My love for nature began at a very young age. I loved spending time in my grandparents garden, making miniature fairy gardens, collecting rose petals to make perfume and watching wildlife.

At 15, I began working in a local flower shop, and at 18 I went to Oaklands Horticultural College in Hertfordshire, where I trained and qualified as a florist. I spent the next few years working in flower shops and freelancing for weddings.

In 2004, I gave birth to my first son and my husband and I went on to have 3 more sons. We decided very early on that we wanted to home educate our sons, but I never imagined that what started as their learning journey would quickly became mine too.

Through teaching them and our time spent in nature – exploring woodlands, wildflowers, pollinators, and planting -I discovered a deeper connection to the natural world. I became really passionate about wildlife conservation, especially creating a garden that supports pollinators. 

The more I learned, the more I realised everything I loved was rooted in nature, the earth, and our human connection to it. That path led me to the Wheel of the Year – a way of living in tune with the seasons and the cycles of life.

In 2018, I started Thyme For Nature as a blog. I read as much as I could about nature and wildlife conservation, photographed and documented my findings, spent as much time as I could outdoors exploring the natural world and immersed myself in creating a wildlife-friendly garden. I also took a few short online courses in ecology and therapeutic horticulture. The more time I spent in my garden the more I realised that wildlife-friendly gardening doesn’t only benefit wildlife, it is hugely beneficial for wellbeing too in so many different ways. 

Today, when I’m not busy home educating our youngest son, I am tending to my wildlife garden, growing pollinator-friendly plants, organic food & herbs, creating with flowers and running seasonal workshops from my garden – a little oasis in the middle of a busy urban housing estate in Hertfordshire. My mission is to raise awareness about the benefits of creating a wildlife garden, both for wildlife and wellbeing. I have experienced first-hand the positive impact creating a wildlife-friendly garden can have on wildlife and wellbeing. I have seen my own garden thrive and buzz with life and have felt the overwhelmingly positive benefits it provides me.  

Whether I’m arranging flowers, growing food and herbs or sharing seasonal tips and workshops, my goal is to reconnect people with the seasonal beauty and wisdom of nature.

Thank you so much for being here