Restoring & protecting our connection with NATURE

(Image GreenWorks PLC)

Welcome

Whether you are an organisation, community group or a curious human being – a warm welcome. The rhythm of nature – these words bring a smile to my heart.

Turning towards the world’s and nature’s toubles, it makes sense to me to rebrand the microenterprise I founded in 2020 to trust my love of and belonging in nature. In this moment, there are few things more important for our fundamental safety and wellbeing than protecting and restoring our connection with nature.

Latest news

More about our latest projects & offerings HERE

Walking Data – Success Metrics & Systems Impact

An applied innovation project in collaboration the Highland Council and Arup, funded by the Scottish Roads Research Board.

More information HERE

Nature Compassion – Four Week Course

Four week online Nature Compassion – Mindful Meditation Introduction course in April 2026.

Save the Dates: Wednesdays 1 April, 8 April, 15 April, 22 April, 11:30 to 12:30pm.

Delivered via zoom, see Eventbrite to book tickets HERE

Image by Nima Sarikhani, Wildlife Photograph of the Year 2023

Rural Cycling Playbook

Exploring delivery and success insights in rural cycling to address the gap in rural cycling delivery for rural communities in Scotland.

Funded by the Pebble Trust and Smarter Choices Smarter Places in collaboration with Cycling UK.

More info coming soon!

Meet the Team

Jess Read

Founder & Director

Nature-hearted, handcrafting, dog whisperering, mental health seeking, nature engineer (chartered since 2005 AKBW).

Mother Nature

Director tbc

I am committed to making Mother Nature a company director over the course of this next year, stay tuned.

Dulce Pedroso

Equity & Research – Trusted Expert

Pedal-powered, place-wandering researcher exploring mobility and belonging, PdD candidate at the Active Travel Academy.

Trusted experts

I have a network of trusted specialists who contribute to projects.

Jess Read

Founder of Rhythm of NATURE

My name is Jess Read, I am a chartered nature engineer. I have over 25 years’ experience of designing and delivering integrated blue green and climate safe transport projects in the Alps, Scandinavia, the USA, Scotland and England. I was the technical design lead for the award winning Copenhagen Climate Implementation Masterplan. I am currently leading several projects across Scotland, including the SCSP and Pebble Trust funded “Rural Cycling Playbook”.

I am a polyvagal-informed and mindful self-compassion practioner. Polyvagal Theory is the science of safety and connection, and a really helpful framework for developing creative flow and mental health both in what we do and how we move through the world.

Our Mission & Values

When we feel ourselves part of the rhythm of nature, it frees us to move away from cycles of destruction and depletion towards cycles of nourishing and abundance. This is the moment to pause and listen in to the song of our hearts.

Designing with – even as – nature is not just our greatest protection. This more integrated and holistic approach brings alive joy and flourishing – for all.

The Rhythm of Nature way means practical action such as nature-based flood resilence, climate safe transport, nature compassion, and ancient nature-rich landscape & building practices. These are approaches we can trust, as they protect and restore our connection with nature.

There are some major hiccups in the world right now. We can turn towards nature, ourselves and each other, just as we need this the most. I am here to join with and support you on your own journey from trance to dance – finding your own rhythm of nature.

Compassion

We are in a tricky spot right now. Nature has been depleted by about 70% in my lifetime alone, and we are on a crash course for climate breakdown. This is pretty scary stuff. Our ability to turn towards our difficulty, to stay with the trouble in a connected, caring way – with compassion – is the true foundation of resilience. Compassion and self compassion are essential to allow ourselves to have these difficult conversations in a way that restores and resources us.

Creativity

There are powerful voices in the world maintaining that an agenda of social dominance, merciless exploitation and depletion is the only way to safety. For the selected few that is. This type of individualistic, controlling, rigid and isolationist thinking is evidence of an underdeveloped right brain. Like compassion, creativity is a gift of the right brain. Our ability to see the bigger picture, to feel and see the connections, and sense a world of possibilities – to make that creative leap into the whole which is greater than the sum of the parts. We can’t carry on with business as usual. In a delicious upwards spiral, there couldn’t be a better moment to nourish and be nourished in turn by our creativity.

Curiosity