Meet the dedicated team

Discover the passionate individuals who bring the magic of Forest and Play to life, fostering a love for nature and learning in every child.

Tracey and Paul our Directors

Forest & Play was created from a love of nature and a belief that children learn best through real experiences. Inspired by our own family’s connection to the outdoors and our experience supporting children to thrive, we have created a safe, nurturing woodland environment where children can explore, build confidence, develop resilience, and grow at their own pace.

Our passionate team shares this vision, encouraging curiosity, independence, and a lifelong love of learning through meaningful outdoor experiences. 🌿

Becca Abery

Forest School Lead

I am a proud mum of two grown-up children and the Forest School Leader at Forest and Play.

As a qualified Montessori teacher, I have always been passionate about child-led, nature-based learning. I successfully ran my own village pre-school for 12 years before training as a Forest School Leader in 2013—a path that perfectly combined my love of early years education and the outdoors.

I am passionate about creating inspiring outdoor experiences where children can explore, develop confidence, learn new skills, and build meaningful connections with the natural world. Watching children grow into curious, capable, and confident learners is one of the most rewarding parts of my role.

I am excited to work alongside our children, families, and team to create engaging and imaginative learning opportunities within our beautiful woodland setting. I firmly believe that children thrive when they are given the freedom to explore, play, and discover at their own pace in a nurturing outdoor environment.

Louise May

Forest School Practitioner

I am a qualified Forest School Leader with over 12 years of experience working with children aged 3 to 11 years.

I have also worked as a Level 3 Early Years Practitioner for more than 18 years, which has given me a wealth of knowledge, care and creativity.

I am excited to be part of Forest and Play, creating special memories with the children in a fun-filled, imaginative, and gloriously messy child-led environment.

One of my favourite activities is nature-inspired art. I love encouraging children to use their imaginations and the natural materials around them to create their own outdoor masterpieces.

Expertise Rooted In Nature

The Forest and Play team brings a wealth of experience, training, and individual strengths, perfectly suited to leading our unique Forest School. With backgrounds in early years education, including Montessori principles and dedicated Forest School qualifications, our educators are passionate about fostering holistic development through nature-based, child-led learning.

United by the same vision, our team is committed to creating a nurturing, inspiring, and inclusive outdoor environment where children feel safe to explore, take risks, build confidence, and develop lifelong skills. We are proud of our team’s ability to encourage creativity, resilience, curiosity, and strong social connections while helping every child build a meaningful relationship with the natural world.