Lucy Owen-Collins

Lucy Collins is an Early Years Teacher with MA Early Years Education, Forest & Beach School Facilitator, Trainer, SENCO and mother. Having worked in Environmental Education for over 20 years, Lucy has seen first-hand how engagement with the natural world nurtures wellbeing, curiosity and development and is passionate about connecting communities in nature.

After working with Wildlife and Nature organisations to deliver Environmental Education to schools, Lucy went self employed when she became a mum and started delivering community woodland projects.  Through her young children she saw the magic and importance of Early Years outdoors and wanted to create opportunities for families to imagine, create and make friends in nature’s playground. Inspired by pioneers in Early Years Education who advocate child-centred, process rich learning through play over classrooms and outcomes, Lucy went on to open Bee in the Woods Nature Kindergarten in 2018.  This outdoor Early Years setting provides full day childcare within a woodland and beach environment, year round, rain or shine.

Lucy has trained and mentored a team of Early Years practitioners and continues to support Early Years and Forest School trainees through mentorship, training and consultancy.  She works closely with local councils, universities, colleges, nurseries, community organisations and families to promote and enable early childhood outdoors.