Leading in Nature

12/11/2025

It's been an unforgettably stunning autumn here in North Wales - Gogledd Cymru - and I'm grateful for the many opportunities I've had to get out and enjoy it. I hope you have too!

Here are a few of my favourite nature appreciation moments from the past few weeks. Have you got a favourite to share too?

In heartfelt gratitude to Earth, nature, family, friends and to all of you 💚

11/11/2025

Breaking news! My next CPD course, Bringing Nature Connection into Outdoor Leadership, will now take place at the Tyn-y-Coed Hotel in Capel Curig. This lovely venue gives us quick access to lovely woodland areas and a meadow for our lunch break, and I'm so excited that we'll be meeting there 🤩

If you're attending, you'll get an email from me shortly with full details 👍

If you're not signed up yet - there are only 3 places left so now's the time: https://fb.me/e/bGF6W0EOJ

08/11/2025

Brilliant CPD day learning about the Carneddau from neolithic times to the recent past. Diolch Mike and Sean!

07/11/2025

Talk about timing - as of this week, my office is now in the Cydweithfa co-working space. And it's amazing! The photos do it justice but what's really great is the incredible sense of community here, not to mention the vegan lunch club 😍

07/11/2025

Still reflecting on the valuable CPD course I did recently with Natural Academy on trauma-informed practice, so I thought I’d share a bit more with you.

A key point that resonated with me is that we aren't just dealing with personal histories. We all carry collective trauma, from the stress of cultural disconnection to the genuine grief of ecological separation. Disconnection from nature is, in itself, traumatising us 💔

If separation is the wound, then re-connection is the medicine. Finding our way back to nature is a vital part of individual and collective trauma recovery.

Reflecting on the scale of collective trauma reinforces the significance of work focused on intentional connection. This is why the practical skills we cover in my course, Bringing Nature Connection into Outdoor Leadership, are so effective. We can all integrate simple, short and yet intentional actions to create a moment of connection during a day in the hills or a canoeing trip.

This photo, for instance, represents a beautiful micro-moment of nature connection I enjoyed in 2023, on a foggy and soggy day going up Tryfan.

By helping others reconnect in these simple ways, we contribute directly to the dual healing of both the person and the planet 💚

05/11/2025

Just completed some great CPD on the nature of trauma with Natural Academy! Thank you Rhonda for leading such a reflective and insighful session 🙏

One of my biggest takeaways? Really cementing the fact that our trauma response is rooted in a primal, protective system. It's fundamentally about keeping us safe – which, honestly, gave me much more compassion for my own past experiences and current coping mechanisms.

If you see yourself acting in a way that feels 'less than optimal' – but it’s clearly coming from a place of protection – please, be gentle with yourself 🤗

This also ties directly into something I cover in my course, Practical Mental Health Skills for Outdoor Leaders - the fact that a history of trauma diminishes our ability to regulate our emotions. Natural Academy’s training frames it in a wider context: trauma literally alters brain function, heightens the stress response, and manifests physically as pain, tension, and fatigue.

Definitely food for thought about how we support both ourselves and those we lead in the outdoors.

04/11/2025

Up for a fun fungus quiz? Share your score! And be honest, how many were lucky guesses? 😂

I'll share mine later on in the comments 😅

Do you know Stinkhorns from Puffballs? Test your knowledge with our ID quiz and see how highly you score.

03/11/2025

I've been busy putting up posters for my next Bringing Nature Connection into Outdoor Leadership course. Do you like the poster? The pic is from the October course at Yr Hafod 😊

When: Saturday 29th November, 9.30 to 5.00
Where: Eryri Basecamp Loft at Alpkit, Betws-y-Coed, LL24 0BW (may possibly move to Capel Curig)
Cost: £50
CPD: 1 CPD credit for Mountain Training Association (MTA) and Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) members, and 1 Peripheral CPD credit for British Association of International Mountain Leaders (BAIML) members.

Want to come along? Here's all the deets: https://leadinginnature.co.uk/event/nature-connection-cpd-nov2025/

I'd love to see you there 🤩

02/11/2025

This looks like a great course - I'm signing up for it right away! Bonus points to the course provider for calling it Baby It’s Cold Outside 😂😍

Thanks Tony Lowe Mountaineering for putting me on to this 🙏

➡️ Details and booking: https://bicorescue.com/product/bico-cold-weather-safety-training/

Photo from last winter just for entertainment value 😁👍

31/10/2025

Field Notes: I recently found a great podcast that demystifies brain science! For instance, did you know that only 10 minutes of exercise is enough to give your brain a "bubble bath" of happiness? It releases neurochemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins - and these instantly improve your mood and reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. Nice, eh? 🤩

Better yet, regular movement releases growth factors that strengthen two key brain areas: the hippocampus (critical for navigation and long-term memory) and the prefrontal cortex (important for focus and attention). This means regular, small bouts of exercise can have lasting benefits for brain health. Are you as fascinated by this as I am?

Come to my Practical Mental Health Skills for Outdoor Leaders course to geek out some more on brain science, and learn how this knowledge helps you support participants when they're not doing so well.
🗓️ Next date: 30th November in Betws-y-Coed, North Wales (see my Events)

➡️ Listen to the full episode: Link in comments

29/10/2025

Cracking day on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) with Walk Snowdonia and a brilliant group of Scouts.
We enjoyed watching sheep being rounded up as we ascended, which sparked lots of interest and questions among the young people I was with. I loved that ten of them hadn't been on a mountain before and all summited in good spirits. I loved that they were eager to find out what clouds taste like 🌥️

The light on the mountains was stunning, sparkling on the Irish Sea and, on our way down, reflecting in thousands of rivulets.

Thanks to everyone involved - Tom from Walk Snowdonia, fellow guides Nick and Jess, the Scout Leaders, the Scouts and Explorers who showed such appreciation for and interest in their surroundings. It's been a truly special day ⛰️💨