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Forest school in the South West
32 forest schools run in the South West. Each page says what they offer and who for; book with them directly.
Counties in the South West
Forest schools in the South West
- A Touch of the WildPrivate woodland near Exeter, Devon Runs a full-time forest kindergarten for 2 to 5 year olds, weekly toddler and grown-up sessions, a holiday adventure club for 5 to 13 year olds and woodland parties near Exeter.
- Acorn PlayOutdoor sessions near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Runs forest school style outdoor play sessions for young children and their families near Cheltenham, booked by the session.
- All Seasons Forest SchoolWoodland sites around Stroud, Gloucestershire Runs toddler sessions, family and holiday play days, parties and sessions for schools and youth groups around Stroud, plus a women's group.
- Badger Forest School (Choose Nature)Cardinham Woods near Bodmin, Cornwall · Higher Wheal Martyn near St Austell, Cornwall A Cornish CIC running parent and toddler groups, home education drop-off groups, family sessions and holiday clubs at Cardinham Woods and Higher Wheal Martyn. It also offers woodland birthday parties and programmes for schools.
- Branches Out Forest SchoolWoodland at Clearwell in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire A Forest of Dean CIC running a forest kindergarten for 2 to 7 year olds, plus after-school clubs, home education sessions and holiday clubs for 5 to 11 year olds.
- Bristol Forest SchoolPrivate woodland near Leigh Woods, on the edge of Bristol Runs holiday clubs, birthday parties and school woodland visits for children up to 12 in private woodland on the edge of Bristol. It also hires out the woodland and trains school staff.
- Bugs, Bones & BotanyWoodland near Dorchester, Dorset · Woodland at Netherbury near Bridport, Dorset A Dorset CIC running weekly forest school sessions, holiday clubs and home education sessions in woods near Dorchester and Bridport, with science workshops for schools, home education groups and adults.
- Children of the ForestWoodland near Cullompton, Mid Devon Runs young family sessions for children up to 6 and home education groups for 5 to 12 year olds near Cullompton.
- Creative RootsWoodland near Bath, Somerset · Free community sessions in Radstock, Somerset Runs woodland holiday clubs for 4 to 11 year olds, parent and child groups, family mornings, home education sessions and birthday parties around Bath, plus free sessions in Radstock and adult forest school days.
- Forest CatkinsWoods near Dunster, Exmoor · Triscombe Stone on the Quantock Hills, Somerset Runs weekly family forest school groups at Triscombe Stone on the Quantocks and sessions near Dunster, plus craft workshops, forest school for adults and pop-up sessions for events and parties.
- Glastonbury Forest SchoolFarm woodland near Glastonbury, Somerset Runs term-time forest school for home educated and flexi-schooled children, holiday clubs and teen fire pit sessions in woodland near Glastonbury. It also delivers provision in schools.
- Hakeford WoodsWoodland near Barnstaple, North Devon A North Devon charity running parent and child sessions for under-fives, home education groups for 5 to 11 and 11 to 16, family workshops and work with local schools. It also runs adult wellbeing and woodcraft groups.
- Hidden WoodsAncient woodland between Frome and Bath, Somerset Runs a toddler group, family mornings, school holiday clubs and birthday parties in 80 acres of woodland near Frome and Bath. It also delivers forest school programmes for schools and groups for adults.
- Holly & Hawthorn CICWoodland near Shepton Mallet, Somerset A community interest company running forest school sessions, an outdoor parent and toddler playgroup and school holiday programmes around Shepton Mallet.
- Home Ed-VenturersWoodland on the edge of Bristol near Leigh Woods Runs weekly term-time forest school groups for home educated and flexi-schooled children aged 5 to 10 and 10 to 15 on the edge of Bristol.
- Into The GreenWoodland near Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire Runs holiday Wild Days for children between Easter and October half term near Minchinhampton, and outdoor learning in schools around Stroud and Gloucester.
- Kingfishers Forest SchoolWoodland at Willsbridge Mill, on the east edge of Bristol Runs weekly parent and child forest school sessions for 1 to 5 year olds at Willsbridge Mill, with holiday clubs for 5 to 11 year olds and woodland birthday parties.
- Little Foxes Forest SchoolStoke Park, north Bristol · