About Us
About Us
We are not separate from nature, we are living nature.
Who we are
Living Nature is a community interest company based at Werneth Low Country Park on the Stockport and Tameside border. We run nature-based programmes for children, adults, and families — rooted in the belief that time outdoors, genuine community, and a bit of mud can genuinely change things.
We were founded by Josie Lynch — mum, psychotherapist, and former teacher — who started Living Nature because she couldn’t find what she was looking for anywhere else. Something that combined therapeutic understanding with the simplicity of being outside. Something that didn’t require you to already be well to attend. Something that felt like belonging.
That’s still what we’re building.
What we do
Our programmes span all ages — from Wild & Well Kids Club and the Learning Hive for children and families, to Ground & Gather for adults, and Calm Connected Communities for organisations and NHS teams. Everything is led by a qualified therapist, grounded in emotional awareness, and shaped by the seasons.
This is not forest school. Our approach is psychotherapeutic and emotionally responsive — rooted in the idea that nature is a significant other, and that our relationship with the natural world is as important to our wellbeing as any other relationship in our lives.
What it means to be a CIC
Living Nature is a Community Interest Company — which means we exist for the community, not for profit. Any surplus we generate goes back into the programmes: more accessible places, more sessions, more support for the people who need it most.
Being a CIC also means we’re accountable — to our community, to our board, and to the values we were founded on.
How we think about cost
We believe cost should never be a barrier to connection. All of our programmes run on a contribution basis — pay what you can, within a suggested range. If money is tight, there is always a place for you. Just come. Get in touch at hello@livingnatureuk.org if you’d like to talk it through.
This isn’t charity. It’s how a community is supposed to work.
Meet Our Founder
Josie Lynch — Founder & Director
Josie Lynch is the founder and lead facilitator of Living Nature. She’s a qualified integrative psychotherapist, a former teacher, and a mum. She started Living Nature because she believed — and still believes — that nature, community, and genuine human connection are not luxuries. They’re what we’re made for.
Josie leads all programmes, holds the therapeutic framework across everything Living Nature does, and is the CIC Director. She also works independently under her personal practice, Deep Wild Within, focusing on grief work and women’s therapeutic work.
Our Board
Living Nature is governed by a small, committed board of directors who bring a range of skills and genuine investment in what we’re building. The board meets regularly to oversee the organisation’s direction, finances, and community accountability.
Our directors are: Katie Codling, Andy King, John Bougen, Sue Bougen, Matt Edwards, and Kevin Welford. Michelle Knowles sits as an honorary board member and hosts our Learning Hive pilot site.
Get Involved
Whether you want to attend a session, volunteer, facilitate, or simply spread the word — there’s a place for you here.
→ Find out how to get involved