Randalls Farm Forest School

Can you remember the days you spent exploring the woods, scouring the countryside for treasures or building a den that was just for you?

Forest School is about providing just that kind of opportunity. It's a unique learning experience for people of any age that takes place in a safe, supportive, stimulating environment.

Randalls Farm has been delivering a Forest School programme for the last three years. In that time over 150 children from 24 schools have taken part, together with groups from Bedfordshire County Council Social Services.

Visiting members of school staff have often commented that they have seen some of their 'more challenging' children in a new light after just a one Forest School session. These children are often surprisingly knowledgeable about environmental or practical subjects but it takes a visit to the outdoors for this to show.

They often interact better with the other children in their group because they do not feel that they are at a disadvantage - they can often be the 'stars' in their group and this, for some children, is a whole new experience which does wonders for their self esteem. The idea of never setting children up to fail by setting small manageable tasks allows all children to develop skills and an “I can do that“ attitude towards tasks.

We are currently using two sites, Randalls Farm and Browns Wood near Clapham (in partnership with Bedford Borough Council). The groups are collected in the Trust minibus and returned to school after the session.