Celina Zomer - My Story

My connection with nature began in childhood in Poland. I remember walks in the woods, autumn mushroom foraging with my family and picking blueberries in the summer. Although I grew up surrounded by the concrete tower blocks of an Eastern European town, nature was always part of my world.

My dad had a huge influence on how I learned to see and appreciate it. His family has a long tradition of foraging and preserving nature’s gifts, while his own creativity as a sculptor taught me to notice beauty, textures and possibilities in things that others might overlook.

That curiosity has stayed with me. Even today, I share my discoveries with my dad, exchanging ideas about foraging and preserving what nature offers - especially when I’m experimenting with homemade wine! Looking back, I can see that these childhood memories, family traditions and shared experiences planted the seeds of a connection with nature that I would rediscover later in life.

I moved from Poland to the UK at 20, young and full of excitement, but very much jumping in at the deep end. I arrived in England without speaking English, built a new life from scratch, started a family and became a mum to two beautiful children, who are now both adults. After spending 16 years in a seaside town, life took another turn, and I found myself starting over once again in a small town in the Kent countryside, with a loving new partner by my side. Although I had someone wonderful to share this new chapter with, finding my feet in an unfamiliar place and building a life of my own again wasn't easy.

Thankfully, my partner introduced me to the natural world in a different way through his love of reptiles, insects and nature walks. Something clicked. I began exploring the countryside around my new home, discovering woodland, meadows, rivers and fields. Regular walks became part of my routine, and over time, they became much more than just walks.

During later challenging times, nature became a source of comfort and support for my mental wellbeing. I started walking further and more slowly, rediscovering the joy of foraging and learning about the food we can find growing in the wild. I began preserving my finds in jars and bottles and creating art from natural materials such as sticks, moss, pinecorns and everything I discovered along the way. I rarely returned home from a walk empty-handed, often carrying a collection of sticks, leaves and branches that would find their way into my home décor. I loved bringing a little of the outdoors inside, finding new ways to turn natural materials into something beautiful. I became fascinated by the textures, colours, smells and tiny details I had once walked past without noticing, discovering just how much inspiration and creativity nature has to offer.

Three years later, I discovered forest bathing and realised I had already been practising it in my own way. I decided to train as a Forest Bathing Guide so I could share this experience with others and help them discover their own connection with nature. I completed my training with Adore Your Outdoors, learning from the wonderful guide Sonia Dibbin, who deepened my understanding of the practice and taught me the art of guiding others, holding sharing circles and creating walks that give participants the space and freedom to develop their own personal relationship with the natural world.

Today, through Twisted Roots, I create welcoming outdoor experiences that invite people to slow down, step away from everyday pressures and reconnect with themselves and the natural world. With extensive experience teaching in further education, I understand the importance of creating safe spaces where people feel comfortable, supported and free to explore at their own pace. I’m also trained in Mental Health First Aid and Outdoor First Aid, and fully insured.

But my curiosity doesn't stop at forest bathing. I want to keep learning about the natural world and the ways people have connected with and made use of it throughout generations.

My Polish roots have helped nurture my interest in traditional knowledge, foraging and the fascinating relationships between people and plants.

I’ve recently started a 15-month vocational qualification in Herbalism and Phytotherapy with a renowned Polish Academy of Complementary Medicine and Phytotherapy. Phytotherapy explores the traditional and evidence-informed use of natural substances, including plants, herbs, mushrooms, honey and other natural resources, for their potential health and wellbeing benefits.

I’m excited to deepen my understanding of how nature’s gifts can support and enrich our lives in so many different ways.

For me, nature connection is about much more than being outdoors. It’s about slowing down enough to notice, becoming curious about the world around us and finding space to breathe, create and simply be.