Finding a Forest School

Aim:

To help educate young people to understand why trees and forests are important and to develop skills related to the forest environment.

Activities:

1. Offering training to those wishing to work with young people in this area.
2. Faciliating Forest Days and Forest School Activities. 
3. Furthering the aim of the Cluster Group by working with, and offering resources to, local schools, clubs and other relevant organisations. 

The Forest School is linked to the: Surrey and Sussex FEI Cluster Group Cluster group. 

The Forest School operates in: Surrey, West Sussex

Surrey and Sussex FEI Cluster Group Thomas Bennett Community College Ashdown Drive Tilgate Crawley West Sussex RH10 5AD

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Website: http://www.thomasbennett.ik.org

Contact: Tina Hutchinson

Forest School has been established in Shropshire since 2002 and is still growing! ...There are now over 200 Forest School Practitioners in Shropshire, many delivering sessions on Forest School sites in school grounds. Shropshire Council also have several woodland sites, and also sites run by Shropshire Wildlife Trust, the Greenwood Centre and the Forestry Commission. Shropshire Council offer Forest School training - Level 3 training in October, March and May and a range of CPD courses. For more information on the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Cluster group please see http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/schools.nsf/open/7B5587F51182C35C802575450054B511 or contact Alice Savery. 

The Forest School is linked to the: Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Cluster group. 

The Forest School operates in: Shropshire

Shropshire Telford & Wrekin Forest School Development Officer Shropshire Council The Guildhall Frankwell Quay Shrewsbury SY3 8HQ

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Website: http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/forestschools.nsf

Contact: Alice Savery

There are many Forest Schools operating throughout Scotland. For information on Forest Schools in your area please contact your local FEI cluster group or the FEI co-ordinator. 

The Forest School operates in: Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh City, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Scottish Borders, Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian

Scotland

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Website: NA

Contact: FEI co-ordinator

Plas Derw Trust offers Forest School from its sites at Northop and Caerws 

The Forest School is linked to the: Impio - North East Wales FEI Cluster Group Cluster group.

The Forest School operates in: Flintshire

Plas Derw Trust - Flintshire Forest School Plas Derw Trust c/o Welsh College of Horticulture Northop Flinthshire CH7 6AA

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Website: http://www.plasderwforestschool.co.uk

Contact: Pippa Gallagher

The Forest School for Monouthshire Project was a three year Lottery funded Project run by the Forestry Commission Wales. 

It aimed to set up and run new Forest Schools as well as providing training for teachers and other learning providers so that they could deliver their own Forest School sessions.

For a copy of the final report please contact Carol Travers 

The Forest School is linked to the: Monmouthshire Cluster group. 

The Forest School operates in: Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire Forestry Commission Itton Forest Office Itton Chepstow NP16 6BZ

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Website: NA

Contact: Rachel Smith

The group has developed Forest School programmes and created new sites where forest school projects may be delivered.

The Dyfi Forest Education Initiative Cluster Group has successfully been awarded grant money from The Forestry Commission and Communities First Trust Fund to run a pilot Forest School Scheme in the Dyfi Valley area. The focus of the group is to raise awareness of the woodland environment and its many resources to the public, particularly young people. 

Past programmes have included a settlement program, giving children the opportunity to learn about the interrelationship between people and the land and resources around them including the opportunity to design and create their own settlement. 

A second program explores ancient Celtic modes of communication, namely the Ogham alphabet. This is very similar to the runic alphabet but is interwoven with the uses and symbolism of native trees. 

The Forest School is linked to the: Dyfi FEI Cluster group. 

The Forest School operates in: Powys

Dyfi Forest School (Forge) Flat 4 Plas Esgair Pantperthog Machynlleth Powys SY20 9AY

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Website: NA

Contact: Ruth Brocklehurst

Duffryn Community Link worked with the community and the Forestry Commission to dispel the negative perception of the surrounding woodland.

An area of the woodland was fenced off and a Forest School set up for Duffryn Infants/Junior schools. This has been very successful and both teachers and community workers have undergone Forest School training. The local community accessed a grant for wet weather gear and the Forest School now runs successfully every week with all age groups. 

The Forest School is linked to the: Newport FEI Cluster Group (formerly Duffryn) Cluster group. 

The Forest School operates in: Newport

Duffryn Forest School Science Advisor Newport City Council Civic Centre NP20 4UR

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Website: NA

Contact: Colin Green

Devon FEI Cluster group aims to increase people\'s understanding of the local and global importance of trees, woodlands, forest environments, the forestry industry, the timber trade and the wood products industries. It seeks to promote the benefits of forest education to a wider audience and help put them in touch with a local member / service provider.

The Cluster group also provides a forum for a range of people and organisations involved in forestry, woodland management and related educational issues and activities (ie Environmental Education, ESD, Science, Community Education) throughout the county. The group meets quarterly to look at opportunities and applications for funding to help support its members\' forest education activities and improve networking.

Over the last year the group has received funding for the construction of a roundhouse and training for 15 people in Forest School Leadership. 

The Forest School is linked to the: Devon FEI Cluster Cluster group. 

The Forest School operates in: Devon

Devon FEI Cluster The Silvanus Trust Unit 4, Winstone Beacon, Trematon, Saltash, Cornwall. PL12 4RU.

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Website: http://www.silvanus.org.uk

Contact: Victoria Hughes

The Forest School is linked to the: Birmingham FEI cluster group Cluster group. 

The Forest School operates in: Birmingham

Birmingham

Website: http://www.brumforestschools.org.uk

Contact: Sue Cooper