Woodland Learning

Woodland for Activity Network

Once a term anyone who is interested in using woodlands for any type of learning is invited to a meeting to share ideas and good practice and meet with like minded people. Anyone joining has access to training, networking and other support. Members currently include schools, early years settings and environmental organisations.

The next Network meeting will take place at Chiseldon School, SN4 0NS on Tuesday, 13th May 2008, 3.30pm to 5.45pm. The theme will be: Forest School leaders and 'would-be' leaders - share inspired outdoor learning. Join us to share your best Forest School activities, any successful procedures as well as challenges. Dress to work outside. Booking would be preferred but everybody is welcome.

For further information contact Nan Pratt on Tel: 01793 466202 or by email: npratt@swindon.gov.uk.

Story Sacks

Harry’s Hazelnut Storysack is now available for anyone to buy. The story follows Harry as he finds a hazelnut, grows a tree and harvests the wood.  The Storysack contains the story book, a CD of the story, props to help tell the story, a “Tree Trail” key to help identify the trees and comprehensive teaching notes and background information to help teachers, parents and youth leaders to use any patch of local wood for outdoor learning.

A group of parents from Goddard Park School, Swindon made a prototype Storysack, used it as a teaching aid around every class in the school and based Family Learning Events in the school wood on the story.

Storysacks Limited offered to publish the book and Storysack so it can be used to help people learn about and enjoy woodlands. It was launched in November 2005

If you would like to buy a copy of the book or Storysack it is available from Storysack Ltd. 0161 7636263 and costs £48.00. The components are available separately and they are featured, along with the Storysack, in the new Storysacks catalogue sent to every school. Royalties from the Harry’s Hazelnut Storysack will go to the schools in the GWCF for Forest Education projects.

Forest Schools

Forest Schools are sweeping the country! Originally a Scandinavian idea Forest Schools provide a regular hands-on woodland learning experience for people of all ages. Sessions are led by a trained leader. Not only do participants learn more about the woodland, wildlife and the environment, they gain physical exercise, improve their self-esteem and confidence, develop as individuals and a team and have great fun.

In 2004, two Forest Schools started in Swindon as After School Clubs, one at Mountford Manor School and one at Hreod Parkway School. These were funded by the Big Lottery. Both Forest Schools are run by trained school and GWCF staff. Many other schools in Swindon have benefited from Forest School leader training which has been facilitated by the GWCF.

Wildflower Project

The Great Western Community Forest has been awarded a grant by the Tree Council to plant wildflowers in Forest Schools to increase biodiversity in school grounds and to provide opportunities for children and parents to be involved in planting and maintenance activities. With support by Active Swindon, one secondary and seven primary schools with trained Forest School leaders in place took part in the project and received wildflower plugs worth £200. Each school was given personal advice on soil preparation and flower maintenance in relation to their chosen sites which varied from pond-side to hedgerow to woodland. The newly created wildflower meadows will provide fantastic teaching resources in the future, covering, e.g. habitat management, flower structure and pollinating insects.

Please see here for a list of wildflowers used for the project.

Please see here for a fact sheet on wildflower establishment and maintenance.

Pinehurst and Penhill Sure Start

All the children and their families who go to Sure Start in Pinehurst and Penhill will have the opportunity to learn and play in woodland gardens being created at the Centres. Over the next year GWCF, the Active Swindon Project, Swindon Learning Partnership and Sure Start will work in partnership to develop the woodland gardens to meet the needs of all the people using the Centres. They will be making woodland Storysacks, running family learning days and setting up Forest Schools. Landscape Architects from Swindon Borough Council have taken everyone’s ideas and combined them in plans for the gardens. Under the guidance of the GWCF team Surstart Parents, children and staff from AFL Telecommunications as well as Timberlands UK have started to plant the gardens.