I’m only partway through the Grow Leader Course, but already it feels like a season of growth in every sense of the word. The days have been full of inspiration, unexpected encounters, and gentle nudges to see things differently — in myself, in nature, and in community. 

One of the most memorable experiences has been our multisensory walks in nature. Slowing down enough to really see, hear, smell, and feel the world around me has been grounding. The tame baby squirrel (so gorgeous) — a tiny reminder of how much life is unfolding quietly all around us, often unnoticed. 

The course has also stretched how I think about leadership, communities, and business. We’ve been encouraged to think in three dimensions with all the senses: not just flat ideas on paper, but holistic models that weave together wellbeing, creativity, and community. It’s a challenge, but an exciting one — opening my eyes to possibilities I hadn’t considered before. 

There’s been plenty of hands-on joy too. Collecting sea buckthorn, which I made into syrup – and scrumping apples for juicing - was both practical and symbolic: a reminder of how abundance comes when we gather, share, and transform raw materials into nourishment. In many ways, it mirrors the work we’re doing together — harvesting ideas and turning them into something that can sustain others. 

Another realisation that has stayed with me is about community itself. At first, I thought of “community” as something I might build later, after the course, for a project or initiative. But I’ve come to see that our cohort already is a community — one built on curiosity, encouragement, and shared exploration. That shift in perspective feels just as important as any skill we’re learning. 

As for the final project? I have so many ideas swirling around, it feels like standing at the edge of an orchard, unsure which branch to pick from first. And maybe that’s okay. Growth doesn’t always come from rushing into clarity; sometimes it’s about sitting with the abundance of possibilities until the right one ripens. 

For now, I’m savouring the journey —the apples, the sea buckthorn, the sparks of insight, and trying new things at Hen’s Tooth allotment.