In Our Element was launched in December 2015 by Martyn Griffiths, and has since grown in having a team of dedicated, enthusiastic and passionate professionals providing programmes across Oxfordshire and South Wales. Who all understand that high levels of anxiety brought on by difficult or confusing early experiences can be one of the highest hurdles to overcome. This can then begin a devastating spiral that can affect a young person’s life potential on many levels.

We have a wide variety of skills, experience and qualifications relating to therapeutic approaches to working with challenging behaviour; mentoring; teaching; Forest School; expedition skills; environmental education and outdoor learning.

Martyn Griffiths – Founder, Director, South Wales Regional Manager, Programme Leader

In 2008 I started working in the charitable sector, running and managing outdoor re-engagement programmes for individuals and groups. I have worked in all aspects of senior management within the Alternative Provision sector. This all helped me get to a position where I was able to set up In Our Element in 2015, with a view to focus on delivering Early Intervention Programmes in school because this area seemed to be lacking provision.

I have got a very varied background, including studying Environmental Science (BSc Hons) and Conservation and Project Administration (PGDip) at university. I’m very passionate about conservation and have helped on projects in the UK, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. I’ve been a Forest School leader since 2015 and run the Forest School CPD sessions we hold.

Ever since I was a young person, I have had a massive interest in woodland, bushcraft and primitive skills; where I continue to take part in various practical courses including a year-long Earth Living programme. I’m a keen canoeist, love canoe-based wilderness expeditions and am an endorsed British Canoeing Guide. I have extensive expedition experience leading youth expeditions to Sweden and Bulgaria. I am also an avid mountain biker and am a British Cycling Level 2 Mountain Bike Leader.

It gives me great satisfaction coming to work with the support of such a great dedicated team. All focused on delivering high quality programmes with a huge impact. It is such a joy to see and hear about the effects our programmes can have on young people who have been struggling.

I’m the Designated Safeguarding Lead, am responsible for Supervising First Aid For Mental Health (level 3) for the company and have also completed a Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). I’m also a Wilderness Therapeutic Practitioner (level 3) and Wellbeing In Nature (WIN) Practitioner (level 3).

Nicky Barnes – Southern England Regional Manager, Programme Leader

After a career in management and training I was blessed with a family which led me down a very different path while the children were young. I had always spent time outside with the kids and loved getting engaged, exploring and experimenting. Whilst I was volunteering and chairing my children’s pre-school I was introduced to Forest School. Here I was smitten and trained as a Level 3 Forest School Leader in 2016.

I joined In Our Element in 2018 and have since gained a huge amount of experience training and working with different ages, locations and with different needs and abilities.

I feel being outdoors, sharing it’s wonders and my skills with others, is not a job, but a privilege. I find experiencing children’s delight and amazement at their achievements, whilst exploring, learning, and connecting with nature is priceless and ultimately rewarding.

In 2022 the business ventured into Wales, and I stepped into my new role as Southern England Regional Manager. The best of both worlds really, being able to retain my love and passion for sharing the outside and continue to build our team from the inside.

Qualifying in 2024 as a Wilderness Therapeutic Practitioner (Level 3), I bring additional strengths to our knowledge and understanding of how to support others using what mother nature gave us.

Susie Simons, Programme Leader

My love of nature and the outdoors started at a very early age.  Some of my happiest childhood memories were making mud pies and playing with worms. 

Having been an interior designer for over ten years, I qualified as a Level-3 Forest School Leader in 2021. I am a creative person and embrace combining my love of nature with my passion for art and design.  This is reflected in the way I introduce many forest crafts from weaving with willow, whittling wood creatures or painting with blackberry juice!

I am a strong believer in child-led play, allowing children time and space to be creative, imaginative and have fun. I enjoy learning with the children and watching them grow as individuals whilst connecting with nature.

In addition to Forest School, I also run a weekly school Gardening Club where we introduce the children to growing seasonal flowers and vegetables which we harvest and eat at school. I have also been an active member of a school Eco Club where we encourage children to care for our planet and nature. Additionally, I run a forest school holiday club as an independent business, and have several years experience running forest craft workshops with adults.

Barbara Croker, Programme Leader

Since I was young, I have always had a love for nature and the environment, going for walks and spotting wildlife as well as reading books about animals.

I qualified as a Forest School leader in 2019 and having worked in education as a teaching assistant and then taken to the outdoors with children – I really saw the benefits this has for children. Being outdoors allows children to explore, to be creative, to become more resilient and importantly to connect with nature.

I love sharing my knowledge with others and also sharing in their wonder of the natural world.

Julia Proom, Programme Leader

My happiest childhood memories were playing outside in the glen and by the burn when growing up in Scotland.  Ever since the outdoors and being in the woods particularly has been my happy place.

I worked as a primary school teacher as a young adult, but came across Forest School when home educating my son who is on the autistic spectrum.  After seeing how children learn best through following their own interests and the joy they get from being in the outdoors, I decided to train as a Forest School Leader and qualified in 2019.

I think children learn best when they have autonomy and love to see them grow in confidence whilst exploring and playing in the outdoors.  I am privileged to be able to do this job and joined the IOE team in 2024.   I particularly enjoy cooking over the fire with the children and seeing them notice the changes that occur outside throughout the year.  I love watching them achieve things they didn’t think possible, especially with those who struggle in the classroom environment.

I also run Forest School sessions for my local primary school, an outdoor toddler group and outdoor parties on the local site that I manage through my own independent business.

Cat Prior-Holt, Programme Leader

I am a qualified Level 3 Forest School Leader and Therapeutic FSL, and have worked in primary schools running whole class sessions, nurture groups and 1-2-1 sessions, as well as 1-2-1 sessions with secondary age children.

My love of nature and the outdoors is life long, growing up in rural Norfolk exploring the forests and beaches. I find so much joy in sharing this with the young people I work with. It’s such an honour to see them being free and allowed to play and connect with the natural world. My background is in creative industries and I like to bring this passion for art and crafts to my sessions as well. In my spare time I am studying for a Masters in Psychology and making sure my own children get lots of time playing outside!

Kate Butcher, Wild Ways Leader

My journey began with training as a Teaching Assistant, quickly blossoming into a deeper commitment to outdoor learning when I qualified as a Forest School Leader in 2017. Since then, I have gone on to become a fully qualified teacher, bringing my love of nature and child-centred exploration into my classroom.

Now working with an Early Years Foundation Stage class, I am often found outside, guiding little hands and curious minds through experiences that spark imagination, resilience, and a genuine connection with the world around them.

Peter Farrely, Wild Ways Leader

I loved playing in the woods as a child, and now I get to do it as an adult. To me, life does not get much better than enjoying, learning and sharing skills in the outdoor environment.

I grew up spending most of my time in the woodland with friends, and as of 2022 I started taking the steps to progress my skills and qualifications with a focus on traditional woodland/woodworking skills and wellbeing. Grateful for the continued opportunity to work with and learn from so many like-minded people and organisations in the industry, honing my skills and gaining a wide range of qualifications, certifications and experience.

I have a keen interest in traditional skills and how to apply this to well-being and education in nature. I feel there is something inherently meaningful that speaks to us when we gather around a fire together. Personally, I am a keen whittler and enjoy the traditional elements of bushcraft practicing and aiming to expand my knowledge regularly.