The Background

In the 19^th century outdoor learning became popular amongst many educators; the learning style highlighted the many positives of being outside, later helping to form Forest School. Educators, naturalists and philosophers in the UK and Europe lay the foundations for Forest School originally. In 1995 Bridgewater College sent a group of Nursery Nurse students to Denmark to witness the vast wealth of benefits Forest School could offer to the children in their care.  On returning to the UK the group began to incorporate their experiences within their own setting, developing a site in which they could deliver the Forest School sessions. They received a prestigious award for their pioneering work. Consequently the concept has been shared all over the country, with many authorities offering educational settings funding to support the development and implementation of Forest School.  It is reported that numerous settings supported the Forest School approach, throughout Wales and in various other local authorities in England.  In 2002 a network of practitioners held a national conference in which the UKs definition of Forest School was formulated as follows, Forest Schools is ‘an inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence, self-esteem through hands on learning experience in a local woodland environment’.