BEE Forest School

Forest School is a learner-centred approach which supports play, exploration and supported risk-taking in a natural environment. These environments range between anything from a woodland or beach to a field or community garden.

This summer (2020), we have recognised the increased amount of screen-time inflicted upon children and young people due to school closures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic meaning that learning is predominantly accessed on computers.  In addition, adults have faced isolation and reduced wellbeing through restrictions we have all had to endure with new parents and pre-school children having far fewer opportunities for connection and support.

To address the longer-term problems this could have , we have launched a Forest School programme for 4-11 year olds during the school holidays and 4 toddler groups for under 5s and their parents, as well as a wellbeing group for women which has not been able to run as yet. The demand for our provision has been extraordinary with over 100 families and individuals to date registering for our programmes. Due to limited physical space and number of spaces available to adhere to government guidance, we have had to turn people away. 

Our vision is to offer Forest School programmes which can be accessed by people from all economic and social backgrounds and we therefore wish to crowdfund in order to offer funded places to those that may not be able to afford them. We aim to offer more places from Spring on-wards either as a weekend programme, toddler groups, after school club and/or holiday club, wellbeing groups and whatever provision that we can offer to help the community.

Please help us to make Forest School accessible for all by supporting our crowdfunder. We believe that access to nature is a fundamental human right and that everyone, regardless of their background, should experience the positive developmental and restorative benefits of Forest School.

We are running BEE Forest School as a not-for-profit organisation so reinvest any money made back into the project having paid our costs.

Donations could fund a place for a toddler (approx £7.50 a session), a day for a child in holiday club (approx £15), pay for a subsidised place for a participant of our women's wellbeing group (approx £10 a session), offer a day for a school or run a minibus to bring children to our site.  We also aim to do some more pop up Forest School activities where need may be greater.

Thank you for your support so far and thanks for helping us launch!