I am a sustainability educator and artist who believes that education is a climate solution and vital for inspiring and preparing people of all ages for a thriving future.
I work with educators and institutions to develop learning for the future that fosters collaboration, critical thinking and leadership. I am motivated by the potential for arts to actively engage people in important issues such as food security and climate justice. My expertise is finding learning opportunities in projects ranging from community meals for adults to interactive theatre experiences for primary school students.
My work and projects cultivate a sustainability mindset through a wide range of themes and approaches. Sustainability is not only about ‘meeting the needs of future generations’. It should help create a better, ecologically flourishing future. Artists and educators have a unique opportunity to open people’s eyes, minds and emotions to the world around them. I believe that every interaction has the potential to activate and guide imaginations, promote valuing people and the planet, and to teach the capabilities required to move towards this better future.
Over the last 10 years I have been fortunate to work with organisations such as The Country Trust, This is Rubbish and Thames21 developing educational projects and quite often getting my hands dirty.
I am the founder of Edible Education (the learning programme for anti food waste CIC This Is Rubbish), became a LEEF (London Environmental Educators Forum) fellow in 2018 and most recently established the campaign and action network Learning for the Future Waltham Forest.
You can read more about my approach to designing projects and training courses and the foundation for my creative work, campaigning and work with schools here
My long term goal is to help establish a workers cooperative of educators, facilitators, artists and crafts people who get joy from sharing their skills, knowledge and creating an inspiring learning evironment. As the saying goes, through offering our training together it will be much greater than the sum of the parts.
Treading the Line between Educating and Campaigning, National Association of Environmental Education Journal, Summer 2021, Ed 127. p12-13
Is Education a Climate Emergency Solution? Waltham Forest Echo, June 2020
Using the Arts for Food Research and Dialogue. Collaboratively written briefing paper with the Food Research Collaboration, March 2017
“Poppy couples this commitment with creativity and a warm and curious manner, which makes working and talking with Poppy a delightful experience and one that triggers a lot of ideas about how we could create a brighter future.”
Dr Kathryn Greer, Kings College London
MSc Education for Sustainability
MSc module Creating Sustainable Behaviour Change
BA Theatre: Design for Performance
Level 3 PTLLS – Preparing for Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector
Level 2 Organic Horticulture
SEEd Facilitation training,
Mental Health Awareness