23/08/2026
It wasnāt always like this āļø
For years, I thought I could change the education system from my dream teaching job, in my dream school.
I cared deeply. I pushed myself. I pushed the boundaries. I questioned myself, my colleagues and the schoolā¦ trying to do things differently for the children and teachers.
And eventually, things became very difficult. I was stood down from my teaching position while an independent investigation took place.
Yes, seriously.
I had to defend my work, my character and prove that the allegations made against me were not true. Ultimately, I did. I was offered my position back.
But I had changed.
During those months away from school, I volunteered at a Bush School.
I watched children deeply engaged. Curious. Connected. Free. Moving their bodies. Solving problems together. Making noise. Playing. Learning from each other and the natural world around them.
I was lit up.
I remember thinking:
This is what Iāve been dreaming about!
And suddenly, I realised maybe I didnāt need to go back into the four walls.
So I stepped out.
The Bush School I had volunteered at eventually became mine. I took over Acacia Bush Pods and began the process of turning it into what would become Bush Pods Nature School.
I moved the programs closer to home and lost almost all of the families.
I got the wrong insurance.
I wasnāt charging enough.
So many parts of running a business didnāt make sense to me.
But so many things did.
Being together in nature, did.
Making popcorn on the fire, did.
Walking and talking and following animal tracks, did.
Standing in the sunshine, smiling in awe after a rain shower, did.
Celebrating finding a tiny donkey tail orchid, did.
Watching a child trust themselves and beam for hours, did.
Having time to give 1:1 attention to a child who needed it, did.
Coming home after a windy, wet day, full of joy, did.
And finally, it started to click.
For the first time in my life, I felt fully me.
And that was just the beginning.
Since then, Iāve been able to take all of these experiences in nature with children and build a sustainable business around the work I love and brings me joy every day.
