About Us
We are a Family Run Forest School in Cringleford Norfolk
At The Wilderness Grove Forest School, Norfolk, our sessions provide a safe, secure environment for children to explore nature and the way they learn through play.
Children, young people and adults are given real freedom to explore and discover in an exciting woodland environment.
Activities can include.
- Symbolic play through woodland characters
- Active play - chasing and capturing games
- Socio-dramatic play in the mud kitchen
- Social play - den building, wild camping
- Creative play - mud faces and leaf art
- Communication play - story telling
- Dramatic play - in our woodland theatre
- Locomotor play - swing and climbing trees
- Deep play - fire lighting, tree identification
- Explorative play - mud kitchen and water table, bug hunting
- Fantasy play - rowing boat and raft
- Imaginative play - woodland habitat
- Mastery play- fires, knife work and knots
- Object play - water and tree painting
- Role play - stick play
Older participants might want to learn survival skills, carve a spoon, create unique woodlands crafts or simple enjoy the surroundings.
Forest School emphasises child-led learning; the leader becomes a facilitator, a mentor and experienced companion, supporting children in exploring things that interest them.
The child-led approach has significant benefits, supporting children in developing independence, confidence, creativity, perseverance and resilience - essential life skills.
Testimonials
Wildlife Warriors Home Education Review
“Our children have greatly benefited from their time at the Wilderness Grove. It has been especially life changing for one of our sons as he’s developed socially, learned how to cope with mud and picked up skills that he now loves. Thank you so much for all the time and patience that you’ve given in helping our children to blossom in various ways. I’ve been so impressed with you both, Cate and Tom, in how you relate with the children at forest school and in how well you’ve balanced continuing running the Wilderness Grove over the past year of pregnancy and welcoming a new member to your family.” Elissa
Forest School Association
Recognised Forest School Provider
The Wilderness Grove Forest School is celebrating its success at becoming a Recognised Forest School Provider by offering children an opportunity to experience ‘good practice’ Forest School.
In October 2017, the Forest School Association (FSA) - the UK’s professional body and voice for all things Forest School - launched a new scheme to recognise Forest School Providers who demonstrated that they are following good Forest School practice - the FSA Recognised Forest School Provider scheme.
The Forest School Association is the professional body and UK wide voice for Forest School, promoting best practice, cohesion and 'quality Forest School for all'. Its charitable purpose is "the advancement of education for public benefit through promotion and support of quality Forest School in the United Kingdom using any means to enable all children, young people and adults to benefit from increased opportunities for high quality and varied educational experiences in the natural world."
Forest School Ethos
Forest School Leaflet
Information for participants about our guiding principles and ethos
What is Forest School
The importance of learner led activities
Supporting the #Antiperfection Campaign
#Antiperfection by Badibidu
5 ways Antiperfection will improve your life
So many of us are slowed down, are held back and put ourselves down seeking a standard of perfection that doesn’t have rules or a clearly-defined end point. We feel like we’ll recognise it when we get there but… honestly.. will we??
It holds a lot of people back from enjoying creating or sometimes from creating anything, and I’d love to be part of breaking down that barrier so kids and adults can enjoy art but these points apply to all parts of anyone’s life.
Here are five ways your life will be improved by being slightly easier on yourself, not having no standards at all just not seeking totally unobtainable ones.
Please Note: if you love your perfectionist streak, if it holds you to standards which make you happier, if it makes you a more productive person, gets your work done faster and makes you feel good about yourself then this isn’t for you!
To read the full content click the find out more button and visit https://www.badibidu.com/antiperfection
Learn More and Join the Revolution
The wonderful Artist and Blogger, Cat at Badibidu is promoting creativity and mental health awareness with the #Antiperfection campaign.
At The Wilderness Grove Forest School, we are supporting her and passing on the important message.
If you would like a campaign card, please grab one when you visit the woods.