October 2025

In today’s Forest School session, children revisited den building with a focus on developing their own design ideas and applying previous learning in new ways. Working in self‑selected groups, they explored the woodland to find a suitable site, taking into consideration ground conditions, natural features, and safety.
The learners experimented with a wider range of natural materials, comparing the stability and flexibility of different branches and learning how to use natural joins, forked sticks, and leaning structures to strengthen their shelters. This session required increased problem‑solving as many groups adapted their designs in response to collapsing frames, uneven ground, or materials that didn’t behave as expected.
Children communicated clearly within their groups, negotiating roles and revising plans collaboratively. Several teams trialled multiple prototypes before agreeing on a final structure, showing perseverance and growing confidence in risk management and decision‑making.
The activity also encouraged environmental awareness, as learners considered how to collect resources responsibly and return unused materials to the forest floor. Many children demonstrated pride not only in their finished dens but in the process of working together to overcome challenges.
This session supported physical development, creativity, resilience, and a deepened sense of connection to the woodland, further embedding key Forest School principles through hands‑on, child‑led exploration.