Forest School portfolio, information and booking.

Broomheath Plantation Forest School, with bases in Tarvin, near Chester and in Northwich, Cheshire, is one of a growing number of organisations specialising in delivering Forest School in school grounds across Cheshire and the North West, or other settings like Broomheath Plantation owned and managed woodlands in Cheshire, near Tarvin and Malpas. Upon first hearing the term Forest School, many people immediately take the words at face value and conclude that we will be teaching in woodland or wooded areas. Of course this is correct, at least partially, because Forest School is an ethos or method, rather than a thing or a place, and can be delivered indoors or on flat playing fields and even playgrounds too. The roots of Forest School can be traced back to times when people were more comfortable in natural surroundings and to countries where, for many reasons, people are more likely to spend time outdoors coping and interacting with the natural World around them. It can be hypothesised, and there are numerous studies which prove it, that there is something natural missing from modern life and many solutions have evolved linking people back to the natural world. Many easy to read books are available on the subject and it could be considered that Baden Powel developed Scouting as a result of identifying this missing link. Montessori is also a method that replaces the missing link. It can be concluded, fairly easily, that there are as many solutions as there are studies and they all aim to do pretty much the same thing in targeting children, tomorrow's adults, and improving their lot by equipping them with skills that enhance their emotional intelligence, self esteem and self confidence allowing them to deal with life challenges and decisions more successfully.

Some Forest School sessions concentrate more on physical skills which level the playing field for children, since even those who are Cubs, Scouts, Brownies and Guides have not been exposed to the full range of methods and techniques. There is a bit of imaginative work requiring the group to "get" the storyline before continuing on to the skills. The skills initially taught are basic but useful, especially as classes go on to their Learning Outside the Classroom residential settings. We teach the knots and lashings they require for raft building, fire lighting skills required to boil a storm kettle, foraging for tinder, kindling and fuel. These sessions can be linked into the curriculum as required or can stand alone as "Golden time". Skills sessions work on self confidence, self esteem, physical and mental endurance, team building, cooperation and resilience.

Other Forest School sessions concentrate on natural art, slower paced activities that require the participant to spend time considering their role in their surroundings and the effect they have on each other. Simple activities which produce soul searching and understanding by sharing in our wealth of knowledge of the natural world.

Our Forest School Practitioners work together in some settings, augmenting one another, swapping the lead as required, or they work individually in settings and exchange roles on a session by session basis.

Click here to find out more about Forest Education Initiative and Forest School.