​​

My eldest daughter Ru was six months old when the first lockdown came into effect in March 2020. Our daily walks were spent in the woods, where she would gaze up at the trees and clouds from her cosy spot in the sling. As the seasons changed, I watched her explore the flowers and grass, play with her shadow in the summer sun, and wait for the blackberries to ripen so she could smash them in her tiny fists. Her first steps were taken among crunchy autumn leaves, and most of her naps happened outdoors, with the breeze and birdsong offering natural lullabies.

​

The world may have moved on from that time, but that first year with Ru reminded me of a truth I once lived every day when I was a child myself: that we learn better, grow more and feel most connected - to ourselves and the world around us - when we have regular opportunities to be in nature.

​

The pandemic also changed things for our family, as it did for many of us around the world. Our perspectives, our priorities, our values have all come into focus, and many of us are moving forward with a clearer sense of who we are and what we want (and don't want) for ourselves and our children.

​

For me, this meant leaving my job in charity marketing and returning to my role as a nanny, this time with a deeper understanding of the kind of parent and carer I want to be. I now care for other young children alongside my own with a respectful, nurturing approach that values nature-based learning and child-led play in all weathers.

 

I also strive to provide families and carers with a chance to connect with each other in order to "build our village" of mutual support and solidarity as we raise the next generation of changemakers. 

​