Event coordination team
Padraig Hayes
I'm Paddy, and I've been involved in environmental education for about 6 years now. I currently work at 2 amazing urban nature spaces, Creekside Discovery Centre in Deptford and Barnes Common in Barnes. My first experience in this sector was volunteering to support outdoor learning activities in 2019, and since then I've been lucky enough to find purpose and community in the environmental sector.
I'm Paddy, and I've been involved in environmental education for about 6 years now. I currently work at 2 amazing urban nature spaces, Creekside Discovery Centre in Deptford and Barnes Common in Barnes. My first experience in this sector was volunteering to support outdoor learning activities in 2019, and since then I've been lucky enough to find purpose and community in the environmental sector.
Victor Heng
I’ve been working in outdoor and environmental education for more than 10 years. Outdoors at the London Wetland Centre and more indoors at the Natural History Museum. I’m also a wildlife and plant photography enthusiast, and can often be found taking photos of tiny things in grass and shrubs to record on iNaturalist. Otherwise I can also often be found playing video games where I enjoy RPGs, and farming and colony management sims.
I’ve been working in outdoor and environmental education for more than 10 years. Outdoors at the London Wetland Centre and more indoors at the Natural History Museum. I’m also a wildlife and plant photography enthusiast, and can often be found taking photos of tiny things in grass and shrubs to record on iNaturalist. Otherwise I can also often be found playing video games where I enjoy RPGs, and farming and colony management sims.
Maria Sprostranova
I’m Maria, I retrained into Education shortly after becoming a Mum in 2008. Following a PGCE Primary in 2010 and a placement in a school which was practicing Forest School, I very quickly witnessed first-hand the magic of taking the learning outdoors! In an attempt to replicate my own childhood back home in Bulgaria – I ventured down the Forest School path, set up the 1st Forest School Training in Richmond/Kingston in 2013 for my mentor Patrick Harrison and have not looked back since. In my 15th year of nature connection for all – I founded GreenWise People work with young ones and elders from 0-92yrs in all capacities of nature connection – bridging and birthing communities through workshops and trainings.
I’m Maria, I retrained into Education shortly after becoming a Mum in 2008. Following a PGCE Primary in 2010 and a placement in a school which was practicing Forest School, I very quickly witnessed first-hand the magic of taking the learning outdoors! In an attempt to replicate my own childhood back home in Bulgaria – I ventured down the Forest School path, set up the 1st Forest School Training in Richmond/Kingston in 2013 for my mentor Patrick Harrison and have not looked back since. In my 15th year of nature connection for all – I founded GreenWise People work with young ones and elders from 0-92yrs in all capacities of nature connection – bridging and birthing communities through workshops and trainings.
Nick White
I’ve worked in outdoor education for just three years, after 25 years as a schoolteacher, mainly in SEND schools. I spent a brief but happy time at the London Wildlife Trust before taking on my current job as the Learning Officer for Youth at the City of London’s natural environment division. I work with 13-25 year-olds at Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest and West Ham Park, focusing on wellbeing, nature connection, confidence and career skills. I founded the LEEF reading group in 2024 to help us all share and build on our knowledge and skills. As a relative newcomer to the sector, I’m not afraid of asking silly questions…
I’ve worked in outdoor education for just three years, after 25 years as a schoolteacher, mainly in SEND schools. I spent a brief but happy time at the London Wildlife Trust before taking on my current job as the Learning Officer for Youth at the City of London’s natural environment division. I work with 13-25 year-olds at Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest and West Ham Park, focusing on wellbeing, nature connection, confidence and career skills. I founded the LEEF reading group in 2024 to help us all share and build on our knowledge and skills. As a relative newcomer to the sector, I’m not afraid of asking silly questions…
