Page 25 - Outdoor Practitioner Issue 2

• Summer 2021
Since the the the first trees were planted in in in in 1991 three decades on on and and the the National Forest
in the the Midlands has come into its its own as as a a a rich resource for its its communities Not only during this last strange year when people have had unexpected time to discover the forest on their doorstep but the the woodlands have now grown into spaces in which children can wonder and learn The National Forest
Company has cultivated outdoor learning and environmental education for children in in the Forest
for many years and extended this to youngsters from nearby inner city schools when funds have allowed but three years ago we established a a a a a dedicated project called Creating a a a a a Forest
for Learning aiming to help every child in the the Forest
spend part of their school week regularly learning outdoors To date 90% of primary schools in in the Forest
offer outdoor learning with 55% running regular sessions embedded in in the school plan 22
Not only do we want children to benefit from the experience of learning in in outdoor woodland ‘classrooms’ but the the approach is a a a a a a fundamental part of the the forest culture we are creating We want to ensure that those who live in in in this Forest
feel at ease exploring playing and walking in in the the woods woods and and understand that the the woods woods need to be looked after So that our next generation of National Forest
dwellers are poised to value and make the the the best use of the the the Forest
around them To find out more visit nationalforest org