Half term dates 16 -19 February just published

Blacknest Forest School offers children the opportunity to explore, learn and grow in a serene and secure enriching environment, in every school holiday. Find out more…

It has been a brilliant autumn!

Many Forest School children come back time after time as they grow in love and understanding of all the woods can offer at any given season.

The rich and varied habitats here are ideal for small birds and there are interesting newcomers like Firecrest and Goldcrest.

We definitely have two breeding pairs of Firecrest on site. The tiny Firecrest vies with the Goldcrest for the title of the UK’s smallest bird.

Fungi have been spectacular this year – we found approximately 60 different species, including several that we had not recorded previously, notably Fly agaric and Penny bun.

Here at Blacknest, the children and I not only experience but aim to enhance the wonderful natural environment around us.

The new pond in the field has been a useful stopping place for birds and the deer who roam freely.

We trust the foxes and badgers onsite at night to drink.

Amongst our many activities, whittling and fire striking are favourites – not learnt elsewhere.

The wide range of options on offer, lead parents tell me that our Forest School is their favourite holiday club!

Woodland Play Oct 25

We run forest school sessions every school holiday.

“It was awesome!” – Child

A truly wonderful place for children, all year round! – Parent

Research by the National Trust (Finding Nature | Nature Connectedness Research Blog by Prof. Miles Richardson) has helped people to recognise a love of nature (nature connectedness) and being engaged in nature in simple ways leads to better wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours. That is what we can achieve.

Education is not a matter of getting facts and sewing them within brains, it is an attitude of mind that you teach children to find out for themselves” – David Attenborough