Provided in Collaboration with The Children’s Forest
Planting a Vision – For children worldwide to imagine, plant and tend protected forests for future generations, creating a sanctuary for the children of all species.
Imbolc Songs
These six songs feature in the Imbolc chapter of the book: The Children's Forest by Dawn Casey, Anna Richardson and Helen d'Ascoli published by Hawthorn Press.
Hazel Song
Here we share Anna Richardson's Hazel song celebrating its many gifts, qualities and uses.
Story of Bethshuka and the Woman of the Birch
This graceful story is perfect for accompanying any birch related activity or to bring attention to birch trees and their gifts. It has a magical, joyful feel to it.
Birch Song
A lovely, simple song to celebrate the Birch trees.
Birch Tree Lore
Anna shares inspirational knowledge about Birch trees, the gifts they offer to both us and the wider ecology.
The Holly Song
The Holly Song is a song for a much-beloved tree, with thanks to Anna Richardson and The Children's Forest.
Hawthorn Song
The Hawthorn tree has gifts in every season and this song is an appreciation to the Hawthorn tree. With gratitude to Anna for bringing this song.
Free Resources
5 Frequently Used Knots
Here Ellie demonstrates 5 knots that we commonly use in the woods: Timber Hitch, Taut Line Hitch, Taut Tarp Knot, Bowline and Clove hitch.
Basic Tree Health Assessment for Rope Swings
When looking for the perfect tree swing site, one thing to look for is the gradient. Ideally you want a little bit of a slope to get a nice swing without catching your feet on the ground and it makes it easier to get on and off too. You also want a limb that’s accessible to get a rope over and that will give space to swing well from.
Making Spring Green Pesto
Pesto is a popular sauce for pasta and wonderful accompaniment to spread on crackers and such like. Here Anna shows you how to make pesto from foraged Spring greens that are common...
Foxes’ Tails
This fun and lively game is an interesting combination of raising the energy, heightening participants’ awareness of others around them and developing quick, agile movements. The playfulness of fox cubs is drawn out of the players as they strive to catch others’ tails whilst protecting their own.
Whittling Skills Progression
Whittling or wood carving is a skill many children are eager to learn, likely because it requires a true responsibility and trust in them... Here is a suggested progression of how you can guide a child to develop their skills with proposed projects and techniques.
Steal the Spines
This is a wonderful, classic game that goes by many names including deer stalk and fox the fox. It is especially helpful to shift the energy of a group to a slower, quieter, more aware state. Throughout the game, those who are quietest and who make the least disturbance do well, with the blind guard developing their sense of hearing.
Mallet Making
Making a mallet is a classic Forest School activity. Not only is it a helpful tool once created to help with many other projects, but it also clearly teaches the woodworking principles of a stop cut and batoning.
Making Char Cloth
Char cloth is a valuable material to have in your bag when out and about in the woods. It can make the difference to getting your fire lit, especially on a damp day. It’s quick and easy to make on a fire with very basic equipment.
Otter Steals Fish
This high energy, yet contained game can fit well at the start of the day to get the group going. With participants being drawn into the characters of cheeky otters or the patient heron, they love this game, all the while developing their agility, sneakiness and awareness.