Who are we?

We are friends who love the outdoors.
We are nature lovers and sustainable thinkers!

We decided to pool our skills and interests to set up a community interest company based in Rutland to work with local people in our treasured local environment.

Since our beginnings in 2016, we have successfully gained funding for various community and educational projects with children, young people, families and adults of all ages and abilities.

In 2021 we asked Clare to join us as a director. She, too, shared a love of the outdoors, nature,  sustainable thinking and nurturing the community through nature.

Claire Crowley BA Hons, Early Years Teacher, Forest School Practitioner Level 3, British Sign Language Stage 2.

Alex Wilby Certificate in Education, Bushcraft Practitioner, RHS Horticulturalist and small-holder.

Clare Caro Bach. Graphic Design, Marketeer, Progressive Education Coordinator.

Meet the team

Joanne Davis
Jo has worked in outdoor education since 1998 when she graduated from Edinburgh University in Ecology. After working for the Field Studies Council, Historic Scotland and Northumberland County Council, Jo stopped to raise a family. In 2013 she retrained to complete a Level 3 in Early Years with Rutland Adult Learning but was very keen to get back to environmental teaching.
Jo was awarded her Level 3 in Forest School in July 2020 and hasn't looked back!
Louise Dolby
Louise has very fond memories of spending much of her childhood outdoors with her grandparents in Rutland. After growing up in a city, she is so happy to be living and working back in Rutland and sharing her love of the outdoors with children through Forest School. Louise works in a local school supporting children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties and she feels very privileged to work with Root-and-Branch Out during the school holidays.  Louise is also an Approved Practitioner for The Therapeutic Forest and she is passionate about supporting children and young people who find typical educational settings challenging.
Sue Ball
Sue has worked and lived in Rutland for more than 30 years. She has held various roles in arts education, and now works as a freelancer working on community and arts projects. She is also a governor at her local school. Her philosophy is all about inclusivity and making activities fun for all. Current projects include working with Rutland Community Ventures and Volunteer Co-ordinator for the Rutland Community Fridge. Her own work ranges from playing the tenor saxophone to visual arts.