Forest school winter shelter project

Aim

Money raised will go directly towards the purchase and installation of our two winter shelters to replace our current broken tarp shelters.

Dreckly Woods Forest School is a newly formed Community Interest Company (CIC) providing inclusive, nature-based learning and outdoor experiences for children and families in our local community. We are based in Pipers Pool (near Launceston) but support many families from Bude and surrounding areas and have also lived in Bude our whole life.

We are a SEND-inclusive Forest School, creating a safe, welcoming and flexible environment where children can learn, explore and develop at their own pace. We run home education sessions, family sessions and skills-based Forest School activities, with the aim of helping children build confidence, self-esteem, independence and meaningful friendships through connection with nature.

As we move into the winter months, we are seeking funding to create an improved, weatherproof woodland shelter so that Dreckly Woods can continue providing these valuable sessions throughout the colder and wetter months.

Why the shelter is needed

The woodland is at the heart of everything we do, but the British winter weather can make it difficult for children to spend several hours outdoors safely and comfortably. A suitable shelter would provide a warm, dry and secure base where children can take breaks, eat, create, learn and regroup before returning to explore the woodland.

For some of the children we work with, particularly those with SEND, having a predictable and sheltered space is especially important. Outdoor learning can be hugely beneficial, but children need the freedom to regulate themselves and take time away from activities when they become overwhelmed.

The shelter would therefore be much more than simply protection from the rain. It would provide a flexible learning and regulation space that allows children to participate in Forest School in a way that works for them.

Supporting children in a SEND crisis

Families are facing increasing difficulties accessing appropriate educational and recreational opportunities for children with additional needs. Many children struggle within traditional environments where learning is structured around a classroom, fixed routines and a one-size-fits-all approach.

At Dreckly Woods, we offer something different.

Children can learn through doing, exploring, moving, creating and connecting with nature, rather than being restricted to a conventional classroom environment. We allow children to take breaks, follow their interests, work at their own pace and engage with activities in different ways.

Our approach recognises that not every child learns best by sitting still and being told what to do. For some children, being outdoors, having space and learning practical skills can unlock confidence and engagement that they may struggle to find elsewhere.

What children gain from Dreckly Woods

Our sessions give children opportunities to:

- Develop self-esteem, confidence and independence

- Learn practical woodland and Forest School skills

- Develop communication and teamwork

- Make new friendships and feel part of a community

- Connect with nature and develop an understanding of wildlife and conservation

- Experience manageable challenges and develop resilience

- Explore creativity through natural materials, woodwork, art and play

- Have opportunities for free play and child-led learning

- Develop skills through activities such as den building, fire lighting, campfire cooking, whittling and woodland management

- Spend time outdoors in a supportive and non-judgemental environment

Our home education sessions provide families with an alternative educational experience, while our family sessions allow children and adults to spend meaningful time together outdoors and develop a shared connection with nature.

A new CIC with a community purpose

Dreckly Woods has recently become a Community Interest Company, reflecting our commitment to creating a service that benefits our community rather than simply operating as a commercial Forest School.

We are working to keep our sessions affordable and accessible, including low-cost home education sessions, and are actively seeking funding so that financial circumstances do not become a barrier to children accessing these opportunities.

As a newly formed CIC, investment in our woodland infrastructure would have a lasting impact. An improved shelter would allow us to continue running sessions throughout the winter, increase the resilience of our provision and create a resource that can be used by children and families for years to come.

The difference your funding could make

Funding towards an improved shelter would help us to ensure that rain, cold weather and poor conditions do not mean children have to lose access to this valuable outdoor provision during the winter.

It would allow us to provide a safe and welcoming base while still giving children the freedom to explore the woodland around them.

Most importantly, it would help us continue providing a place where children can belong, be themselves, learn new skills, build friendships and discover what they are capable of.

We believe every child deserves opportunities to learn in a way that works for them. Dreckly Woods aims to provide that space — inclusive, flexible, practical and rooted in nature and community.

We would be extremely grateful for funding towards the development of our winter shelter and would be delighted to demonstrate how the funding has been used and the difference it makes to the children and families who attend Dreckly Woods.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 10th November 2026 at 12:18pm