Forest Schools

 

Forest School East aims to enable Forest Schools to develop in the East of England, giving children in the region the opportunity to explore and learn in their local environment. It is supported by a Forestry Commission Woodland Improvement (WIG) Challenge Fund. This will give schools, sport, youth and environmental charities and organisations the opportunity to apply for a grant, which will provide financial support in setting up a Forest School site. The grant will provide money for items such as:

• Training
• Fences
• Wet weather gear
• On site storage facilities
• Gates etc.

The overall aim is to enable a number of Forest Schools through the region to set up under the banner of Forest School East. The Green Light Trust provides Forest School Training in the region, which will allow participants to train and learn in their local environment.

An independent evaluation of the Forest School Challenge Fund was completed in 2007. The report concludes that the fund has ".... been a great success as judged by applicants and other stakeholders. It has achieved both direct and indirect benefits beyond its original expectations, has done so at reasonable cost and achieved additional outputs beyond that that could have been expected without it being in place".

Forest School East is currently supported by the Forestry Commission and Green Light Trust, and we are actively looking for more partners.

Forest School Woodland Improvement Grant Challenge 2007/08 - Progress report.