Explore March Wood
Scroll around the image below to look around our Forest School site
Click the dark grey box in the top right corner to explore March Wood in fullscreen view
Forest School is an inspirational, learner-centered process aiming to develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment. Children will problem solve, explore their learning and are supported in managing risk to support independence and resilience in a safe environment.
Scroll around the image below to look around our Forest School site
Click the dark grey box in the top right corner to explore March Wood in fullscreen view
The Forest School Association headlines their definition by saying that, “Forest School is an inspirational process that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.”
The principles of Forest School as laid out by the Forest School Community in 2002 are as follows:
All participants in the Devonshire Hill Forest School program will be encouraged to:
It is this child-centered, child-led approach to learning that signifies the Forest School program as opposed to other valuable outdoor educational experiences such as field studies, bushcraft, horticulture, environmental education or even learning outside the classroom as an alternative environment.
Harvesting and weaving willow to make wands.
Digging was very popular at Pasteur Gardens. Just add water.
Creating forest art at Pasteur gardens.
At Devonshire Hill Primary School we have chosen to run a Forest School program with the intention to:
Detailed information about the Devonshire Hill Primary School Forest School program, including the Forest School ethos, and detailed risk/benefit assessments, will be available shortly.
As part of our commitment to providing a high quality Forest School experience, we have created our own fantastic woodland area, March Wood, at the far end of our large school field.
This project will provide an amazing outdoor learning environment for our children which will grow richer every year and become a fantastic legacy for the school and the area.
This last year has been a very exciting time in March Wood with many new arrivals! We have welcomed 31 semi-mature trees and 420 young saplings, a beautiful sweet chestnut roundhouse shelter and learning area, a variety of living willow structures to name just a few! Work has started on a wildlife pond and we have another 315 native mixed broadleaf saplings waiting to be planted in thickets and hedgerows. As the leaves fall from the trees, it is time to start harvesting the amazing first year’s willow growth and planting more living structures.
While the development work carries on, we eagerly wait for spring to see March Wood burst into life again for its first full year!
Parental Agreement and Consent Form
This form must be completed to enable your child to participate in Forest School Activities.