Meet our Event Leaders
Jayne Kirkman
Jayne is an experienced creative facilitator,
science educator, and eco-artist with a
passion for sustainability, nature
connection, and mindful making. With over
25 years of teaching secondary sciences,
she brings clarity, warmth, and infectious
enthusiasm to every workshop she leads.
Through her business JAK’sArt –
Alternative Stone Carving Workshops,
Jayne inspires others to explore their
creativity using sustainable waste aerated concrete—
transforming humble building offcuts into
expressive, nature-inspired sculptures. Her sessions are inclusive, playful, and deeply grounding, with a focus on wellbeing, confidence-building, and connecting through hands-on creativity.
Jayne also designs and teaches how to build EcoBee and Bug Homes, encouraging biodiversity and environmental awareness
through fun, practical, family-friendly
activities, while celebrating the joy
of making something meaningful with your own hands.
Facebook Page: Jak's Art
Rachael Powell - Glass Artist
Rachael is a Stained Glass artist based in Leicestershire. Having
studied art at school she has continued to be passionate about it throughout her life.
She works across various mediums but has developed a particular passion for glass. She loves colour and the way light and reflections play across the glass bringing new perspectives to her creations.
Her work is inspired by nature and she works on projects large and small. She cultivates a relaxed and patient atmosphere in her workshops to allow her students to realise their creative ambitions.
Her email is: reflectionsinglass23@gmail.com
Sarah Spencer
Think like a Tree/Think like a Forest. Sarah is a regenerative trainer and speaker, helping individuals, businesses and organisations to adopt regenerative ways of living and working, inspired by living-systems success. She is author of Think like a Tree: the natural principles guide to life and runs Think like a Tree programmes at Whistlewood, supporting people to create the lives they want, inspired by the wisdom of nature. If you are interested in regenerative practice, Sarah welcomes you to join the online Inspired by Nature Network. Sarah holds a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design and was a co-founder and lead permaculture designer for Whistlewood Common. Her family smallholding and woodland is the next farm over from Whistlewood.
Her Website is www.thinklikeatree.co.uk
Liz Mayer
Yoga Teacher
Movement has always been part of Liz's life. As a child she enjoyed ballet, later competed in synchronised skating, swam, practised judo and loved dancing. Looking back, each one taught her something different, from balance and coordination to breathing, body awareness and trusting her body. Yoga first came into her life in her twenties, but she didn't discover a more traditional, mindful approach until more than a decade later, and it completely changed how she saw yoga. She realised that slowing down could bring many of the same benefits she had always found through more intensive exercise. She slept better, felt less stressed, and became fascinated by how movement and breath can influence both body and mind. She got hooked. She wanted to understand why and how it works. So she decided to train as a yoga teacher and has continued learning ever since. Se's fascinated by the connection between our mind and body, how our breath affects our wellbeing, and how modern science is beginning to explain many of the benefits that yoga has been teaching for thousands of years. She loves sharing these practices with others and helping people discover that yoga isn't just about being flexible or getting the perfect pose. It's also about learning to listen to your body, finding what feels right for you, and taking that awareness into everyday life. Seeing people leave class feeling calmer, standing a little taller or simply smiling a little more reminds her why she loves teaching Yoga. To contact Liz please email: csiphichi@gmail.com
Movement has always been part of Liz's life. As a child she enjoyed ballet, later competed in synchronised skating, swam, practised judo and loved dancing. Looking back, each one taught her something different, from balance and coordination to breathing, body awareness and trusting her body. Yoga first came into her life in her twenties, but she didn't discover a more traditional, mindful approach until more than a decade later, and it completely changed how she saw yoga. She realised that slowing down could bring many of the same benefits she had always found through more intensive exercise. She slept better, felt less stressed, and became fascinated by how movement and breath can influence both body and mind. She got hooked. She wanted to understand why and how it works. So she decided to train as a yoga teacher and has continued learning ever since. Se's fascinated by the connection between our mind and body, how our breath affects our wellbeing, and how modern science is beginning to explain many of the benefits that yoga has been teaching for thousands of years. She loves sharing these practices with others and helping people discover that yoga isn't just about being flexible or getting the perfect pose. It's also about learning to listen to your body, finding what feels right for you, and taking that awareness into everyday life. Seeing people leave class feeling calmer, standing a little taller or simply smiling a little more reminds her why she loves teaching Yoga. To contact Liz please email: csiphichi@gmail.com
