Meet the Team
All the staff at Lymley Wood are passionate about giving children, young people, and familes the opportunity to be outdoors and promote learning and personal development through being in nature. Here's some of our key personnel!
Melanie Parr
Director and Founder
Mel is a qualified Youth Worker and has spent her professional career working with teenagers and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. With degrees in Environmental Science and Youth and Community Work Lymley Wood brings together these passions in an environment which can support those of all ages. With SENCo and Youth Employability experience, Mel understands what professional, parents and families need and loves seeing how being in nature transforms positively.
Kate Edwards
Forest School Leader
Kate is a qualified primary teacher and has been teaching for over 15 years. Her area of specialism is younger primary and Early Years. Since undertaking Forest School accreditation, Kate has moved from childminding into a new outdoor direction! As part of the team at Lymley Woods, Kate brings many years of experience and reflection to her role. She is passionate about meaningful & creative child-led learning outside in nature.
Lauren Matthews
Forest School Leader
Lauren has a wonderful energy that rubs off on everyone that she works with. Lauren has worked with community arts charities for the past 15 years running photography and art workshops with vulnerable communities in London. She is now leading the forest school sessions at Lymley wood. Lauren's style of teaching is holistic, child led and inspired by Rudolf Steiner and Scsikzentmihalyi flow theory where complete happiness happens when participating in a variety of activities.
Zoe Boulton
Forest School Leader
Zoe has been a Primary School teacher for twenty years and is a mother of two primary-aged boys. Her wealth of experience in education has allowed her to understand what essential values underpin the development of confident, independent, and motivated young minds. With a horticultural background and a love for the outdoors, Zoe thrives on outdoor opportunities to engage with nature, introduce and enhance practical skills as well as nurture well-being through Forest School opportunities.
Carl Jackson
Teenage Programme Facilitator
With a long history in pastoral care and youth development, Carl has joined the Lymley Wood family to facilitate our teenage programmes. Carl is passionate about nurturing and supporting vulnerable young people and has previously led residential programmes for National Citizen Service. His background also includes leading AP study courses for young people who struggle in mainstream education. He loves getting young people out of the classroom and embedded in nature, as it brings out their best! He has recently completed an introductory course in Wilderness Therapy and is a trained Careers Adviser, which makes him well equipped to support young people both during and after their time at Lymley Wood.
Carly North
Teenage Programme Facilitator
Carly has a background in carpentry, catering, youth work, and community development work. After establishing a young people’s cooking organisation, Carly provided training and work experience to young people in all aspects of food preparation and business skills, gaining valuable work experience and meaningful life skills. Carly has previously worked for Brighton and Hove food partnership, Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project, and Brighton Aldridge Community Academy. She is wonderfully placed to work with young people, families, adults with SEND. Now a qualified Bushcraft leader Carly is supporting our Out There Academy Project 'Wild Teens' where outdoor cooking is a key part of the programme.