Board of Trustees

 Having lived in London for 20 years, I felt the call of the hills and returned home to Wales with my magical, neurodivergent family. I identify as autistic. Growing up, the places I was most myself were the woods and the theatre. In the woods, anything goes. The theatre is this too- pretend, so you can't get it wrong. I trained in acting at Drama Centre London and spent 10 years as an actor. I have since changed art for science retraining in speech and language therapy, but I am still unpicking and living the mystery that is communication and recognise that this has all been part of understanding my autistic brain. I am a highly specialist speech and language therapist and do ad-hoc/ contract sessions for Talk to the Trees as well as working in the NHS heading up a diagnostic team working with neurodivergent children and their families. I love the sacred space that is the log circle in forest school. Around the fire everyone is shoulder to shoulder, but the fire is the event: a shared experience where communication is a (planned) accident.

Dan was born in a village surrounded by one of the largest forests in the UK. The freedom the forest gave him moulded his character, giving him a deep understanding of nature, a sense of adventure and a love of stories and folklore. His life and career have always been led by these formative experiences. As a stand up, his original thinking had him perform at the Apollo, on TV and Radio and support other original thinkers such as Ross Noble and Eddie Izzard. As an educator in the National Museum of Wales,  he uses his storytelling skills to inspire children adults on natural sciences, dinosaurs, bugs and art. Having studied Theatre Design in his youth, he recently went back to uni as a mature student, doing a BA in Creative writing and Drama, an MA in Creative Writing and is currently studying towards a PhD in Scriptwriting exploring Welsh Fairytales and Folklore. His first radio drama Tectonic, about epilepsy and mythology,  was recently broadcast on Radio 4. Having been late diagnosed with adhd, he personally understands the need for alternative forms of education.

I have lived in Bannau Brycheiniog my whole life and and never tire of the beauty and power of our local landscape and the nature we’re surrounded by. I am the proud Mum of three wonderful children, two of whom are moderately deaf. Speech & Language therapy has been invaluable to our family - and the ‘Talk To The Trees’ approach is refreshing and inspiring. I have a BA (Hons) degree in English Literature and History, and my professional background is in Child Development and Education. I now work as a Director of a Limited Company and I’m challenging myself by studying for qualifications in Accountancy. In my spare (!) time my passions are reading, attending gigs and theatre visits. I am also a huge animal lover (especially dogs and horses).

 I live in Talgarth with my family and have done so for around 8 years since moving from London. Tara has been instrumental in the wonderful journey with our son Rudy. I am an architect with a wide range of experience as the director of public, private and charitable organisations. Previously I was Founding Director of Pie architecture, urban design ltd. and urban design advisor to the Mayor of London within the Greater London Authority (GLA). I was the Creative Director of PLACE, the Built Environment Centre for Northern Ireland, where I developed and directed a diverse programme of cultural, educational, arts and architecture activities. During this time I was also a Trustee of the Cathedral Quarter Trust, an organisation that developed a programme of heritage, cultural and arts events for the Cathedral Quarter area in Belfast. I am currently a senior lecturer in architecture at Cardiff University, where I lead a design unit focusing on the intersection between architecture and neurodivergence. 

I’m originally from Bristol, we moved to Powys following the birth of my second child, who was born with complex cardiac needs, and felt a strong call towards a greener, calmer way of living. I am AuDHD, and my partner and both children are also neurodivergent. Our second child received invaluable support from Tara, which helped pave the way towards his autism diagnosis and was truly life‑changing for our family.

I am a Social Worker, with the majority of my experience rooted in adult safeguarding work, though for the past six years I have focused on supporting children with mental health needs. I have a deep passion for nature and recently completed my Forest School Leader training. I feel incredibly fortunate to bring nature‑based, therapeutic approaches into my current role, weaving together my two greatest passions: supporting people and connecting with the natural world.

My happiest moments are spent outdoors, immersing myself in the sensory richness of nature, the smell of wild garlic, freshly cut cherry wood for whittling, and the pith of elder are some of my favourites. Alongside this, I love music, crocheting, and getting lost in a good historical fiction novel.

I live in Brecon and became inspired by the brilliant work of Talk to the Trees through my two neurodivergent children, Mabon and Indi. Both have benefited from the wonderful support from Talk to the Trees, and love it when that involves campfire popcorn! 

I have spent nearly 20 years as a Business Strategist, Research leader and Communications professional within Energy and Financial Services, and educated to degree level in both Marketing and Environmental Science.  I’ve recently been pursuing my passion for Arts and Heritage, currently working at Amgueddfa Cymru [Museum Wales], where I lead on work to better understand and evaluate social impact.  A fluent Welsh speaker, keen musician and outdoor enthusiast. I am passionate about the benefits nature brings. When not working or at home you might spot me roaming the hills of Bannau Brycheiniog.

From Bristol originally, I now live in Brecon with my young daughter. 

I am a communications professional working in the public sector with over 20 years experience of marketing and communication. 

I have a great interest in trying new things and in problem solving. 

I love the outdoors and leapt at the chance to be involved with this amazing social enterprise. The work that Talk to the Trees does is so so empowering and it is fantastic to see the way young people respond.

I am from Las Vegas and now live in Powys with my wife Aimee and nine year old daughter. We are also foster parents to two teenagers. We are a proudly neurodivergent (yes all of us!) family and advocating for neurodiversity affirming practice is a special interest of mine. I love animals and insects of all kinds! I am a highly specialist speech and language therapist, therapeutic forest school leader, and previously an SEN/ALN teacher. I previously worked for the NHS but now do contract/sessional work for Talk to the Trees and support as the clinical lead. I am passionate about child led learning, play and fostering authentic experiences to support speech, language and communication- I love how the outdoors makes this happen! 

I live in Long Beach, NY - a barrier island just east of New York City. I’ve seen dolphins and humpback whales from our boardwalk.    I love to walk on the boardwalk and beach in all seasons, listening to the ocean – my special place for thought and reflection.  

I recently retired as executive director of Long Island Children’s Museum, where I oversaw the development of an outdoor exhibition “Our Backyard,” certified as a “Nature Explore Classroom.”   I loved to sit outside and watch children interact with the environment there-plants, water, wind, sound and sand, a vegetable and a pollinating garden, with poetry interlaced throughout. When there, I witnessed the impact of the out of doors on children of all ages and abilities.