Andy Mason - Andy Mason Ceramics & Food. Andy has spent many years developing his ceramics technical knowledge, skill and creativity. Using this expertise he creates a range of pottery at his studio in Derby and also enjoys sharing his enthusiasm and offering tuition, practical demonstrations and workshops. Andy delivers regular public and private Raku events at Whistlewood. Andy designed and led the Central tile installation project in our Roundhouse. Andy's website is www.rakuworkshops.uk and his email is andymasonceramics@gmail.com
Sandra Da Silva - Yoga Teacher
Sandra started her Yoga journey in 1998 with a short stay in an Ashram in India, inspiring her to become a teacher. She qualified as a Wheel of Yoga Teacher in 2007 and has continued to learn ever since and teach this amazing system that integrates body, mind and spirit leading to a state of balance and wellbeing.
Her email is: sandradyoga@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.sandradasilva.com
Website: www.sandradasilva.com
Richard Winspear
Richard has been birdwatching in and around Melbourne for as long as he can remember; initially walking up the brook from his childhood home towards what is now Whistlewood Common, before cycling around the local reservoirs and gravel pits as a teenager. He studied Ecology at Leeds University and went on to work at the RSPB, largely working on farmland birds and is now Agricultural Advice Manager at the RSPB. However, he is still a birdwatcher at heart.
During the Lockdown of 2020, he was back at home looking after his dad and regained his childhood interest in the wider natural history in and around Melbourne and has seen over 1,000 species of plants, animals and fungi within 10 miles of Melbourne, including 11 species of orchid, 33 species of mammals and over 200 species of birds. South Derbyshire and the Trent Valley is a very special area for wildlife, which Richard loves to show people.
Richard has been birdwatching in and around Melbourne for as long as he can remember; initially walking up the brook from his childhood home towards what is now Whistlewood Common, before cycling around the local reservoirs and gravel pits as a teenager. He studied Ecology at Leeds University and went on to work at the RSPB, largely working on farmland birds and is now Agricultural Advice Manager at the RSPB. However, he is still a birdwatcher at heart.
During the Lockdown of 2020, he was back at home looking after his dad and regained his childhood interest in the wider natural history in and around Melbourne and has seen over 1,000 species of plants, animals and fungi within 10 miles of Melbourne, including 11 species of orchid, 33 species of mammals and over 200 species of birds. South Derbyshire and the Trent Valley is a very special area for wildlife, which Richard loves to show people.
Jan Lee
I have a background in Creative Arts (B.A in Drama, Dance, English)
Dance and movement have been a big part of my life since being a child.
After years of structured ballroom and oldtime dance, latin and stage dance, I discovered 5 Rhythms Movement in my late 20s and was so inspired I went on to train with Gabrielle Roth at The Moving Centre in 2001.
I continue to follow the work of my long-time teachers, Ya'acov and Susannah Darling Khan and their body of work, The School of Movement Medicine.
I have a passion for travel, diversity of cultures including dance forms and food, especially! I currently live just down the road from Whistlewood, close to the beautiful old trees in Calke Abbey Park.
To contact Jan email
janrosalily@gmail.com or Whats app 07466603274.
Graham Truscott
Graham is an experienced permaculture practitioner who has been involved with Whistlewood Common since its inception in 2013. Today he cares for more than 200 orchard trees across several new and established orchards in South Derbyshire, including those at Whistlewood. He leads and facilitates numerous workshops at Whistlewood, as well as festivals across the country on subjects as diverse as hiking stick creation, comedy improvisation, organisational governance and fruit tree care.