What is Forest Schools?
Forest Schools is all about being outside, exploring and discovering the natural environment whilst facing opportunities to take safe risks, make choices and initiate learning. The outdoor environment provides a whole host of wonderful resources which are used to stimulate imagination and creativity. Forest Schools presents small achievable tasks which help individuals learn how to take care of themselves, others and the world around them.
Who is Forest Schools For?
Everyone can benefit from Forest Schools! It can be tailored to suit families, young people, corporate groups, school pupils from pre-school to sixth formers – it is a great way to support and enrich the national curriculum.
What happens at Forest Schools?
Participants will take part in a number of regular Forest Schools sessions during which they will get involved in a variety of woodland activities to develop a greater understanding an appreciation of the natural environment. Individuals could build shelters, find animals, make nature art, make nest boxes, use tools, look for tracks, saw wood, make mud sculptures, help build fires, make bird nests and much, much more.
For School Groups – Forest School sessions can be tailored to suit a particular topic or area of learning and will be linked to the national curriculum. Although structured around set learning outcomes there will be plenty of flexibility to allow children to benefit fully and learn in a pace and style which suits them.
Where do Forest Schools take place?
Durham Wildlife Trust can deliver Forest 
Schools at a variety of outdoor locations including Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, Bill Quay Community Farm in Gateshead and Milkwell Burn Woods Nature Reserve. We can also deliver sessions at a suitable outdoor location on your schools grounds. A woody area provides a great setting for many activities but this doesn’t not have to be an extensive woodland area and we can tailor the sessions to suit the space you have.
More about Forest Schools
Forest Schools originated in Scandinavia in the 50s and has been in spreading all over the world since then. Research shows that Forest Schools has a powerful affect on developing children’s confidence, self-esteem and independence as well as the social, physical and intellectual benefits.
What do you need to be prepared?
Forest School sessions will go ahead come rain or shine so everyone should come fully kitted out with warm clothes (lots of layer are best), waterproof jackets and trousers, welly boots or sturdy foot wear and a hat in sunny weather. All tools and equipment will be provided by Durham Wildlfie Trust.
