For most of our evolution, humans have lived in sync with nature. Our nervous systems are hard-wired to respond to stimuli received from the natural world. Faced with the over-stimulation of our modern world, our senses have become dulled and our sense of wellbeing affected. This day for adults offers core nature connection practices to restore wellbeing and deepen relationship to the natural world. We will awaken our senses and remember our kinship with the more than human world. This workshop can be a stand alone day course, and leads well into the following day on the 22nd of May. Who is this course suitable for? This course is suitable for beginners and the more experienced. The course will cover: -Learn practices that will support your sense of belonging and connection to the natural world. Through our senses we develop presence and awareness which calms the mind and opens us to the magic that we are surrounded by. -Learn about the language of the birds and how they signal who is moving in the forest, how they are the messengers of that which we cannot see. This indigenous knowledge is deeply integrated connective cultures throughout the world. -Create an opportunity to open to the plants and trees, as we discover their healing presence and explore their gifts of food and medicine as we walk together as our ancestors have done for millennia. -Learn through games and activity, story and song. This will offer nourishing practice for all who wish to deepen their relationship with the land. -Expand your skill set to include 8 shields based nature connection practices that Forest School practitioners and Nature mentors can share with others. -Take away practices that will restore wellbeing and provide stress relieving resilience techniques. About the Tutors: *Anna Richardson Anna has been a nature mentor and trained forest school leader for over 20 years, working with children of all ages and mentoring adults in plant lore, foraging, nature connection and bushcraft. The 8 Shields deeply informs Anna’s work and approach. She is passionate about connecting to nature through creativity and reverence for life and is also a forest school trainer through Circle of Life Rediscovery and has co-authored two books : Learning with Nature and The Children’s Forest and am the founder of the Children’s Forest. *Jack Durtnall Jack is an accomplished musician and music teacher. He is also an experienced nature mentor and trained forest school leader.