Jane

"I manage a social enterprise which I co-founded which helps vulnerable people to access natural spaces for health and learning. We are self sustaining by using income from training to offer our services free. We find woodlands in urban and rural spaces in which we offer activities. Some cities have more woodlands than rural areas. People have such rich experiences that time passes differently, colour returns to their cheeks and they feel replenished enough to face their day to day issues. People can return to these green places with their families and friends and know they will feel better. It is good medicine. One woman, with her GPs consent was able to stop taking anti psychotic drugs. Young brothers, who are carers for their mum became eco warriors. Mum said; 'I don't know what you have done to my bys but I can't throw anything away any more', despite us making no direct reference to recycling while we were with the boys in the woods.

We are simply mammals and will protect what we love and we have proved natural spaces are places where we can do this for own well being, to help others in our community and to nurture respect for the land and environments.

The economic model is now established and we are thriving. My research is published in child and adolescent health and adult mental health journals. We have won 2 awards in relation to our sustainability credentials, most recently at the Global Good Awards.

I took Social Anthropology MA in 1997 with Steve Nugent and Brian Morris (Environmental Anthropology) to complement my existing BSc in Plant Biology from Bangor, making me an ethnobotanist. My specific interests are the way we use plants for health and well being hence this is the focus of much of the work of the company. Before coming to Goldsmiths I had conducted research in Wales among the Welsh speaking women on Anglesey and in south America among the Quechuan speaking women of the high Andes.

As a single mum from a working class background my time at Goldsmiths gave me massive confidence. It also gave me credibility and these 2 assets have allowed me to aspire and achieve."