The Wild Minds Podcast The Outdoor Teacher

Welcome to Episode 38! Today, I'm delving into the transformative power of nature in education and health. I'll be sharing the backstory of Circle of Life Rediscovery, my community interest company, and our journey in offering nature-based programmes and green interventions with the National Health Service and various teams over the past 20 years.
In this Episode Marina discusses:
Celebrating the nettle seeds from the female nettle plant (Urtica dioica). They have separate female and male plants, full of nutrients, proteins, omega 3 oils. How we can begin to apply our imagination and vision, reflecting on the role of power and participation.Marina shares her journey on how we can participate and create systems that nurture both ourselves and the natural world.Marina delves into how individuals and collective actions can drive system change and discusses strategies to influence and transform existing systems.Circle of Life Rediscovery CIC and an introduction to the Rediscovery Model, which kick-started the delivery of nature-based programmes.Early Days of Eco-Therapy defined by MIND, focusing on a model that listens to young people and provides space, time, safety, and choice around participation. This model listens to young people, offering space and time, safety and choice around participation – If you would like to know more about our green interventions projects please do get in touch. The development of the Certificate in Nature-based Practice as the primary training to offer the tools and practices to enable NHS, health and social workers to take individuals and groups outdoors. Our training Certificate in Nature-based Practice runs twice every year, in the Autumn and Springtime. Marina shares exciting news about Natural England funding for 20 NHS practitioners in mental health and public, primary, and community health services. If you want to fund an NHS practitioner to take part in our Certificate it costs £1000.00 per practitioner. Please contact us on info@circleofliferediscovery.comTo receive and share the latest research report on the impact of nature-based training on practitioners in mental health and public, primary, and community health services. Please follow this link:  download the full report here : Exploring the impact of nature-based training on practitioners in mental health and public, primary, and community health services by Dr Max Hope. Please feel free to share this link with the wider community stakeholders.Be sure to follow Circle of Life Rediscovery CIC on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or via...

In this episode, I’m so excited to speak with Dylan Walker, who describes himself as part entrepreneur, part ecologist, and part educator.
Dylan uses innovative techniques to spark our imaginations, inspiring visions of a wilder world where humans play a central and positive role. He passionately believes that cultivating a deep cultural connection with nature is the only way to safeguard our precious wildlife for the future. This enlightening conversation left me feeling optimistic and deeply contemplative about the urgent need to revolutionize how we teach and learn about our climate and our vital role as a keystone species.
We dive into:     
What is Rewilding?How can we encourage natural processes to restore ecosystems?Discussion on the UK as one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Read the UK State of Nature Report 'HERE' The impact of land being owned by a small percentage of people. The potential benefits of more citizens managing natural spaces.The contrast between ownership and indigenous perspectives on land stewardship.How to motivate people to understand and care about local nature and the challenges of connecting with nature when access is restricted and often requires payment.The importance of connecting with nature in our immediate surroundings. Elitism in Nature Conservation.The potential benefits of involving educators and artists in conservation efforts.Research showing higher biodiversity in areas with local indigenous populations compared to those without.The possibility of re-imagining and dreaming big with community involvement.
Show Notes:
https://theoutdoorteacher.com/podcasts/episode-37-rewilding-our-imagination/
Music by Geoff Robb: www.geoffrobb.com
Please Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
If you have enjoyed today's episode, please consider rating and reviewing my show!
This really helps me to spread the word to more people like you, and to empower more people to take their practice outdoors!
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, "follow" the podcast, as if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. 

Today, I'm beginning to delve into the fascinating world of biomimicry and nature's patterns, exploring how these principles can help us become net contributors in our communities and beyond and of course other interesting ideas!
I'll talk about how we could develop these natural blueprints to foster participation, learning, and positive change.
I believe it's crucial for everyone to feel empowered in their learning and community engagement, realizing that we can make a positive impact together.
In this Episode Marina discusses:
What’s happening in the land in July?What does net-positive rather than net-zero mean?What is nature and biomimicry?Learning from life’s ability to create the conditions for life to thrive!How can we learn from all of nature’s Unifying Patterns – could this be a template for all our decisions?How we move from an individual mindset towards a community-relational mindset.
Show Notes:
https://theoutdoorteacher.com/podcasts/beyond-net-zero-transforming-learning-through-natures-patterns/
Music by Geoff Robb: www.geoffrobb.com
Please Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
If you have enjoyed today's episode, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This really helps me to spread the word to more people like you, and to empower more people to take their practice outdoors!
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, "follow" the podcast, as if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. 

