I am an enthusiastic and dedicated freelancer who enjoys working collaboratively. I've worked on projects to bring many different people and perspectives together - artists, schoolchildren, health patients, MPs, ex-offenders, academics, community organisations, doctors, university students, policymakers - and specialise in practical work addressing systemic social issues. 

From 2024, you can find me on the Scottish Storytelling Forum's list of storytellers in Scotland, with more information about my areas of interest, specialties and also booking rates: https://tracscotland.org/storytellers/sarah-hobbs/ 

If your company, organisation or community would like to work with me, please get in touch to discuss your ideas. A few recent examples are given below. 

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Land Nature Justice poster

Land Justice Gathering at the 'Lost Forest,' outside Aviemore

Events
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​Shaping, organising and/or facilitating events or experiences is something I have done for 20 years. Here are a couple of recent examples. 

​In November 2024, I co-organised Land Nature Justice. We explored the connections between land, nature and justice in Palestine and the Highlands. How is biodiversity nurtured in both places, and can Palestine set a global example? How does cultural and ecological restoration take place? How are communities in Palestine ensuring survival of their connections to and knowledge of land and nature, in the face of occupation and oppression?

We were privileged to welcome Prof. Mazin Qumsiyeh of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (who has since been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize) and Prof. Alastair McIntosh (Soil & Soul etc), facilitated by ethnologist Dr. Mairi McFadyen. We also welcomed contributions from local choreographer and filmmaker Robbie Synge, researcher with Gypsy Traveller communities Rhona Ramsay, and Cairngorms Crofters & Farmers, followed by a cèilidh where we were joined by musician Will Boyd-Wallis and poet Cáit O'Neill McCullagh amongst others.

The event raised over £1,000 for PIBS. 

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I also helped to organise speakers and contributed history and stories for the Scottish Histories of Resistance and Landworkers' Alliance Land Justice Gathering in July 2025, just outside Aviemore. 

The event highlighted the rise of the 'green land grab', the rich histories of land-based resistance in the Scottish Highlands, and the current government's failure to prioritise public funds for small farms and crofts.

While taking a walk around Brewdog's 'Lost Forest' (which has since changed hands to a company dealing in caarbon credits), we discussed local land struggles and imagined alternative futures for community land stewardship. 

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Walking trails
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​I can run any of my existing Storywalks for a particular group or organisation. I can also produce, and/or run, a walking trail at a particular place, to suit your needs. 

​I conceptualised, researched, designed and produced the 'Highland Herbs' walking trail for the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore, using material from their archives and on site.

Highland Herbs trail leaflet

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Cairngorms Wild Plants Project: research on Strathspey dialect names

Research
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​I have a degree in Social Anthropology and 15 years' experience of research with communities, under-represented groups, archive material, and land-based experiential research. 

Watch a clip from Plantlife Scotland's short film about the Cairngorms Wild Plants Project. I conducted research locally on any remaining Strathspey dialect names for plants and trees. 

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Foraged tea tastings
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​I can offer seasonal tea and cordial tastings based on historical research of the Highlands, at events or for particular groups, as a stall and/or as a walk. 

I was invited to participate in the Woodland Trust's Forest Festival at the Highland Folk Museum 2016-2018, making teas over a firepit with locally-foraged ingredients, all with historic or current relevance to the area. 

Foraged teas and homemade cordials at the Forest Festival 2017, Highland Folk Museum

Other ideas...
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I am open to other suggestions of work where we have joint interests. Please feel free to drop me a line. 

Areas of interest 

The relationships between people and plants in the Highlands & Islands of Scotland - how plants and trees have been seen and used, medicinally, for food, or other uses;

nature-based words in Gaelic dialects, particularly Strathspey & Badenoch Gaelic;

Gaelic song linked to human-land relationships and/or working songs;

encouraging the everyday use of Gaelic, as a language of this land;

​the 'missing' voices from historical or current narratives, and shifting that narrative;

education to encourage new perspectives and critical thinking;

social inequalities;

systems change, particularly with a focus on communities and climate change;

​future-focused placemaking. ​