Huckleberries Nurture Farm

Bev serves as the Managing Director, Nurture Group Leader, and Designated Safeguarding Lead for Huckleberries, bringing a wealth of expertise to her role.  She is an accredited Nurture Practitioner through NurtureUK, Youth Mindfulness Practitioner, and a dedicated environmentalist.  

Bev is an eternal optimist and a strategic, systems thinker, who believes in the power of collaboration, hard work, and staying true to one’s values, to achieve great things. She spent 25 years in the environment sector leading sustainability programmes on complex and fun construction projects, such as Heathrow’s Terminal 5, and working with Boards to define and deliver sustainabilty Strategy.

As a parent to three children and a school governor for 13 years, Bev holds a deep understanding of the escalating mental health crisis facing young people, recognising the role that education and social systems play. She believes “Young people don’t need fixing, its their environment that needs to change, and the way we hold space for them so they can be their amazing authentic selves – this is what we set out to achieve at Huckleberries.”

Through  her passion to improve outcomes for children and her love of all things outdoors,  Bev founded Huckleberries Nurture Farm in her back garden in 2019. During 2020 she developed the new site in Elstead with family and friends, which opened in June 2020.

Ant is the Chief Technology Officer for Triad Group Plc by day, Scout Leader at 7th Farnham by night, and Huckleberries agricultural engineer (fence posts mostly!) by weekend – he also looks after the books! Ant grew up at a residential outdoor pursuits centre in north Wales. ‘Bryntysilio’, owned by the Walsall Schools Holiday Camp Trust, and converted and run by his mother and father from 1969 specifically for the benefit of disadvantaged children, and continues to provide adventure activity courses today. It was this introduction to the outdoors that sparked Ants interest at an early age into rock climbing, canoeing, mountaineering and sailing, hobbies he continues to enjoy with his family and as an active Scout leader in Elstead. alongside his passion to help vulnerable children through his involvement in Huckleberries.

Tamzin is a qualified Forest School Leader and nature specialist.  She has been practicing Forest School education with children and schools since 2012.  She has a passion for all things outdoors, whatever the weather, from camping and bushcraft to butterfly identification!

Having enjoyed many muddy adventures with her husband and daughter, her mission is to provide as many children as possible with the opportunity to connect with nature and create the next generation of conservationists.  Tamzin is a qualified paediatric level 3 and Forest School first aider.

Mairead has been an important part of Huckleberries since its inception in 2018. With an extensive background in teaching English Language and Literature across Hong Kong, South Korea, and London, Mairead moved to Surrey with her family and retrained as a yoga teacher at the prestigious Triyoga in London, undertaking further training to teach children and teens. Mairead’s approach is deeply rooted in mindful meditation, offering our young people an opportunity to fall still and discover what it means to be quiet, reflect and look inside.

At Huckleberries, Mairead leverages her teaching expertise to engage children’s imagination and encourage them to connect deeply with nature, creating a supportive environment where they can relax, reflect, and cultivate feelings of gratitude and self-kindness in our tranquil woodland setting.

Dale is passionate about the outdoors, mental health and supporting children emotionally. She has a background in journalism, the arts and mental health.  She is presently pursuing a MA in Art therapy at Roehampton University as a part-time student.  Prior to joining Huckleberries Dale worked as an Emotional. Literacy Support Assistant and Learning Support Assistant at a local school. She has also volunteered at and worked for several charities, usually combining her passions for art and emotional well-being.  She is qualified to deliver therapeutic arts interventions, often working 1:1 with the children at Huckleberries, and continues to build her mindfulness practice, recently participating in a forest bathing retreat. 

Heather brings her wealth of expertise in primary education to her role as Nurture Group Leader.  Qualified as an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant, Level 3 Forest School Leader, and Lego therapy, Heather also draws on her long standing career as an environmental consultant, her artistic talents, and ability to seamlessly adapt to the needs of the children to deliver fun and inspiring sessions.

Heather is a passionate advocate for the natural world, outdoor learning, and children’s emotional and mental well-being. She also enjoys exploring the Surrey countryside with her family.