My guest today is Dr Deborah Benham. In addition to her academic career as a biologist, Deborah is a biomimicry educator, a Gaia Education and Transition Towns trainer, and has huge experience in how we can draw on living systems to support solutions to societal challenges. 
I am very inspired to share this episode with you! We can actually be net-contributors as humans rather than always extracting and taking. It’s so easy to speak about all the problems and seemingly hard to find solutions to planetary and personal health, but today we get to glimpse into an emerging set of principles that just may be the foundation to how we run our systems and our lives in the future.
We dive into:
What does it mean to be wild?You don’t need a wild place to be wild!What a deep nature connection practices facilitate a felt-sense of interconnection – a foundational experience leading to feeling connected to multiple relationships.How we can create positively to the health of the planet as net contributors.Biomimicry and Living Principles to help us do this!Learning to use templates that support living affirming products, processes and systems.Exploring how these frameworks guide us to be a good citizen that supports life to thrive.The imagination – creativity happens best within a set a parameters.What do we need to change? From the personal to the policy level.A deeper understanding that life creates the conditions for life to thrive, so we need to learn from the greatest teacher – the living wild biosphere!
Show Notes:
https://theoutdoorteacher.com/podcasts/episode-35-biomimicry-and-living-system-solutions/
Music by Geoff Robb: www.geoffrobb.com
Please Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
If you have enjoyed today's episode, please consider rating and reviewing my show!
This really helps me to spread the word to more people like you, and to empower more people to take their practice outdoors!
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, "follow" the podcast, as if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. 

In episode 34, Marina defines outdoor learning and shares practical examples of its implementation in schools. Additionally, she explores the broader social and economic context we live in and questions if our education system should provide more opportunities for young people to understand political and economic processes, especially with the backdrop of the upcoming UK General elections.
It seems remiss to spend 14-16 years in education without grasping basic democracy and economics, and giving young people a platform to voice their ideas. As we develop a practical climate curriculum, addressing these wider systems is crucial.
In this Episode Marina discusses:
The significance of outdoor learning and nature-based education within a broader social and economic context.Balancing respect for boundaries with personal growth and environmental sustainability is essential.Outdoor learning supports children's healthy development, attachment, and self-regulation, and should integrate the best educational research.Valuing diversity and sustainability in outdoor learning, along with co-creating outcomes with children, is vital.Education and society must urgently adapt to climate change and environmental degradation.Outdoor learning, experiential education, and community involvement are key to addressing these challenges.
Show Notes:
https://theoutdoorteacher.com/podcasts/the-what-and-why-of-outdoor-learning/
Music by Geoff Robb: www.geoffrobb.com
Please Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
If you have enjoyed today's episode, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This really helps me to spread the word to more people like you, and to empower more people to take their practice outdoors!
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, "follow" the podcast, as if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. 

We're kicking off Season 5 with an inspiring interview featuring Linda Dupret, a former headteacher with extensive experience leading an urban-based primary school.
Linda's passion for the outdoors drove her to integrate nature into mainstream education. I believe it’s crucial to provide young people with as many opportunities as possible to connect with nature. Outdoor learning, including approaches like Forest School, not only boosts wellbeing but also creates engaging educational experiences.
In this episode, Linda shares how she incorporates elements like fire and tools into teaching and normalizes outdoor learning in everyday curriculum.
This conversation is packed with examples of offering a broad curriculum, enhancing emotional health, and fostering a sense of belonging through outdoor learning.
We dive into:
Reasons why teachers may be hesitant to take their classes outdoors for learning.Whether a lot of green space is necessary to offer Forest School skills or outdoor learning.How teachers can provide evidence of outdoor learning and its importance for Ofsted inspections.The benefits of incorporating crafts, den-building, and fires into school activities.How outdoor learning engages children, supporting multiple learning environments beyond the classroom.The importance of teacher confidence in conducting outdoor activities safely and effectively.Suggestions on how schools can fund equipment and basic resources needed for outdoor learning.
Show Notes:
https://theoutdoorteacher.com/podcasts/episode-33-bringing-the-outdoors-into-mainstream-education/
Music by Geoff Robb: www.geoffrobb.com
Please Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
If you have enjoyed today's episode, please consider rating and reviewing my show!
This really helps me to spread the word to more people like you, and to empower more people to take their practice outdoors!
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, "follow" the podcast, as if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out.