Jennie is passionate about bringing the natural world closer to people and people closer to the natural world. Over the past 26 years she has designed and delivered a variety of programmes and activities such as conservation programmes, bush-craft courses for all ages, programmes for the elderly, ‘digital-detox’ breaks for women, as well as designing and delivering accredited training the trainer courses for people wanting to support others accessing nature in an inspiring and meaningful way. Jennie also is a frequent botanical vlogger.
“Jennie is an intelligent, inspiring and skilled practitioner. You can’t fail to be enthused by her knowledge and passion for plants and wilderness. I can honestly say that working with Jennie transformed my own practice. I’d often felt out of place amongst the bush-craft teachers I’d met but Jennie’s thoughtful, open and clear teaching transformed my confidence. Jennie shares her knowledge with an openness and humour that makes being taught by her a real joy”
Clair, former student
Jennie moved to Scotland in 1995 to work for re-forestation charity, Trees for Life, where she led their conservation work weeks, hosted funders (showing them sites of Ancient Caledonian Pine Woodlands) as well as designing and delivering Trees for Life’s first ever conservation work week leader course, which is still used today.
In 1998, with a grant from the Millennium Forests For Scotland, Jennie started Wild things! an award-winning environmental education charity and social enterprise based in the north east of Scotland. To date Wild things! have worked with over 15,000 participants, some coming from as far as Italy, Russia and Dubai. The ethos on which Jennie founded Wild things! was to offer wilderness experiences for all, despite physical, emotional, social or financial challenges and that all Wild things! programmes would provide the opportunity for a mutually beneficial relationship to be built between the individual and the natural environment.
Jennie holds an MSc in Ethnobotany from Kent University and Kew Gardens London with an interest in Ethnomycology, she is a Woodland and Coastal Activity Leader Trainer, Bush-craft practitioner, Environmental Education Consult as well as having certificates in Biological Recording and Herbal Medicine.