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Forest school in Derbyshire
9 forest schools run in Derbyshire, and 13 more nearby. Each page says what they offer and who for; book with them directly.
Towns in Derbyshire
Forest schools in Derbyshire
- BEING Outdoors CICShield Tree Wood at Thornsett near New Mills, Derbyshire · Schools in Derbyshire, Tameside, Stockport and Cheshire East Community interest company running forest school in schools, after-school clubs, holiday clubs including one for young people with SEND, and therapeutic alternative education at Shield Tree Wood near New Mills. Also runs a wellbeing programme for adults.
- Bramblewood Forest School and Nature PlaygroupBrambles Wood, Cavendish Fields, Matlock, Derbyshire Runs woodland sessions for babies and under-fives with their grown-ups in Matlock, plus seasonal weekend family events and nature sessions for adults.
- Derby Forest SchoolWhistlewood Common near Melbourne, South Derbyshire Runs Tree Tots sessions for pre-school children with a carer, home education groups and a holiday club for 5 to 11 year olds, mainly at Whistlewood Common near Melbourne. Also works with schools.
- Greenwood GrowthWoods near Macclesfield, Cheshire · Sites around Leek, Staffordshire · Sites around Buxton, Derbyshire A community interest company running weekly term-time forest school for babies, early years and home educated children, and holiday clubs for children aged 5 and up, around Macclesfield, Leek and Buxton.
- Hopyard Wood Forest SchoolPrivate woodland at Kirk Langley, Derbyshire A small woodland at Kirk Langley running forest school sessions for younger and older children, a holiday club and seasonal family days. Also holds wellbeing sessions for adults.
- Inside Out Forest SchoolFarm woodland near Glossop, Derbyshire · Woods near Leek, Staffordshire · Woodland near Marple, Greater Manchester Runs after-school clubs, summer holiday camps for 5 to 14 year olds and children's parties at woodland sites in Glossop, Leek and Marple. Also offers woodland wellbeing sessions for adults.
- Into the Wild WoodPrivate woodland between Heanor and Ilkeston, Derbyshire Runs Thursday morning forest school sessions for home educating families in private woodland between Heanor and Ilkeston, with parents staying alongside their children. Also offers play therapy.
- Kenning Park Community Forest SchoolKenning Park, Clay Cross, Derbyshire Community forest school in Clay Cross with toddler sessions for under-fives, groups for 9 to 12 and 12 to 16 year olds, mixed-age home education sessions and holiday days. Also runs a free wellbeing programme for adults.
- Sunshine Forest SchoolWoodland near Belper, Derbyshire Runs weekly stay and play sessions for young children, a home education woodland programme, family forest school days and a holiday club near Belper. Also works with schools and offers alternative provision.
Forest schools nearby
- A Little Bit WilderStapleford Woods near Newark Runs weekly forest school and bushcraft sessions for any age and a forest school holiday club in Stapleford Woods near Newark, serving Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.
- Acorn Early Years Forest SchoolSalcey Forest near Hartwell, Northamptonshire A nursery group that runs forest school at Salcey Forest for the public: stay and play sessions for 1 to 4 year olds with a grown-up, holiday clubs for 4 to 12 year olds and sessions for home-educated children.
- Boots & Brambles Forest SchoolWoods beside the church centre in Tollerton, Nottinghamshire Runs monthly Baby Brambles and forest school sessions, seasonal holiday sessions and woodland parties in woods at Tollerton. Also works with schools and groups.
- Conker ClubOutdoor site at Horbling, Lincolnshire An outdoor play group at Horbling for children and their parents, mixing forest school and bushcraft with a campfire snack, led by a qualified forest school practitioner.
- Discover Outdoors Forest SchoolWoodland at Cattows Farm, Heather, in the National Forest, Leicestershire Runs Muddy Buddies woodland sessions for under-fives with a parent or carer and weekly home education and flexi-school days at Cattows Farm near Heather. Also holds family events, holiday clubs and parties.
- Green Planet Forest SchoolHoliday club site at Evenley, Northamptonshire · Holiday club sites near Buckingham and Banbury Delivers forest school and after-school clubs in primary schools across Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, and runs holiday clubs for 4 to 13 year olds at sites including Evenley.
- Into The Woods Forest SchoolAncient woodland at Ulverscroft in Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire Independent forest school in Charnwood Forest near Markfield running home education sessions, forest parties and team-building days.
- Land and Leaf CollectiveStrunch Hill Wood, Doddington, near Lincoln Runs nature play sessions, a home education programme and alternative provision in woodland at Doddington near Lincoln. Also delivers forest school for schools from early years to secondary.
- Little Twigs LoughboroughChurch woodland at Nanpantan on the edge of Loughborough, Leicestershire A forest school woodland playgroup at Nanpantan near Loughborough, with a weekly babies session and child-led stay and play sessions for under-sixes on Thursdays, Fridays and some Saturdays.
- Merry Meadow Forest SchoolTree-lined meadow at Lutton Garnsgate near Long Sutton, Lincolnshire Runs term-time Monday and Wednesday forest school sessions in a meadow near Long Sutton, with free play, a mud kitchen, stories and a campfire snack.
- Root and Branch OutFreedom Farm, Belton in Rutland Community interest company at Belton in Rutland offering forest school to schools, preschools and home educating families, alongside food growing and craft workshops for adults.
- West Lodge Rural Centre Forest SchoolWoodland at West Lodge Farm Park near Desborough, Northamptonshire A farm park near Desborough that runs a forest school holiday club in its woodland through most school holidays.
- Woodland NurturePrivate woodland at Rufford, Nottinghamshire Runs weekday forest school days for home educated and flexi-schooled children and stay and play sessions in private woodland at Rufford. Also offers holiday clubs, birthday parties, school trips and adult days.
Forest school training in Derbyshire
For practitioners: Level 1, 2 and 3 courses. Which level do I need?
- Derbyshire Wildlife TrustCarsington Water, Derbyshire Runs a 12-month Level 3 Forest School Leader course with six initial training days, two skills days and outdoor first aid, with the current cohort running from September 2026 to March 2027.
- Little Acorns Forest SchoolBurton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Swadlincote, Derbyshire Runs a Level 3 Forest School Practitioner course with a five-day on-site block, including a modular weekend version starting in January 2027, near Burton-on-Trent and Swadlincote.
Other counties in the East Midlands
LeicestershireLincolnshireNorthamptonshireNottinghamshireRutland
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