Natural Answer

Natural Answer Holistic Wellbeing for people and animals. Flower and other essences, Equine Facilitated Interactions

It was a pleasure to spend four days with these lovely ladies as host and co facilitator with Michaela Flurry to deliver...
14/04/2026

It was a pleasure to spend four days with these lovely ladies as host and co facilitator with Michaela Flurry to deliver this externally accredited Athena Level 2 Foundation Certificate Course. We were blessed with nice weather for our outside work with the horses, all of whom were wonderful with their feedback and way of being, enabling some amazing insights and learning for each participant in both client and facilitator role. Our Walnut Barn served as a great space for the topic delivery, reflections and lunches and one learner stayed on site in our Ryeland hut. It’s great to have been able to host this course at Oaksbrook Retreat.

Thank you Jennifer Geach and Graeme Green for all your support and entrusting myself and Michaela to deliver this wonderful foundation course in Equine Facilitated Services.

A big thank you also to our two wonderful volunteers Gill Leach and Caitlin Ross who worked hard behind the scenes, your efforts were much appreciated and helped enable the smooth running of the course.

We are so proud and grateful to continue to be busy supporting people from far and wide with their journeys into

🎉 we recently celebrated this group of ladies completion of the externally accredited Athena Level 2 Foundation Certificate in Equine Assisted Services in Essex hosted at Natural Answer and delivered by Jane Gilbey and Michaela Flury.

06/04/2026

🌍 From 🦘Australia to Essex… this is what global practice looks like.

This April, the Athena Foundation Certificate in Equine Assisted Services lands in Essex — and it’s bringing together practitioners not just from across the UK… but from as far as Australia.

📍 Essex, UK
📅 9–12 April (inclusive)

This isn’t just a course. It’s a coming together of professionals committed to doing this work properly — with structure, ethics, and real-world application at its core.

✔ Trauma-informed, client-led approach
✔ Delivered by active practitioners
✔ Designed to support progression into recognised professional practice
✔ Part of a wider regulated framework — not a standalone model

When people are willing to travel across the world to be in the room… it tells you something.

Standards matter. Community matters. Doing this work well matters.

If you’re joining us — we can’t wait to welcome you.
If you’re watching this space — now is the time to step forward.

🌐 athenaherd.org

Join me for an Introduction to Essences workshop. Save the date. 31st May. Experiential workshop, come and learn how flo...
06/04/2026

Join me for an Introduction to Essences workshop. Save the date. 31st May.
Experiential workshop, come and learn how flower, gem and environmental essences can help support us through life’s ups and downs. Learn about their origin and how they are made. Explore plant consciousness, connect with the trees and flowers on our plant connection walk. Make up your own bottle to take away and try.
With Jane Gilbey Essence Producer and Practitioner. 🌸

06/04/2026

The barn is all set up ready to welcome 5 lovely ladies later this week for the Level Athena Foundation Certificate in Equine Assisted Services. This externally accredited qualification serves as both an excellent standalone introduction and the essential prerequisite for advancing to the Level 4 and Level 5 Diploma programmes.

Excited to be Co Facilitating this four day course with my colleague Michaela Flurry.

Upcoming workshop for this Spring. A day of relaxation, reflection, nature connections and creativity.
06/04/2026

Upcoming workshop for this Spring. A day of relaxation, reflection, nature connections and creativity.

Easter blessings to all.
05/04/2026

Easter blessings to all.

Our memorial grove for the animals.
05/04/2026

Our memorial grove for the animals.

Some weeks ago after the Winter Solstice I was sitting on one of the little Oak seats that my husband made, in the peace...
04/04/2026

Some weeks ago after the Winter Solstice I was sitting on one of the little Oak seats that my husband made, in the peaceful, healing space beneath a pyramid frame made of felled pine trunks that he had also put up several years ago because he thought I’d like it. I was just sitting reflecting in stillness, feeling centred and peaceful when I felt strongly that this place some of us know as the portal wanted to be recognised now, to be named to be seen and acknowledged.

I felt the lovely Silver Birch who resides over the space needed to be included and so after looking up what the name for Silver Birch was in the Ogam the name Beith Portal settled in my mind, the lady of the woods. I often find difficulty eloquently expressing in words and poetry was never my strong point so I’m convinced a nice poetic verse was channelled to me as the words flowed effortlessly and the finished result actually sounded quite good. The plaques arrived and once again my Steve has done them justice with these lovely big, Cherry tree log slices, sanded and stained with the plaques mounted on them. A truly magical spot where essences have been birthed through ceremony under the Sun or Moon and Stars, where groups have gathered with drums and rattles, love, healing and prayer have been sent to out to Mother Earth, to situations, people and places.

