What is a forest school?
A forest school is an inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to appreciate and enjoy their local woodlands. A forest school nurtures an understanding and respect for natural places. Participants experience nature at first hand through a series of engaging and achievable tasks.The forest school experience brings learning to life and improves an individuals ability to work co-operatively while offering the opportunities to take risks, make choices and initiate learning.
Where does the idea come from?
Forest schools originated in Sweden during the 1950s and was a way of teaching children about the natural world. The idea was adopted by Denmark as an important part of early years provision. The concept was introduced to Britain in 1995 by Bridgwater College.
Who is a forest school for?
Everyone can benefit from a forest school.
The Sussex Wildlife Trust has worked with parents and toddlers, community groups, corporate groups, adults with learning difficulties and school children of all ages, from pre-school to sixth-formers. Forest Schools provides a valuable teaching tool for a wide range of curriculum subjects, and is an excellent way to support and enrich the National Curriculum
What's it like at a forest school?
A forest school group explores a local woodland on a regular basis, typically ten visits over ten weeks. During that time the group will get to grips with all sorts of woodland activities that will help to build an understanding and appreciation of the woodland.
The fire circle is central to all that happens at forest school. The fire is the focal point for discussing the day's activities and a place for socialising. The activities are always hands-on and will often require the use of tools such as bow saws and fixed blade knives. As a group becomes more comfortable with living and working in the woodland the programme becomes more learner led, a journey of discovery directed by the participants.
Regular visits to the woodland site provide plenty of opportunity for discussion about,and observation of the natural world. Many of the groups become involved in conservation tasks as part of their forest school, typically, constructing bird feeders and bird boxes or by creating mini beast homes from the brash that is collected whilst coppicing. Some groups are involved with small mammal surveys and there is plenty of scope for moth and bat recording during an overnight stay in the forest.
Sussex Wildlife Trust Forest School Training
- Forest School Leader Level 3 Training
- Forest School Assistant Level 2 Training
- Forest School Level 1 Training
Some of the groups we have worked with...
The Weald School, Billingshurst, West Sussex
Chailey Secondary School, East Sussex
Ashington Primary School, West Sussex
Withyham Parish Council, Community Group, East Sussex
Tideway School, Newhaven, East Sussex
Dorothy Stringer School, Brighton and Hove
Shiney's Home Educators Group, East Sussex
Manor Green Primary School, Crawley
St.Wilfred's School, Crawley
Imberhorne, East Grinstead
Hassocks Infant School, West Sussex
Ringmer Community College, East Sussex
Busy Bees Nursery School, Henfield, West Sussex
Portslade Community College
St.Andrews Pre-prep School, Eastbourne
Littlehampton Pupil Referral Unit
Patcham House Special School, Brighton
The Warren Nursery, Henfield
The Youth Offending Team and ru-ok substance abuse service, Brighton
Hove Park Lower School, Brighton.
Forest Schools Booking
Please contact Mark Hedgecock, Forest Schools Administrator on 01273 497565
Contact details:
Mike Murphy
Sussex Wildlife Trust
Exceat
Seaford
BN25 4AD
email here
tel(only if urgent): 07534 098589
Katie Riley
Sussex Wildlife Trust
Woods Mill
Henfield
BN5 9SD
email here
tel(only if urgent): 07557 162404