Always on
This project successfully funded on 26th February 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Bridgehouse Gardens Forest School
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Aim
Bridgehouse Gardens is raising funds for a Forest School Families programme in 2026!
About Bridgehouse Gardens, SE15
Bridgehouse Gardens is a community garden located in South Bermondsey, in the borough of Lewisham, in a public space nestled between Winslade Housing Estate and Bridgehouse Meadows, London, SE15.
We are a volunteer-led project that seeks to activate existing, and create new public spaces for local communities in South Bermondsey, focused on greening, cultural and community infrastructure, food growing, education and recreation, to explore alternative approaches to community cohesion and just futures. To empower individuals and local communities to shape spaces that connect us, at the intersection of the rapidly changing urban environment and the natural world.
The project responds to the conditions of the geographical area, undergoing huge urban change with the ‘New Bermondsey Plan’ bringing 3500 new homes and high rise buildings to the area. The project aims to generate a space to become more resilient through this transition, building a strong sense of community, belonging and custodianship of spaces through collective growth and regenerative practices.
Our Project Idea
We are raising funds to run an Forest School Families programme at Bridgehouse Gardens from Spring to Autumn 2026! A free programme of outdoor learning, creative play and nature connection activities!
Why?
2025 surveys tell us:
- 37% of London children aged 3–11 never play outdoors in green spaces
- 42% never climb trees
- 73% aged 7–14 see more wildlife on their screens than in real life
Though this project won’t solve this disconnection from nature, with our partners Purposely United - a local organisation with a commitment and track record of creative and wellbeing programmes for local families - we hope to provide a regular space to step beyond the familiar and connect with the beauty and amazement of nature, right on the doorstep.
We’re creating this programme to address unequal access to outdoor learning and engagement activities experienced by kids and families living in inner-city London, and in response to a lack of free and affordable activities in South Bermondsey and the local area.
What is a Forest School?
Forest Schools are child-centred learning spaces that offer opportunities for nature connection, holistic growth and creativity. Advocating for play, exploration and supported risk taking. Key elements:
- Outdoor and nature-based activity: Connecting with our local environments and ecosystems
- Holistic development & wellbeing: Promoting personal and social skills, physical and technical skills, and a connection to nature.
- Child-led and supported risk-taking: To direct their own learning and growth within a supported environment.
- Hands-on activities: Such as gardening, growing, foraging, using tools, cooking on a fire, creative activities with natural materials, connecting with plants and animals.
This programme will be a local collaboration between Bridgehouse Gardens and Purposely United, local community groups in South Bermondsey.
Our Vision
We want to run free monthly sessions from March - September 2026, exploring outdoor nature-connection, learning and wellbeing activities open to families in the local area. The programme will take place at Bridgehouse Gardens, connecting with our garden site, thriving forest garden and community planters, running activities in our Winslade Barn learning space. During the programme we will also explore and nourish connect with our local green spaces, including Bridgehouse Meadows.
The programme and session activities will be led by the interests of children and families, and hosted by experienced facilitators.
What will the money go towards?
To support the delivery costs of our Forest School Families programme! including:
+ £2000 will enable exciting, imaginative sessions, and create a playful garden
We will use this budget to run a programme of creative sessions that will make playful adjustments to the BHG community garden so that families can take a break from the hustle and bustle of the built up space, and get stuck into open play, sessions that embrace the powerful fusion of kids' imagination and nature, learning and wellbeing. Drop-in sessions will be run by paid facilitators, and trained local volunteers.
+ £500 will provide healthy snacks at each session
At every session we will be able to provide tasty and healthy snacks and drinks for all participants.
+ £2000 will provide an accessible, onsite loo
Bridgehouse Gardens exists on a tarmacked site, in public space. We need to have access to toilet facilities to run our programmes, while we work towards a longer-term solution.
+ £3500 will build new connections and expand the programme
We can hire a forest school coordinator and programme steward who will be able to build partnerships with nearby neighbourhoods and local organisations to ensure that as many families as possible can access the programme this year, and find out more about how to get involved at Bridgehouse Gardens in the long-term.
+ £450 to invite Garden Guests
We want to give participant families the opportunity to shape the programme. With this funding we can invite exciting guest facilitators to deliver special skills workshops or entertainment to families, responding to what people are interested in.
+ £300 to print posters and flyers
We can print flyers and posters to share info about the programme and spread the word!
Why support us? Our Impact so far....
We have a track record of exciting, accessible, inclusive and impactful projects!
The garden's existence is testament to this. Bridgehouse Gardens all started with an idea to transform a disused carpark into a community garden. A few years on, hundreds of volunteers have come together through regular sessions, to plant our abundant forest garden, build 6 community gardening beds, a slickly-crafted community greenhouse and 'The Winslade Barn' - our community learning and social space space hosting a variety of events open to all.
We’ve organised hundreds of free educational, creative and social workshops, activities and events for all ages, in collaboration with local residents and individuals, groups, collectives and local venues.
Everyone is welcome to get involved!
A snapshot of our programmes and projects to date:
- Hundreds of ‘Meet at the Garden' sessions: beginner-friendly gardening sessions and workshops, ranging from learning the basics of growing, foraging, and composting, to forest gardening and permaculture.
- Loads of Building Bridgehouse Gardens sessions: beginner-friendly Carpentry skills workshops and design and build sessions, to build community greenhouse and Winslade Barn community learning and social space.
- Community Festivals, Seasonal Parties & Creative Events for all ages in collaboration with Winslade Estate Tenants Residents Association and local group Purposely United. Building community through arts, music, dance and food.
- Bridgehouse Gardens Open Call: an open invitation to local people, clubs and collectives to host events, workshops, meet-ups and more.
- A Mural Project in collaboration with Winslade Estate Tenants Residents Association, local young people and artists.
- Bridgehouse Community Archive: community-led archive project, documenting the project and sharing our story.
Some reflections about Bridgehouse Gardens from our community:
“What a transformation! A dead-end road that was a hotspot for flytipping and litter has become a social hub for residents and locals alike.”
“This is the best spot in the whole estate.”
“Great to meet new people and work together on a project.”
“I gained lots of valuable skills."
“This is such an inspiring space, I’ve never known any place like this.”
“I feel warm and fuzzy when I'm at Bridgehouse Gardens.”
“Great to meet local people and get outside.”
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Any donation big or small is hugely appreciated and will support us in our mission to create opportunities for outdoor learning, creativity and community connection in South Bermondsey and the local area!
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made