Speakers

Lucy Owen-Collins is an Early Years Teacher with an MA in Early Years Education and a deep passion for fostering connections between young children, the natural world, and their local community. With over 20 years of experience in environmental education, Lucy has witnessed firsthand how engagement with nature nurtures wellbeing, curiosity, and holistic development in early childhood. She believes that a strong connection to the natural world is not just beneficial but essential for children to thrive.

The belief in the power of nature and community connection inspired Lucy to open the first Bee in the Woods Kindergarten in 2018. She has since grown the initiative into two thriving outdoor nurseries, outdoor playgroups and training for Early Years professionals in Brighton & Hove.

Lucy and her team embrace child-centered, play-based learning inspired by Early Years pioneers, emphasising the importance of children developing a sense of place and belonging through meaningful interactions with their environment and community. Bee in the Woods nurtures confidence, independence, and resilience by offering children the chance to take risks, explore, and form a deeper understanding of themselves, their world, and each other.

Their work has been widely recognized: Bee in the Woods has achieved an Outstanding Ofsted rating and was honored as NW Nursery of the Year in 2022.