WINNER
The Art of Nature Connection by Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan is a mother of three and a holistic eco therapist, based in rural East Kent. She can often be found out in nature running groups and retreats or giving holistic treatments to her clients. She may also be found barefoot in her garden talking to her quails or watching the bats! Follow Sarah on Instagram @rewild_your_soul. Read her winning piece about the Art of Nature Connection in our Dec/Jan 2025 edition, published on 22nd November. Pre-order your copy here - link.thegreenparent.co.uk/buy122.
HIGHLY COMMENDED ENTRIES
A Harvest Moon Adventure by Beccy Veel
Beccy Veel lives in Hampshire with her partner and two daughters, who are home educated. The family enjoy spending time in nature and being part of a vibrant and supportive home education community. She won Highly Commended for her magical article about an adventure to the coast to watch the harvest moon. Read more here.
Why We Saved an Orchard by Lisa Costley
Lisa Costley lives sustainably(ish) in Wiltshire with her family and son who has Down Syndrome. She is passionate about veg growing, parenting, apples and wild meadows. She is a Family Support Consultant for Contact: the charity for families with disabled children. Follow her on Instagram at @lisa.costley and X at @lisa_costley. Lisa received Highly Commended for her evocative piece of writing on how she saved an orchard with her family. Read her work on our website on 23rd October.
Staying Enchanted by Maria Rogers
Maria Rogers is an award-winning musical storyteller of Russian heritage and a mother of two (aged 3 years, and 4 months), living near Windsor. She created the 'Inside A Fairytale' project, offering enchanting fantasy-themed stories, meditations, and music, all available for free. Discover more at insideafairytale.co.uk or follow on Instagram @insideafairytale. Read her Highly Commended piece about how to cultivate a sense of wonder in childhood, which will be published on our website on 27th October.
Wellbeing in Nature by Lindsay Murray
Lindsay Murray is a wellbeing facilitator, working with families and children in a range of ways and teaching them tools to help them to nurture, empower and connect in order to lead a calmer, happier life. Follow her on Instagram @riseandshinewellbeing.ni. Read her Highly Commended article on nature connection on 30th October.
Impermanence of Parenting by Emma Foley
Find yourself mourning the constant change of your children's childhoods? Emma Foley addressed this in her Highly Commended piece about how to parent with impermanence in mind. It will be published on 3rd November. Emma lives in the North of England with her husband and two young sons. She writes, answers a switchboard and volunteers at her local Buddhist Centre.As well as being featured in literary and parenting magazines, Emma has written a children's picture book and is actively seeking representation.
Raising Children in The Garden by Hadleigh Burch
Hadleigh Burch is the face behind A Little Wild Farm, a family run homestead on 160 acres of field and forest in Alberta, Canada. Along with her husband and two daughters, Hadleigh is focused on creating a simpler and more sustainable way of life for her family. From gardening to baking, sewing to knitting, writing and photography, she shares a look into her family's daily life on their farm raising pigs, chickens and keeping honey bees on Instagram @alittlewildfarm. Read Hadleigh's Highly Commended entry on 6th November.
Let Nature be Thy Guide by Kirsty Meese
Kirsty Meese lives with her partner, daughter, two step sons, their dog Shadow and eight happy hens, in a small rural village near Leeds. Her connection with nature has been strengthened through her journey into motherhood and vice versa. You can share in her experiences through her writing and photography @instagram.com/heartsandbramble. Read Kirsty's article about how spending time in nature can help us reconnect to ourselves on 13th November.
Travelling the World as a Family by Laura Helen
Laura Helen is a CEO and creative coach, leading a world-traveling family who embrace a nomadic lifestyle. She empowers individuals to discover their purpose and unlock true happiness through coaching, books, and creative adventures. The whole family are authors, sharing their unique journey to inspire others to live life on their own terms. Find her at foreverfamilyforeverfree.com or on Instagram at @foreverfamilyforeverfree. Read Laura's Highly Commended entry about world travel, which will be published on 20th November.
Why We World School by Jennifer Robertson
Jennifer M.S. Robertson is a Polish-American wife, mother and 17-year expatriate and immigrant who has lived in seven countries. She is a trained raw foods chef and holds both Master's and Ph.D. degrees in fisheries science. Check out her recipes and tips for healthy eating around the world at therawexpat.com. She won Highly Commended for her article on world schooling and why she chose an alternative education for her son. Her story, which won Highly Commended will be published on 27h November.
Raising Teenagers to Thrive by Nettie Gallagher
Nettie Gallagher has been home educating her 5 children since they were tiny, with her eldest now at university. She strives to give her children a childhood where good books, play, time together as a family and time in nature are all valued. She's passionate about home education and helping other home educating families. You can follow her on Instagram at instagram.com/ontheblossomtrail where you can also find links to her home education blog and home education printable resources store. Read Nettie's Highly Commended entry on how to raise thriving teens, which will be published here on 4th December.
Respectful Parenting by Filiz Taylan Yuzak
Filiz Taylan Yusak is an experienced content creator and social media specialist who loves to write about culture, music, food & drink, parenthood, and nature. She lives in Hampshire with her husband and 6 year old child. Find her on Linked In or Instagram. Read Filiz' Highly Commended article on why choosing respectful parenting lights up her world on 11th December.
