Islington's Little Wildlings: A Community Forest School Takes Root
By Kirstie Wielandt
A year ago, I set out on a simple quest: to find a local forest school for my young daughter. I envisioned muddy weekend adventures, little ones in wellies exploring nature, and wholesome learning amidst the trees. However, the reality was starkly different. Weekday-only sessions, long bus journeys to reach them, full waiting lists, and hefty price tags seemed to be the norm. This felt particularly jarring in London, a city declared the world's first ‘National Park City’ in 2019, boasting 20% public green space. Surely, there is room for more outdoor education, especially in inner-city boroughs like Islington, where 70% of households lack private outdoor space?
We all know the benefits of fresh air and physical activity to children's mental health, confidence, and resilience. Not to mention a welcome break from screens! So, I decided to explore the possibility of creating our own forest school in our local community park next door to where we live.
With a little help from AI to draft a proposal, some thankfully successful fundraising applications to Islington council’s ’Make it Happen’ Fund and Tesco’s ‘Stronger Starts’ Community Fund, and a WhatsApp brainstorming group with enthusiastic local parents, we embarked on a journey. Twelve months later, I’m thrilled to announce that we've launched a pilot weekend forest school in our very own park!
It hasn't been straight forward. Finding qualified child educators with weekend availability in central London was a significant hurdle. But we persevered, navigating complex insurance parameters and stocking up on tiny gardening tools along the way. And we couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved.
However, I firmly believe that programs like this should be standard in densely populated urban areas, funded and organised by local authorities. The long-term savings in children's mental and physical health would far outweigh the initial investment. The maths is extremely clear.
While we wait for this common-sense approach to prevail, perhaps our little project can inspire others. Do you have a hidden corner in your local park you could use for pop up nature sessions? A space where a few passionate parents could create a similar haven for outdoor learning?
Who knows what might grow from it? 🐞🥾🌱
Would you like to see more outdoor learning opportunities in your community? If this story resonates with you, here’s how you can help:
🌿 Get Involved – If you're local to Islington, come along and see what we’re building! We’d love to welcome more families and volunteers. Get in touch.
🌱 Start Your Own – If you have a green space nearby, why not gather a few like-minded parents and explore the possibilities? A little teamwork can go a long way!
💡 Spread the Word – Share this story with friends, local groups, and community leaders. The more people championing outdoor education, the stronger our case.
🏡 Support the Movement – Encourage local authorities to invest in accessible forest schools. Every child deserves a space to connect with nature, no matter where they live.
Let’s plant the seeds for a future where outdoor learning is the norm, not the exception! 🌳✨