Forest Schools Birmingham

15/09/2026

🌿 Staff Retreats in the Woods🌿

Over the past two weeks, we’ve had the tremendous pleasure of delivering nourishing Staff Retreats in our woodland, giving teachers and school staff the opportunity to step away from the busy-ness of school life and find peace of heart and mind in nature.

The purpose is simple: before we can support nature based learning, we need to truly experience the benefits of being outside ourselves. To feel the healing that takes place.

Through time spent immersed in nature, we explore wellbeing, curiosity, creativity and connection, while considering how meaningful outdoor experiences can become part of children’s everyday learning.

🌳🍂 A huge shout out to the staff of Lillian de Lissa and St. Thomas, what an amazing bunch you are, working in one of the most nature bereft areas of the city.. you guys are wonderful! And here’s to you Laura, an executive headteacher with community focus, huge heart and vision 🌳🍂

“The Forset Schools Birmingham Team have been an instrumental partner in our school improvement journeys since November 2024 at St Thomas Centre Nursey School and since January 2025 at Lillian de Lissa Nursery School. During this time, their individual and collective skills and knowledge have been an invaulable asset to both of my schools.

They have provided a highly skilled and experienced Forest School Practitioner that works across both of my schools for a total of two days per week. Furthermore, two of my staff are currently working towards the Forest School Practitioner accreditation. The whole staff team across both of my schools are going to undertake a deeply nourishing Away Day, which will support them to support our families as they learn to nurture their child's curiosity and engagement with the natural world.

In a world where the majority of children's lived experiences are spent glued to digital devices, the educational philospohpy and core values that underpin the work of the Forest Schools Birmingham are more valuable than ever.”

Laura O’Neill
Executive Head Teacher

12/09/2026

This is an incredible opportunity to work as a permanent Forest School practitioner with the wonderful, Lee over at Oscot Manor School.
Tag anyone you think may be interested.

Closing date: 9:00am, Mon 28th Sep, 2026. View full details and apply online at MyNewTerm.

07/09/2026

We’re looking to increase our team of freelance Forest School Practitioners, particularly those from the Black Country and North Birmingham areas.

If you’re an experienced Level 3-qualified Forest School leader with a first aid certificate and your own insurance, we’d love to hear from you!
These roles are typically one day a week, for a term, up to £165 per day, depending on experience.

Drop us a message if you’re interested, or tag someone who might be!

05/08/2026

The wildfires across the UK are a sobering reminder that the landscapes we love are desperately vulnerable. These fires have been started by people being careless🌳🍃🍁🍂🔥

As Forest School practitioners, we have a responsibility to model exemplary environmental stewardship.
This means completely avoiding fires during periods of drought or high fire risk.
During the rest of the year, we must always always always demonstrate how to extinguish fires completely at the end of each session, whatever the season, AND help children and adults understand the dangers of discarded ci******es, disposable barbecues, fireworks, and any spark that could ignite dry ground 🔥💦🚬

The greatest lessons we teach are often the ones we consistently model. By caring for, and encouraging our our children to care for our wild places today, we help ensure our natural world will still be here for future generations to explore, wonder in, love and protect. 🌿🔥

13/06/2026

Big up the small hands that grow!
Vital life skills 🌱🌱🌱
The child who learns to grow is the child who learns to live a sustainable life and never go hungry!!
To enquire about Outdoor Learning in your setting contact, drop us a line: [email protected]

02/06/2026

Growing Children 🌱
In a world increasingly intoxicated by screens, growing food helps children to reconnect with nature, to understand where food comes from, and to appreciate the wonders of the natural world.
Every seed planted is a lesson in hope and patience. Every shoot that emerges is proof that small actions can create something truly extraorinary.
The children we teach to grow today become the adults who will care for our natural world, our wildlife, and our planet tomorrow.
To enquire about our growing programmes contact [email protected]
🌱🌻🌍🌳

23/05/2026

We are all different, each of us unique..
We like different things, we learn at different paces
Something that might scare one person, may be a joy to another..
In a Forest School environment, a child has the opportunity to get away from the harsh stimuli of the classroom.. the noise, the constant visuals, the constant instructions..
The child has a chance to breathe, find calm in the natural environment, to play individually or as part of a group in an unrestricted way... to step away from the technology where they often find comfort...
Our Forest School programmes have had profound effects on children with Autism and Developmental Delay conditions...
It allows children to interact and develop in ‘their own time, to find their own pace and space...’
🦚🌳🦚🌳💦🐝🍃🌿🍂

08/05/2026

Our Level 3 Forest School Training last week was so special 🌳❤️🌍
Over the week, we gathered in nature, shared our stories, laughed, sang, explored mental health, therapeutic practice, child development, practical skills, and so much more ❤️🌍
Every training leaves us feeling so deeply grateful for the people who choose this path. Watching another group of compassionate souls head out to into the world ready to support children through therapeutic nature connection is deeply humbling. We love this work 🌳🌳🌳
Thank you to every single person who brought their energy, openness, courage and kindness to the training. We are so honoured 🙏
Our Autumn Level 3 Forest School Training is now open for enquiries, with just 5 places remaining 🍂🌳
To find out more please email [email protected]

08/05/2026

Contact [email protected] to bring Forest School to your setting 🌳🌳🌳

Forest Schools Birmingham deliver Forest Schools Training, Outdoor Learning programmes and Community Engagement projects throughout Birmingham and the West Midlands.

29/04/2026

We thoroughly recommend the provision that Bracken provides to the Birmingham community 🌳🌳🌳

The new Home-Ed Forest School Community Day is now live, with the first session running next week.

This is a shift to a monthly rhythm — a full day in the woods (10–3), with more time for children to settle into what they’re doing, return to ideas, and build on them properly.

With a longer day, we can take on more involved projects and follow them through, whether that’s working with tools, building in the woodland, or cooking on the fire.

It also changes the feel for parents. There’s space to step back, have proper conversations, and get to know other families, rather than everything being squeezed into a couple of hours.

Across the day, there will be:

- Tools, fire, and bushcraft activities
- Open-ended play and exploration
- A shared meal cooked together on the fire
- A small, consistent group (max 12 children)
- Flexibility to stay, step away, or drop off

The first block runs on:

Wed 29 April
Wed 20 May
Wed 24 June

Find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/forestschool/