Who we are
Meet Martin and Kesty
The woods are owned and managed by Martin and Kesty Jakes, who are passionate about connecting people with nature. They met 30 years ago while working for the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and bought Sladebank Woods, which is right on their doorstep, in 2000. Martin and Kesty cared for the woods while bringing up their two children, and continue to work towards making Sladebank Woods accessible for as many people as possible, to increase its diversity and create a resilient, sustainable and productive woodland for the future.
At Sladebank Woods we are delighted to welcome wellbeing practitioners – coaches and therapists – who help people do just that. If you’d like to explore how sessions with a wellbeing practitioner right here in the woods could support you, get in touch with one of these trusted practitioners directly.
Naomi Wilkinson
Naomi is a trained systemic coach, facilitator and creative. She works with people one to one and in groups, enabling a flow of wellbeing on all levels by promoting good relationship with the systems of which you are a part. She brings deep holding and witnessing, along with creativity, playfulness and pragmatism. She has trained extensively in systemic constellations work with the Centre for Systemic Constellations and The Whole Partnership since 2016 and is part of the Silver Spoons Collective. Her work is deeply informed by love of Nature in all beings. To enquire about working with her contact naomi.wilkinson@gmail.com.
Craig Johnson, Wild Kids Forest School
Wild Kids Forest School CIC is a community organisation providing accessible and affordable forest school sessions for children of all ages. Our programs are designed to encourage a love for nature, foster creativity, and develop resilience, social and emotional skills, self esteem and independence. Wild Kids Forest School aims to provide authentic Forest School to communities and families regardless of background. Making groups financially accessible with a community focus. We aim to create communities that love nature and help each other. By engaging with communities that are hard to reach and struggle to access forest school we will make the field truly inclusive and help grow the physical, mental and social health of all.
