Exploring Forest School: Pinecone Currency and Grandma Oak

Twenty-one students and three staff members from The Damara School, in Thetford, came out of the classroom for six sessions of Forest School at Lackford Lakes. The BFER-funded sessions were a part of the training of two members of staff from the Suffolk Wildlife Trust to become level 3 Forest School Leaders.

So, what is Forest School?

It is child-centred outdoor education, based on regular sessions of play, exploration and supported risk taking that builds on the needs and development of the children. Drawing on experiential learning theory, this learning process steps boldly out of the shadow and limitation of ‘planned activities’ and ventures into the realms of unplanned, unlimited activities that encourage children to develop problem-solving and collaboration skills.

The activities provided by Emily and Jodi from Lackford Lakes included building dens using tools and tying knots, creating their own trade system, climbing trees and learning campfire management. Everything was designed to encourage exploration, dexterity, social, physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. The students learned to cooperate, take turns, teach each other, and solve problems. And, as their abilities were tested, their self-esteem, creativity, confidence and independence grew.

Damara School pupils were hooked!

The ‘wild’, and yet controlled, safe environment of Forest School ensured they were taking part naturally, having fun and meeting challenges without realising they were also learning to assess risk and make informed decisions about how to deal with unfamiliar and unpredictable situations. Now, they can take their new-found confidence into school and other areas of their lives.

Rick O’Connor, Higher Level Teaching Assistant – Damara School said:

“We would like to say thank you for the wonderful forest school experience at Lackford Lakes. The children experienced excitement as they explored the diverse habitats, marvelling at the vibrant wildlife within the pine forests, under the watchful eye of Grandma Oak. Guided by dedicated instructors, they enjoyed hands-on activities like bug hunting, building dens, and learning about the local flora and fauna. A particular highlight was the time spent by the stream, where the children enjoyed playing in the water flow and discovering aquatic wildlife. The serene environment fostered their curiosity and creativity, and the sessions were filled with laughter, learning, and an appreciation for nature. It was an unforgettable experience for all the young adventurers. Thank you for providing such an enriching and joyful experience.”

And, Forest School Leader, Emily said:

“At the start of the block of sessions, I noticed a lot of the students were more reserved and their movement around the woodland was limited by this. As the sessions went on, and the students got more comfortable in the 

natural environment around them they started to explore it more. Picking up sticks and getting involved with lots of imaginative play (such as pretending to be old people with walking sticks), playing in the stream, building dens- making these into banks where they ‘sold’ the wands using pinecone currency. At the start of each session, we gave each student a flag for them to go out and mark the boundary of the woodland. This gave them the responsibility of choosing where they can and can’t go, and we noticed they stuck to this each time- which suggests that giving them the responsibility and ownership meant they followed it.”