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Urban Forest Tribe CIC brings together diverse skill sets, creating a unique and dynamic team. Our growing relationships with fellow nature connection colleagues and the local and wider community make us an awesome force for positive change.
Paula Harvey - Founder
Hi, I'm Paula, I've been in childcare for over 14 years, most of which in early years education at a local children's centre and primary school. During this time, I completed a level 3 advanced Forest School leaders' course whilst at the Children's Centre, this enabled me to become the forest school lead. The team and I delivered fun and educational forest school sessions to a small group of children and introduced family sessions, these sessions proved to be successful. The idea for setting up Urban Forest - now Urban Forest Tribe CIC came from these families and their children; their feedback was extremely positive and gave me the foundation to make Urban Forest possible in 2019. I have a strong passion for working with children and adults, the great outdoors, and supporting the next generation to develop a keen interest in the natural world. I've seen first-hand the many benefits working outdoors gives children and adults of all abilities and needs.
Since going freelance in September 2021 and Urban Forest Tribe becoming a Community Interest Company in 2022, I have taken the opportunity to collaborate and work alongside other outdoor facilitators, rangers, schools, organisations, charities, and professionals whom all share the same vision of helping make the world we live in a greener, healthier, and wilder place.
I am is also a London National Park City Ranger.
Charlotte Pearson - Director
I’ve been a qualified teacher for over 20 years, committed to creating stimulating learning environments which prioritise play, creativity, and storytelling. I’m also a Forest School leader and really enjoy providing a safe and nurturing space where learners can freely explore, take risks, be curious, and learn more about the natural world. It’s a wonderful feeling to see someone’s confidence, well-being, and self-esteem grow when they are given these opportunities to really slow down and take time to discover what interests them in the natural world. I have a great deal of experience working with children with a wide range of learning styles and needs, having taught in specialist SEND schools as well as mainstream settings.
Gemma Bruno - Director
Hey, I'm Gemma and I'm thrilled to be part of this awesome team! As a trainee forest school leader, I help Paula with teaching kids about nature and how to connect with it on a deeper level. I'm also a neurodiverse conservationist with a creative perspective on environmental protection. I'm all about promoting inclusivity and diversity in our conservation efforts, and I believe that my perspective helps us achieve that goal.
On top of all that, I'm a digital ninja and I love finding ways to use technology to make our work even better and connect with other nature lovers. I'm excited to be taking on new challenges and making a positive impact on the world.
I am also a London National Park City Ranger.
Mike Green - Director
Hi, I'm Mike, I founded the London Fungus Network in 2020 to connect people with the urban Fungal Kingdom. I lead fungus forays, workshops, and collaborations with artists, cultivating a community that empowers people to experience nature and fungi in a new way. Paula and I have worked together over the last few years and brought our love for nature through different projects including Shroom Sunday, an annual event for all things fungi. I'm also a London National Park city ranger alongside Paula and Gemma, an initiative working to make the city a greener, wilder, and healthier place.
Vanessa Lee
Hi. I have worked as a Geography teacher and leader for 17 years, although my actual involvement with young people began almost 30 years ago! I have a passion for the outdoors and made it part of my curriculum to take young people away on residentials so that they get to experience some of the different landscapes, habitats, and environments that make up our earth. Through teaching about the world, the UK, and through trips and Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions, my belief in the importance and the power of connecting with the outdoors has grown. This led me to start my Forest School Leader training, which meant that I could then volunteer some of my time to Forest School provision at my school. I decided to take time out from mainstream education at the end of August 2022 and was lucky enough to be put in touch with Paula from Urban Forest Tribe CIC and I have been working with Urban Forest Tribe since October 2022. Whilst the age range of the children has been different from my most recent experience, the power of connecting with nature has never been more evident. I love being out in all seasons and watching the young people notice this change and engage with it has been inspiring! I have now also recently become a National Park City Ranger and look forward to more collaborations.
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