Connecting with trees and giving back to Nature

The Lawn, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 3AW
Saturday 29th November 2025
What does it mean if we are beings of Nature? How can we bring deep listening into our relationships with plants, trees and land to find practical answers for a positive future?

Join us for a day of nature connection with trees in Walsham le Willows where we will explore:
  1. Sharing how Nature relationships show up in each others daily lives, 
  2. Practical methods for deep listening with trees and plants,
  3. Exploring how you give back to your community as a being of Nature.

Suzi and Madeleine have personal practices with connecting to plants, trees, waters and landscapes they developed through relationships with different UK landscapes. They are both passionate about creating spaces to explore how we relate with the plants (flowers, house plants, trees, woodlands and fungi etc).

During the morning they'll share practical methods for deep listening with trees and then the group will spend time outdoors trying them out.

During the afternoon we will discuss ‘reciprocity’ (giving back) to land and Nature, drawing from personal stories, and co-create a landscape gratitude ceremony to end the day.

The main day will run from 9.30am to 5pm with a short talk and Q&A for those that are interested between 5pm and 6pm.

Timings
These timings are a rough guide and may vary slightly on the day

9.30     Arrivals & networking time for prompt start at 10am
10-11     Session 1: Introductions
11-1       Session 2: Connecting with trees including a break and time outdoors (please bring warm clothes suitable for being outdoors)
1-2       Lunch: Bring your own or share soup provided
2-3.15  Session 3: Exploring ways of giving back to Nature personally, in the workplace and in land management.
3.15-4  Session 4: Co-creating gratitude ceremony to end the day (may over run)

4-5      Tea & networking time

Optional extra
It is possible to book just for this talk without attending the day.

5-6  Session 5: Suzi & Madeleine give a talk about their work with Indigenous Peoples, Nations, rural communities, reforestation NGOs and international government policies regarding ethics and funding. There will be a chance to ask questions about the different projects on the ground and the direction of restoration for communities, food production and land care internationally.

Who is this event for?
Anyone who would like to generally explore their  connection with Nature, trees and plants, as well as, those directly involved with land care (gardeners, growers, farmers, land and woodland managers, arboriculturalists, foresters etc).

Background
Madeleine and Suzi's love of the natural world led them to meet through working in reforestation and working closely with rural and indigenous communities all over the world. Learning from communities who integrate care of ecosystems into their daily activities and community decision-making. As the published work Rooted in Ethics demonstrates, most of the communities they worked with took care of ecosystems by treating all beings of Nature as having intelligence and the ability to communicate when humans observation and pay attention.

The UK, and especially Suffolk, has roots in these practices woven in through science, community cultural practices, farming and traditional gathering sites. These ways of relating are not always recognised in their similarity to Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Biocultural Practices.

On the first day of this type, Suzi and Madeleine would like to explore how we can integrate a Nature-centred approach to our relationship with trees and to supporting UK landscapes and communities.

Talk and Q&A
The short talk and Q&A will be about Madeleine and Suzi's previous work with TreeSisters. Madeleine and Suzi's work involved years of learning with representatives of Original Peoples and Nations, rural communities and reforestation NGOs to articulate Traditional Ecological protocols for care of ecosystems, biodiversity and communities. They will outline how the theory of deep Nature listening and indigenous principles became a collaborative and co-published framework and the practical examples of community-led forest restoration projects across the Tropics.  (To read more see: treesisters.org/rooted-in-ethics)


Biographies
Suzi Steer (married name Martineau) lives in Walsham le Willows, on Martineau Farms and has a strong relationship with trees as conscious intelligent beings. She is a secondary schools maths teacher, founder of the Tree Conference (thetreeconference.com) and co-author of Rooted in Ethics: The Community Tree Stewardship Framework & Practices Guide. Suzi has experience of applying deep listening alongside conservation practices in farming, woodland management and countryside stewardship options.

Madeleine Scordellis lives in the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire, and has many years experience of working with communities across the world on environmental protection and restoration projects, including in her recent work with TreeSisters. Her great passion is for supporting people to reconnect with the Sacred Feminine aspects of life - both within and without, and to connect with Earth, the elements and Nature. Madeleine currently works as a healer offering 1 to 1 sessions, facilitating women’s circles and ceremonies working in connection with the land energies of the Malvern Hills.


Tickets & pricing
Pricing for this event is by donation to cover what people can afford.  Suzi & Madeleine need to cover their costs and contribute towards their livelihoods. Therefore we are suggesting a donation for the day time event of around 40 pounds or 10 pounds just for the evening. They are happy to accept more or less depending on your circumstances, if you are a concession or would like to give more!

Two ticket options:
  • Main day 9.30am - 5pm
  • Talk and Q&A 5pm - 6pm
These are split knowing that it's a long day and some people may only be interested in one part.

If you would like to attend both please book both tickets as part of one booking. This helps with knowing numbers on the day.

Fundraising for the Rural Coffee Caravan
We are also raising funds and awareness for the Rural Coffee Caravan charity based in Walsham le Willows doing wonderful work to support people in rural areas who are isolated or lonely by creating coffee mornings and events for community togetherness.

Remember!
  • Please remember to bring warm clothes and footwear suitable for spending an hour outside in late November.
  • We will have a vegetarian soup available for lunch, please feel welcome to bring food for yourself or to share.
  • The event is held at a residental location, as a result we ask for your respect and curtesy regarding parking and use of private facilities.


Thank you for your interest and we look forward to meeting you.