Rachel Phillips

Director - Trainer - Education Manager - Wellbeing/Nature Connection Manager

Foundation Certificate (MA) in Therapy Outdoors (Ecotherapy) , Diploma in Ethnobotany, Social Forester Level 3 Dip. QTS Secondary School Teaching, Level 3 Counsellor for Women and Girls, BA Art Design, Certificate of Higher Education Psychology, Diploma in Permaculture Design

With a 20 year background in wellbeing and creative arts coupled with a passion for Nature Connection, Education and training. I have been researching and developing the use of ancestral, regenerative and ethnobotanical practices to support well-being and improve biodiversity on land, be resilient to climate change and improve general mental health.

Drawing upon my experiences of being a Qualified Teacher in Secondary Schools (Head of Year) and a Children’s Counsellor/Support worker for Women's Aid, and my interest in Ecotherapy has focused my current work in Education and Training Provision at the Apricot Centre.

I believe that knowledge and education is paramount in helping to tackle some of the many challenges that face us globally today. I have worked with a team to develop trainee offers at the farm focusing on training up the future growers in regenerative agriculture. As head of the school I am responsible for it's daily running of as well as further securing funding opportunities for further education programmes of study.

I am also a teacher on the Permaculture Design Certificate and coordinate the running the adult training courses. I am part of a Design Consultation Team, supporting the development of wellbeing and ethnobotanical aspects of land based designs.

Having retrained in therapeutic outdoor education I lead a team of therapeutic nature connection practitioners and mentors who are working with nature to support young people with behavioural and emotional issues in their alternative education journey, using citizen science, conservation educational and ancestral crafts.