Who's who at Wild Sparks
Alice Warren
Wild Sparks Manager / Director Alice set up Wild Sparks in October 2013 and is currently the service manager for all Wild Sparks services. Alice previously worked as a playworker, education officer and community artist before undertaking Forest Schools training in 2009. Forest Schools and outdoor play has enabled Alice to bring all her favourite things together in one practice; children, nature, free play, creativity and a sense of adventure; no two days are ever the same. Alice was lucky enough to grow up amidst woods and farm land, surrounded by space to roam, climb, build, explore and admire, so she knows what it feels like to be a nature connected child. Alice set up Wild Sparks to support local children to get out into the incredible woodlands on their doorstep and experience the exhilarating freedom of nature-based, adventurous play. |
dMichelle Rodley
Nursery Manager I have been a school teacher for the last 12 years and have worn many hats within school settings including drama teacher, music teacher and PE teacher and especially, lover of taking learning outside! I am thrilled to be part of the Wild Sparks team now so that I can combine all of my previous experience in such a special outdoor setting. As a child, I spent hours and hours outside making dens in the woods, climbing trees, playing on bales, making igloos in the snow and playing in imaginary worlds with the dappled sun and green leaves of the trees as a backdrop. The experience of having the freedom to explore, play and learn outdoors has given me a deeper connection with nature and a supportive feeling of being part of the ‘bigger picture’. I feel passionate that all children are offered the opportunity to use their brains in a more active way by exciting their curiosity to learn rather than putting them on a ‘one path fits all’ journey. Before becoming a teacher, I trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland as an actor and had some exciting acting jobs in the theatres in Edinburgh and Glasgow. I was also part of a Cbeebies series and was in a film where I even got to see myself on the big screen in the cinema! The experiences I have had as an actor have been very conducive to working with small children. I love to encourage imaginary play and singing and most importantly, allowing the children a safe, supportive place where they can feel comfortable to lose their inhibitions and be free to explore their creativity. |
Sam Brittain Nursery practitioner Sam joins the Wee Wild Sparks nursery with a variety of experience under his belt. He has worked with different groups in outdoor settings - from young children and teenagers, to adults with mental health problems and elderly people living with Alzheimer's. This has provided further proof for Sam of what we already know: spending time outdoors, developing a deeper connection with nature and succeeding in a variety of environments is good for our well-being. It doesn't matter what age you are or what your level of "ability" is, given autonomy and the right support, we can all learn and grow in the outdoors. Having worked at the Wild Sparks play scheme at Alyth and Dunkeld for the past two years, Sam was keen to take on a permanent position at the nursery. The opportunity to work in such a supportive and positive environment - alongside the adults of tomorrow - was too good to miss! |
Nikki Edmondson Nursery practitioner I am a “local” and grew up here in the Perthshire countryside. My background is in Art & Design but have always enjoyed working with children, while accompanying my husband during his time in the British Army I volunteered in schools and nurseries here in the UK and overseas in Cyprus, Germany and Belize. I previously volunteered with Wee Wild Sparks while my daughter attended the nursery. During our time there I was able to witness first-hand the numerous benefits the outdoor nursery experience gives the children. I was delighted with the transformation in my own daughter after only a few weeks at Wild Sparks. Her confidence, resilience and sense of self had doubled and in addition to this she had developed a deep connection with and empathy towards the natural world around her. I couldn’t feel any more privileged and excited to have a permanent role within the nursery. I also do the nursery admin so you will hear lots from me by email about enrolments and other behind the scenes activity. |
Rebecca Logsdon
Nursery practitioner Rebecca 'Becs' works in our Outdoor Nursery on a Tuesday. Becs is passionate about outdoor learning, has completed her Forest Schools Level 3 training and has an MSC in environmental Resource Management. When not in the Wee Wild Sparks woods Becs is either at her other job with John Muir trust or is outside somewhere home-schooling her son! Becs is passionate about wildlife and ecology and this shines through in her practice with the children. |
Nicky Bolland
Nursery practitioner (on maternity leave from August 2020) Nicky has worked with Wild Sparks since 2014 as a playscheme leader and now has a permanent post in our nursery. Nicky has experience of working in various childcare and education settings as well as a background in arts and community work with people of all ages and backgrounds. Nicky enjoys the opportunity to foster positive relationships, facilitate creativity and inspire learning, and she believes that there's no better place to do these things than in the woods. Her passion for outdoor learning and play motivated her to complete her Forest Schools Level 3 training in 2017. Alongside her role with Wild Sparks, Nicky is a community worker, a parent and a maker. |
