About Marina
Marina is a priestess of the Temple of Plants, nature educator, nature and film artist, rewilder, certified forest school leader, and certified practitioner of sacred plant medicine.
Since 2019, Marina has been on the Heritage in Schools panel of experts with the Heritage Council of Ireland. She is Co-founder and CEO of Lough Grainey Nature Sanctuary in county Clare, Ireland, where she volunteers together with a beautiful team of like-minded people to preserve the amazing wilderness that still exists here.
Prior to discovering her passion for working with nature and children, herbal medicine, and rewilding, she completed a doctorate, two Masters degrees, and a summa cum laude Bachelors degree, and lectured at Trinity College Dublin. She is a published author and has produced several documentary films and television programs.
After many years in academia and working in film, Marina realised that she wanted to deepen her connection with the plant world so that she could in turn help children and adults to reconnect with Nature. She completed the Way of the Wise Healer apprenticeship and several years of advanced training at the Derrynagittah School of Sacred Plant Medicine in county Clare, Ireland. She also completed the Forest School Leadership training at Brigid's Garden, Roscahill, Co Galway and qualified as a Forest School Leader. Since 2016, she has been offering workshops to primary schools called "Music of the Plants: Native Irish Wildflowers and Trees through the Arts." It has been so much fun to be able to share the magic of the plants with the children through the arts, visiting classrooms all across counties Galway and Clare. During the pandemic, she offered many workshops to children online as part of the Heritage in Schools programme, guiding them on imaginary walks through the ancient woodland where they could see many native Irish trees and wildflowers, listen to the Music of the Plants, and ask questions in live and interactive sessions.
Marina also teaches sacred plant medicine for adults and holds sacred ceremony to honour the Earth and her changing seasons.
She is a priestess of the Temple of Plants and a registered weddings celebrant and solemniser, registered with the Office of the Registrar General and can officially solemnise weddings in Ireland.
She has taught workshops on plant medicine and given talks at different events, including the Galway Garden Festival and Galway Museum.
In 2022, Wild Plants Can Sing Nature Connection was born, set on our beautiful 44 acres of land in east Clare that Marina and her husband Colm care for together.
Marina is Garda vetted and certified in Remote First Aid, and is a member of the Irish Forest School Association (IFSA) and a full member of the Foundation for Sacred Plant Medicine (FSPM).
Everyone who comes to work or volunteer here at Wild Plants Can Sing Forest School is also Garda vetted.
Over the past two years, Marina has worked together with other wonderful Forest School leaders, Maura Brennan and Áine Ni Fhlatharta.
***
Gratitude to the Plants
I love Plants and all of Nature and love sharing the magic of plants with children and adults.
Plants are my friends and allies, and I am very grateful for their support, healing and medicine. They are amazing teachers.
We all have so much support. All we need to do is open our hearts and listen, feel, and trust the Universe.
With love,
Marina
