Between Growth and Rest: A Real Update from JLS 🌿

As we step into May, I wanted to take a moment to share some important updates, reflections, and a little look ahead at what’s to come.

🌱 A Warm Welcome (and a Big Thank You)

This month, we’re excited to welcome two new Forest School Assistants – Amy and Denise – to the Journeys, Leaves & Seeds team.

They have some very big shoes to fill as they step in for our wonderful volunteers, Gary and Wendy (also known as mum and dad!), who are off on their travels across Eastern Europe.

Gary and Wendy have been at the heart of our weekly sessions for over a year, and their support, creativity, and care have helped shape what our sessions have become today. They will be hugely missed while they’re away.

I hope you’ll join me in giving Amy and Denise a very warm welcome – we’re so pleased to have you both with us.

🌼 A Busy Start to the Year

The first four months of 2026 have been full and productive. Alongside recruiting new assistants, we were proud to host our first women’s outdoor wellbeing session of the year, funded by Knowsley Council with additional support from Northern Rail.

These sessions have been thoughtfully designed following consultation with mothers of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They offer a space to slow down, connect, and take a moment for yourself.

We’ll be continuing these sessions monthly, and we’re even exploring different locations… perhaps a trip to the beach with gentle yoga and a sound bath.

If you’re interested in joining us, I’d love to hear from you.

🌳 Closing a Special Chapter

The end of April marked the close of our two-year therapeutic nature project with Growing Sudley C.I.C..

This has been such a meaningful piece of work, and I already feel the absence of our weekly Friday sessions with the two school groups – Fridays don’t quite feel the same without them.

The evaluation report is currently being finalised, and I’m looking forward to sharing the impact of this work soon.

The good news is that I’ll still be at Growing Sudley during the school holidays, leading their Outdoor Holiday Club sessions – so it’s not goodbye, just a shift.

🌿 Looking Ahead to May

May will feel a little quieter this year.

I’ll be taking some annual leave and heading off on another walking adventure along the Camino de Santiago, exploring a new route with friends and family. It was such a special experience last year, and I’m really looking forward to it.

That said, if I’m honest, stepping away is never easy. As a small C.I.C. with one active director, it brings its worries – about momentum, funding, income, and whether people might drift elsewhere.

But I also know that rest matters, and I’m hoping to find the balance between switching off and truly enjoying the experience.

📅 May Sessions

Because of this, our May sessions are reduced:

• Wednesday 7th May (adjusted due to the bank holiday)

• Monday 11th May

There will be no weekend sessions this month.

This hasn’t been an easy decision, but it’s a necessary one to ensure I can continue to deliver the quality and care that our sessions deserve.

We’ll be back with a full programme in June – and I really hope you’ll still be with us.

🍀 Funding Updates – Fingers Crossed

June will also mark the end of our National Lottery-funded weekly sessions.

I’ve submitted an application to extend this funding for another year, and I’m currently awaiting a decision. I’ve also applied to BBC Children in Need for core funding to support the sustainability and growth of our work.

If you’ve ever attended a session, supported us, or believe in what we do, please keep everything crossed for us – these decisions really matter. And please don't be afraid to share why you love coming to our sessions on social media. Funders often check these channels to review the impact we have within our community, so the more you share the more evidence we have! Thank you in advance.

🌟 Professional Updates

In other news, I’m excited to share a couple of professional developments:

• I’ll be joining Elklan as a tutor, delivering the Early Years SENDCo course over the next two years

• I’ve also been contracted to carry out Early Years quality assurance visits for a multi-site education group across the North West and South West

Both roles align closely with my school improvement work, and I’m really looking forward to supporting settings to strengthen practice and improve outcomes for children.

💚 Thank You

As always, thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you attend sessions, share posts, recommend us, or simply follow along – your support means everything.

Here’s to a slightly slower May… and a strong return in June.

Jenny 🌿

Journeys, Leaves & Seeds C.I.C.