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Forest school in the North West
20 forest schools run in the North West. Each page says what they offer and who for; book with them directly.
Counties in the North West
Forest schools in the North West
- Cheshire Forest SchoolPrivate one-acre woodland in the Cheshire countryside Runs Little Forest Folk sessions for 1 to 4 year olds, home education forest school for 4 to 11 year olds, holiday clubs, family events and parties in its own woodland, and visits from schools or sessions in school grounds.
- Cheshire Wildlife TrustThe Quinta nature reserve, Swettenham · Marbury Country Park, Northwich · Moore nature reserve and Sankey Valley, Warrington Runs forest school programmes of six or more half-day sessions, and one-off taster days, for schools at its nature reserves and woods around Cheshire or in suitable school grounds.
- Communitree Outdoor EducationHeaton Park, Manchester · Summerseat, near Bury · Dunham Massey, near Altrincham Runs outdoor holiday clubs at Heaton Park, Summerseat and Dunham Massey, plus forest school alternative provision for 5 to 16 year olds, school curriculum days and outdoor birthday parties.
- Compass Forest SchoolTandle Hill Country Park, Royton, Oldham Runs small-group forest school alternative provision at Tandle Hill for primary pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, working with schools in Oldham, Rochdale and Bury.
- Forest ExplorersWoodland at Sandiway, near Northwich, Cheshire Runs weekly forest school sessions for children from 18 months to 5 years, a home education group for over 11s and seasonal family sessions in woods at Sandiway.
- Forest Frontiers CICSmithills woodland, Bolton · Lady Mabel's Wood at Haigh, and Billinge Plantation, Wigan · Yarrow Valley Country Park, Chorley A community interest company running family sessions, woodland baby sensory, forest camps, a home education programme and woodland parties at sites in Bolton, Wigan, Chorley and Croston, plus sessions for schools.
- Forever Wild Forest SchoolSports ground woodland in Didsbury, Manchester Runs Forest Babies and Wild Tots groups, after-school clubs, family sessions, holiday clubs for 6 to 11 year olds, parties and woodland wellbeing sessions from its base in Didsbury, and goes out to nurseries and 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.
- Into The Ark Forest SchoolPrivate woodland in Scarisbrick, West Lancashire Runs full-day forest school pre-school sessions for 2 to 5 year olds in its own woodland in Scarisbrick, with a home education group and some holiday sessions for children who have attended before.
- Kids Go Wild Forest SchoolGreen space at Dane Bank, Denton, Greater Manchester · Heaton Moor, Stockport · Reddish Vale Park, Stockport Runs an outdoor forest school nursery, stay and play sessions, a home education group, weekend family sessions, holiday clubs and woodland parties across sites in Denton and Stockport.
- Lancashire Wildlife TrustBrockholes nature reserve, near Preston · Moss Bank Park, Bolton · Lunt Meadows, near Liverpool Runs forest school programmes and taster days for schools and home education groups at Brockholes and Moss Bank Park, and family forest school days in the school holidays.
- Laurel's WoodWoodland in Formby, Merseyside A community interest company with a woodland in Formby, running the Woodlings playgroup for young children and their grown-ups, outdoor learning for schools and groups, parties, and bushcraft and team days for adults.
- Little Bats LearningFamily hubs and community sites across Bolton · Seven Acres Country Park, Bolton A community interest company running forest school stay and play sessions for 1 to 5 year olds with their grown-ups at Bolton family hubs, holiday activity sessions for 5 to 15 year olds and nature sessions for new parents.
- Manchester Bees Forest SchoolFallowfield and Beswick, Manchester · Broughton, Salford · Hattersley, Tameside Runs inclusive forest school groups, many of them free, for neurodiverse and disabled children in Fallowfield, Beswick, Hattersley and Broughton, and forest school style alternative provision.
- Nest in the WoodsWoodland day camps around Grappenhall, Warrington Runs a term-time outdoor pre-school for 2 to 5 year olds based on the forest school approach, and a holiday club for 3 to 12 year olds in some school holidays, in woods around Grappenhall.
- Sticks and Worms Nature NetworkOutdoor sites in Blackburn, Lancashire · Ashworth Valley, near Rochdale A community interest company running mixed-age home education forest school for 4 to 16 year olds in Blackburn and Rochdale, and a summer holiday club at Ashworth Valley.
- Stocks Wood Outdoor CentreWoodland site near Wigton, Cumbria A woodland centre based on the forest school philosophy, running forest school for schools, half-term family forest sessions, birthday parties and team days for adult groups.
- Stomping GroundSerpentine Woods, Kendal, Cumbria · Scotch Quarry, Lancaster A community interest company running term-time forest school in Kendal and Lancaster, including an under-fives group, a family session and drop-off groups for older children and home educators.
- The Nebula CentreForest school site in Carrington, Trafford Runs weekly outdoor classes for 1 to 4 year olds with a parent, holiday clubs and parties for 5 to 12 year olds, and forest school days for school classes at its site in Carrington.
- Woodland WellbeingsWoolton Woods, South Liverpool Runs forest school and wilderness therapy courses of at least 12 weeks for special, primary and secondary schools, and sessions for adults, from its base in Woolton Woods in south Liverpool.
Forest school training in the North West
For practitioners: Level 1, 2 and 3 courses. Which level do I need?
- Carlisle CollegeCarlisle, Cumbria Further education college running a one-week NOCN Level 2 Award for Forest School Assistants, with funding available for adults on lower incomes.
- Kindling Play and TrainingGrizedale, Kendal, Cumbria Cumbria-based trainer running ITC Level 3 forest school courses at Grizedale in two week-long blocks, with Level 1 and 2 also offered and in-house training elsewhere.
- Social adVenturesSalford, Greater Manchester Salford charity offering Level 2 forest school assistant and Level 3 leader training at its woodland site, with Level 3 taking nine to twelve months.
- The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & North MerseysidePreston (Brockholes), Rufford (Mere Sands Wood), Bolton (Moss Bank Park) Runs the AIM Level 2 Award for Forest School Assistants and Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders at nature reserves in Preston, Rufford and Bolton.
- Wirral Outdoor Education (Birkenhead Park)Birkenhead, Wirral Runs an accredited Level 3 Forest School Leader course at Birkenhead Park for teachers and other professionals, alongside outdoor learning and campfire days.
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