2024 – 2025 Highlights: Forest School

This year, Forest School has once again been a place of wonder, learning and growth for our Junior School pupils. In our mature woodland, full of beech, holly, laurel and yew trees, sessions have provided rich, hands-on learning experiences that have nurtured a deep respect for the natural world. Whether under golden autumn leaves or wrapped in winter scarves with mugs of hot chocolate, the girls have embraced nature with healthy curiosity.

A core part of Forest School is the development of practical, hands-on skills. The girls have learned to use tools safely and confidently — from potato peelers for whittling decorative wands, to bowsaws for cutting branches and loppers to chop up discarded Christmas trees. These activities not only build coordination and resilience, but also foster responsibility and independence. It’s been a joy to see pupils supporting one another — guiding a friend with a new tool, or working together to build a sturdy den from branches and tarpaulins.

Artistic expression has flourished in our woodland classroom. Inspired by the natural sculptures of Andy Goldsworthy, pupils created beautiful land art using leaves, stones, twigs and petals. These temporary installations encouraged close observation of natural patterns and textures, offering a calm, reflective contrast to the more active elements of the sessions.

Adventure and play have been ever-present. Tree climbing, rope sliding and navigating a rope bridge between trunks gave the girls the chance to test their limits in a supportive environment. Games such as sardines — enhanced with camouflage nets — turned the woods into a living playground. In sensory activities, blindfolded pupils used their hands to identify trees by their bark and leaves, building confidence and deepening their connection with the natural world.

Wildlife observation has been a quiet highlight. While studying the pond, pupils discovered frogs, newts and a range of aquatic insects. During winter birdwatching — especially as part of the RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch — the girls spotted robins, magpies, woodpigeons and even bright green parakeets. On one particularly still morning, a small group noticed movement near a quiet patch of undergrowth, catching a fleeting glimpse of fox cubs emerging cautiously from a nearby den. These magical moments reminded us all of the richness of life that shares our woodland space.

In spring, pupils created seed bombs to encourage wildflower growth and learned about pollinators and biodiversity. Tree identification using both bark and leaves helped the girls recognise and name many of the species in our forest, deepening their understanding of the ecosystem around them.

Above all, the girls have shown tremendous personal growth throughout the year. Their empathy for one another, care for the environment and joy in shared discovery have been truly inspiring. Forest School continues to offer a space where learning is led by curiosity, where mud is welcomed, and where every pupil leaves with a deeper sense of connection to nature, their peers and themselves.

As always, our thanks go to all the pupils and staff involved in the Forest School experience — in particular our dedicated Forest School teachers. Thanks also to the Facilities Team and site staff, our green-fingered guardians of the Fairseat Forest, whose invaluable support in all weathers keeps the area looking fantastic.