At With Nature Forest School, we offer screen-free immersion in nature. We support young people who enjoy exploring, playing, crafting, taking risks, and fully engaging with the natural world, while promoting wellbeing, emotional regulation, and a Nature Connection through time spent experiencing outdoors.
Forest School sessions are child-initiated and supported by an experienced Forest School Leader. This means each child's journey is entirely their own, with guidance and support available whenever needed. All sessions follow the Forest School Association's ethos and principles of good practice (available here). Each session is tailored to the individual, nurturing personal development, confidence, and interests.
While every session may include a skill, tool use, or craft activity, there is never any pressure to participate. Often, these elements blend naturally into the experience. Forest School is not an adult-led activity; children are at the centre of everything we facilitate, and their ideas help shape the direction of each session.
When we spend time outside, we often develop a positive relationship with nature and feel more connected to it. Nature supports our mental health and wellbeing so effectively that even the NHS offers Green Social Prescribing. Nature is good for us, not just in summer, but all year round.
Have you ever seen a child standing still for long in the woods? More often than not, they are walking, running, building, climbing, and playing. These activities are excellent for developing and strengthening gross motor skills.
And it's not just children who benefit from play. Play takes many forms, and as adults we often forget both its importance and how to do it. When was the last time you walked along a log, jumped in a puddle, looked up as you walked, or ran through fallen leaves? Try doing any of those without a smile on your face. Adults need to play too. This is why we can facilitate adult sessions too.
As the weather changes, it can be tempting to stay indoors and hide from the cold, dark, wet, or windy days. However, this can be one of the best times to get outside. Each season brings new experiences for our senses. Woodlands transform and offer something different to enjoy, from the crunch of autumn leaves to the freshness of a winter breeze.
These seasonal changes stimulate our senses and help us become more aware of the environment around us. Fresh air can help us feel energised, while the changing colours of the landscape and the bare trees remind us of nature's cycles. And, of course, there is the added benefit of time away from screens.
Nature Connection is not about how long you spend outdoors. It is about how you interact with nature, what you notice, and how it makes you feel. It involves building meaningful experiences and creating moments that foster positive emotions and a sense of connection with the natural world.
There are five recognised pathways to developing a stronger Nature Connection:
To learn more, view the Nature Connection Handbook, available here (pdf)