These are the words on the plaque:

Beith Portal

Beneath you birch with silver bark
And leaves that whisper in the breeze
Mother Earth, Father Sky,
Where both shall meet
The Horse Dragons hooves shall beat
Here you find a space of peace, renewal and rebirth
By the Lady of the Woods

Flowers speak a language your Soul understands. Living flower essence pharmacy’s, co creating with nature. It’s been an ...
30/03/2026

Flowers speak a language your Soul understands. Living flower essence pharmacy’s, co creating with nature. It’s been an inspiring weekend with some fascinating presentations and talks at this year’s BFVEA annual gathering. A time to catch up with fellow Essence producers and practitioners and meet new people interested in essences.

28/03/2026

Lovely afternoon at the beautiful Chalice Well Gardens.

28/03/2026
Foundation Certificate In Equine Assisted (IACP CPD Approved, ACCPH externally accredited)Are you?in a “people supportin...
10/01/2026

Foundation Certificate In Equine Assisted (IACP CPD Approved, ACCPH externally accredited)

Are you?

in a “people supporting” profession such as mental health professional/practitioner, coaching, counselling or therapy; or
someone who is already working with horses (riding instructor for example) who is in interested in working in this field; or
just interested in developing more connected and meaningful equine interactions; or
curious to explore why a focus on horse wellbeing represents an important foundation for equine supported learning; or
looking to learn the business skills required to establish and develop a professional practice; or
looking for personal growth supported by an existing community with a wealth of collective experience;
This Level 2 Foundation Certificate also serves as the first part to the externally accredited Level 4 and Level 5 Diplomas in Equine Assisted Services.

I’m excited be part of the Athena training team to be Co Facilitating this Level 2 certificate with my colleague Michaela and hosting the course at Oaksbrook Retreat in April this year. The training takes place over 4 days in the comfortable Walnut barn overlooking the orchard, a tranquil space for you to immerse yourself in this wonderful modality. My horses and ponies will be an integral part of your learning and journey.

You can see our profiles here:

Jane. https://athenaherd.org/learning/training-team
Michaela. https://athenaherd.org/learning/training-team

Event Details Start Date 09 April 2026 at 09:00 (BST) End Date 12 April 2026 at 17:00 (BST) Cost (GBP) £ 1899 Course Type Level 2 Certificate Event Description Foundation Certificate In Equine Assisted (IACP CPD Approved, ACCPH externally accredited)Are you?in a “people supporting” profession....

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Healing for Animals and People with the help of Nature

All my life I have been drawn to nature, animals and the great outdoors. I have been lucky enough to have pets since I was a child and my journey with horses started as soon as I got my first job and was able to save up for my first horse. Throughout my early career I was drawn to working with animals or at least in the very beginning taking any job that would fit in around my passion for caring for my animal charges. My early jobs included stable groom then yard manager. I then had a ten year spell working as a veterinary assistant and eventually local branch manager at Shoebury Veterinary Surgery, part of the Earls Hall Group. I was lucky enough to train as a Bach Flower Animal Practitioner during that time and that course ignited my desire to go on a journey of self development and study Flower Essences. I consumed so many courses over the years that I am now registered as an Advanced Member of the BFVEA for Flower and Vibrational Essences. Working with essences became my core modality and I now also produce my own range with the help of my animals.

I have always been drawn to holistic and alternative therapies for myself and my pets, but my time spent at the Vets has given me a grounded perspective and aware of the importance of combining allopathic as well as alternative medicine as well as practical species appropriate care and nutrition and kind training methods.

I love to help people too. Helping create better understanding and relationships for people with their horses, dogs and cats, but also helping people unleash their potential, release limiting self sabotaging beliefs and helping them gain confidence, better boundaries and self worth, finding a re connection to the natural world and themselves with the help of my beautiful animals and the tranquil out door space at my home Brook Farm.

I am able to work with clients on a one to one basis. Ideally in person so that individuals can immerse themselves in nature in a safe, caring environment where they can connect into the deepest part of themselves which is often mirrored by the horses. Clients can chose from a combination of holistic therapies and support packages that can make a truly bespoke and integrated therapy service. I can also offer consultations on line. I can draw on my knowledge across a whole range of holistic modalities.