As the foraging season nears its end and the draw to hibernation grows, I have been reflecting on the past season for Tellus Mater and for me as an individual and wanted to share these reflections with you.
Tellus Mater was born out of a passion for foraging, nature as a whole and the well-being that it brings, nurturing the soul and opening the mind. Nearly five years ago it was just myself sharing the joy of foraging and the outdoors within my local community and with friends.
Now I am delivering foraging sessions and well-being workshops across several counties and in partnership with like-minded venues for example Canons Ashby (my local National Trust) and the stunning 'Heath Farm' in the Cotswolds.
Here are just a few of this season’s highlights of note I would like to share with you:
🍄The launch of the Tellus Mater website which lists all the events in the year to be booked online, a monthly blog sharing seasonal foraging details and occasional recipes using foraged ingredients, and also guidance on how nature can be of great benefit to us all via my reflections and musing.
🍄Feeling both humbled and proud to be featured in Country Living magazine in October to share my journey to foraging and how this changed and supported me at a very difficult time in my life. Hopefully this will inspire others who are facing challenging situations to look to nature to help them. The link to this is here.
🍄Being published in mainstream media publications including Country & Town House magazine, Eco Kids Planet magazine and Slow Food, showcasing my recipes using foraged ingredients and articles about nature and well-being. Plus, I was invited to speak at CPRE Nottinghamshire AGM, which was an honour and has inspired me to look at opportunities like this in the coming year.
🍄Starting the process of setting up a charity, Immercia in Nature, to subsidise foraging sessions and well-being workshops for those that are unable to access this kind of activity for various reasons. This is something that I have always had in the back of my mind and in my heart and having supported people in this situation over the past couple of years, it has re-enforced my belief and determination to make it happen in 2025.
🍄Recruiting a new member to the Tellus Mater team to help me out on all things admin which I really need. As most of you know I am more comfortable nosing in a hedge or woodland, than doing lots of admin, so a warm official welcome to the Tellus Mater team Dawn!
🍄Finally, all of the foraging events from this season are a highlight for me. I have really enjoyed sharing the joy of foraging with many new faces and indeed some old along the way and been delighted with the variety of fungi finds to boot! Plus, the support that I have had from all the wonderful venues has been amazing.
However, I cannot fail to mention BRIDGE, the substance misuse programme gang based in Northamptonshire. Leading group sessions for these amazing people who are working hard each day to change their path and whom I relate to after being finally free from alcohol for nearly two years, has been invaluable to myself and hopefully can make even the tiniest bit of difference.
I am incredibly lucky to affectionately refer to all of this as 'werk' and want to say thanks to you for being a part of this.
Have a fab weekend and happy hibernating! 🍄
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