Learning how to be in the forest...

It takes time to adjust to new things.

Many children have never spent time in a woodland.  The exploration about how to get there, how we and how we feel once there, and all the new uncomforts and wonderful discoveries brings up a lot of emotion. 

​We walked into the woods near the school.

We wondered how we could find worms.

Alp found a worm by singing to them!


Worms and slugs are usually the first minibeasts that children have close encounters with at our Forest School.  They move slow and allow children to see and feel their cold bodies.  It is an exciting moment with some children very keen to hold and touch them, while others are repulsed but interested.  ​​Experiences like this help children to understand that the forest has life in it, that this is a home for someone or something, and that we must respect that.

It takes time to get to know ourselves in a new space.  We have to create a relationship with the space.  During the first few weeks of Forest School we hear squeals of excitement, shudders of disgust, whining when hands get dirty, shouts of 'come see this!' and a whole lot of laughter.