daily. Before EcoWild she worked in HIV Community Support Services, Project Coordination in Tropical Health Education, Conservation research and logistics.
Training
Biology BSc; Ecopsychology Cert., Paediatric First Aid; Outdoor Food Safety; Mental Health First Aid; Enhanced DBS.
Clare Stepan
Practitioner
Clare’s passion for nature began with her upbringing in rural Dorset, climbing trees and learning about the natural world. She nurtured this further in her professional journey, as a chartered Geologist and practising Environmental Geoscientist, which gave her a deep respect and understanding of our impact on nature.
She loves the enthusiasm and fresh perspective that children bring to the outdoors and enjoys spending her time with her three boys getting muddy in the woods. She is driven to provide other young children with the opportunity and space to connect with nature and enjoy the benefits.
Clare has recently carried out training and is working towards becoming a Forest School leader level 3.
Training
Environmental Geology BSc; Applied Environmental Geology MSc; Enhanced DBS.
Becca Quirk
Practitioner
Becca is an artist, craftsperson and outdoor practitioner. She is currently training as an Art Therapist and Forest School Leader (L3) and has a particular interest in Environmental Art Therapy and Eco Therapy. She has previously trained as a Nature & Health Community Connector and is interested in the therapeutic and educational benefits of nature, art and traditional green crafts, and passionate about their positive effect on wellbeing. She runs her own silversmithing business and has a background in support work and grassroots outdoor events.
Becca’s love of nature and wild places is inspired by many years spent living outdoors nomadically, travelling the UK and Asia. She loves learning about the medicinal properties of plants, foraging, growing vegetables, climbing mountains and cooking over the fire.
Training
Art Psychotherapy MA (in progress); Forest School L3 (in progress); Yoga Teacher Training 250 IYN; Nature & Health Community Connector L2; Jewellery & Silversmithing BA; Safeguarding Children & Young People; DBS.
Nick Hudson
Practitioner
Nick is an ecologist/naturalist and nature-based practitioner using aspects of both these disciplines to connect people to each other, to nature, the land and the living world around us. Alongside a lifelong fascination with nature and his work as a professional ecologist for more than 20 years Nick has gained a broad understanding of the ecological world. Having an intimate knowledge of our wildlife, of the plants and animals that live around us, is a capacity he feels very fortunate to have and to be able to share.
Trained as a nature-based practitioner Nick offers opportunity to create and develop closer, healthier and more beneficial relationships with nature, refreshing and reconsidering the ways we interact with and how we relate to it. Offering opportunities for others to explore their relationship with the natural world, recognising that each person is their own natural expert on what inspires and sustains them in nature and what they love about it.
Nick brings his experience of crafting and making into this work offering supported opportunities to discover and enjoy activities such as weaving, crafting with hand-tools and natural art-making.
Training
Foundations in Ecopsychology and Nature-based Practice, Natural Academy; Member of Nature and Health Practice network; Enhanced DBS; Child Protection Training – basic awareness course; Outdoor First Aid.
Carmen Jones
Practitioner
Carmen is a qualified forest school practitioner, dancer and nature lover. After spending 25 years as a dance teacher/performer Carmen felt compelled to change her vocation out of concern for the natural world and its preservation. Growing up on a farm, as well as studying as a child at Steiner school and also attending art college, were also all experiences that resonated and influenced her decision to train to be a forest school leader.
Through her work she wishes to encourage learners, whether young or old, not only to enjoy nature but to have a respectful and responsible relationship with it too. She especially enjoys working with children creatively, using arts, crafts and storytelling to explore nature’s cycles with an aim to encourage learners to gain a deeper nature connection.
She is also a founder member and trustee at the charity Climate Hub B&NES, one of the many climate emergency centres that can be found nationwide, which provides advice and education in order to support the public to make the transition to live a more sustainable life. She has 3 children, is an environmentalist, martial artist, forest bather and loves walking her dog.
Training
Level 3 Forest School Leader AIM; Art BTECH; Beauty Therapy CIBTAC; Aromatherapy; Kinesiology; Reiki; Indian Head Massage; First Aid– ITC level 3; Paediatric First Aid / ITC- Forest School Paediatric First Aid; Advanced Safeguarding Level 2; Prevent Awareness course; Level 2 Food Hygiene..
Helen Mattock
Practitioner
Helen grew up in a small village just outside Bath where she spent most of her childhood riding ponies and walking her dogs. She is particularly interested in wildlife studies, having studied Animal care at Lackham agriculture college and is keen to share this with others.
Having worked for several small charities, including Bath Community Play Bus and Bath Area Play Project, as a play worker and nursery assistant, Helen has many years of childcare experience especially with children with special needs. She has also worked with adults with dementia.
Helen is married and has two teenage children and a border terrier who she takes to weekly dog agility classes.
Training
Qualified Playworker and Early years educator; Forest school level 3 (in progress); Pediatric First Aid; BNES Safeguarding and Child Protection; Food Hygiene.
Sarah Parkes
Project Assistant/Office Manager
Sarah has a background in project coordination, event management, administration and volunteer support within the arts, education and voluntary sectors. She has worked in a wide range of roles across a diverse range of organisations – from managing the finances of a circus company to coordinating school and community activities for a theatre company.
She loves nature, the outdoors, theatre, spoken word, arts and crafts, travel and languages, and is passionate about the role nature and creativity can play in supporting mental and physical health and wellbeing.
Training
Arts Management MA; Italian BA; Introduction to Safeguarding Children; Safeguarding Children in Practice; Safeguarding Adults Level 2; DBS.
Yvonne Bignall
Board Member
A Self-Care Coach working with over-scheduled busy women who forfeit their self-care in the pursuit of ‘doing’ for everyone else, often to the detriment of their health.
As a health advocate she blends a number of skills (qualified life-coaching, personal training, Nordic walking & nutrition coaching) to help individuals connect with nature and get to the top of their to do list, guilt-free and healthily! With over 35 years in & around the health & wellness industry, Yvonne is passionate about sharing the benefits of mental & physical wellbeing in the great outdoors.
She is on the board of directors at Somer Valley FM where she hosts her own show ‘The Women’s Power Hour’, focused on health & wellness and other related topics.
Training
CMI Level 5 Coaching; Level 5 Weight Loss Practitioner; Level 3 Personal Trainer; British Nordic Walking/INWA Certified Nordic Walking Instructor; Precision Nutrition Level 1 Nutrition Coach.
Owain Jones
Board Member
Owain Jones FGS is a Professor of Environmental Humanities at Bath Spa University (UK). He works mainly in cultural geography and has published a number of peer-reviewed research articles in international geography and related social science journals. He has two main areas of research and writing interests; geographies of nature-culture and children’s geographies. Within the former he focuses upon animal geographies,[1]place/landscape/dwelling,[2] and tidal geographies (and temporal rhythms of landscape).[3]
The Webmistress supports EcoWild with all things webby. Our main aim is to support our clients with digital difficulties and solutions, so they can be more available to help their clients blossom. We are therefore the perfect partner, and very much love supporting EcoWild, in our joint ethos of making the world a better place, through our re-connection with Nature.