Natasha
Gentle outdoor spaces for families to connect
“I believe humans are naturally designed to grow together in community.”
Natasha is creating Rooted Together, a community initiative supporting families in the earliest years through connection and nature, starting with Walk & Waddle pram-friendly sessions.
@Natasha Jade is creating something gentle and deeply needed.
Her MA endeavour, Rooted Together, is a community initiative supporting families in the earliest years through connection, nature, and shared experience. Grounded in her work as a Montessori-informed guide, it comes from a simple belief: both children and parents do better when they feel calm, seen, and connected.
“I believe humans are naturally designed to grow together in community,” she says.
That idea is taking shape as Walk & Waddle, a series of eight slow, pram-friendly sessions set in a local nature reserve in the South West. It’s a space for families to spend time outdoors and connect with others going through a similar stage of life, without pressure or expectation.
Alongside this, Natasha is beginning to build an online platform for the Rooted Together network, extending that sense of connection beyond in-person sessions.
Stepping Forward
Sharing the project publicly marked a turning point.
“It’s one thing to quietly hold an idea rooted in care,” she says, “and another to step forward and say, ‘This matters, and I’m willing to lead it.’”
Reaching out to organisations and putting her proposal forward has meant working through self-doubt and trusting that the need is real. Choosing to keep going has been a significant step, both personally and professionally.
When It Starts to Land
Recently, something has begun to shift.
Through conversations with parents and professionals, Natasha is seeing how much this kind of space is needed. People are looking for something gentler. Somewhere they don’t feel judged or rushed.
What once felt like an idea is starting to feel real.
Her time on the MA in Creative Practice, and the Make Happen Possibility Residential in particular, helped bring the project into focus. With the support of others on the course, she’s been able to test ideas and move them forward with more clarity.
Growing What Comes Next
The next step is submitting her proposal for Walk & Waddle as part of the Arts, Health and Wellbeing Festival in May.
Alongside that, she’s continuing to grow the visibility of Rooted Together and explore how it can develop through future activities and partnerships.
“Remembering the families who might otherwise be walking alone, literally and metaphorically, helped me take action,” she says. “When I focused on their experience rather than my fears, the next step felt simpler.”
There’s a sense that this work has been building over time. Now she’s stepping into it with curiosity and care.
Follow the Journey
Instagram: https://instagram.com/Rooted_Together_Network
If you’re a parent, professional, or organisation who believes families shouldn’t have to navigate the early years alone, you can support by sharing the work, collaborating, or joining a Walk & Waddle when they begin.
Parents with children under the age of 6 are welcome to get in touch with @Natasha Jade for more information about joining the Rooted Together online group pilot, which begins on 20th April.The pilot will test the 7-Seed Method group coaching programme: a 4-week course running from 20th April to 2nd May. Participants will be asked to commit to two 1-hour Zoom sessions per week.
Rooted Together is growing through community, one connection at a time.
