Jenny Archard

Jenny lives between the hills and sea of East Devon, close to the Rivers Wolf and Otter. She loves to make ceremony, to play in the sea and explore the woods. She grew up playing wild and began to explore her spirituality from a young age. She studied Psychology, trained as a Rebirthing practitioner, then moved into the voluntary and community sector, facilitating disadvantaged communities in Plymouth and wider Devon. After years of supporting others to lead and create projects, in 2011 she co-founded Neroche Woodlanders, a social enterprise in 100 acres of the public forest estate of the Blackdown Hills AONB in Somerset.

This labour of love brought her passion and vision together with her partner’s, conservationist Gavin Saunders. Now she leads the Wellbeing Team, providing long-term funded nature connection sessions for children, young people, families, and adults throughout the year, including rites of passage for young people. They work intimately with the place, guided by the seasons, the weather and non-humans who live there. Their work is endorsed by both social services and mental health as well as other local agencies.

Jenny is currently co-designing an eco-therapeutic course based on the experiences of her team and is in the final stages of a Masters of Research degree, investigating practitioners relationship with place and how it impacts their work. Through Woodland Journeys she leads deep immersive threshold work, both in the Blackdown Hills and on Dartmoor, and co-leads Way of Council circles for her community. She trained as a Wilderness Guide with the School of Lost Borders in California, is a qualified Forest School Leader and Bushcraft practitioner.

Websites:

http://www.nerochewoodlanders.org

http://www.woodlandjourneys.org.uk

Website

http://www.woodlandjourneys.org.uk /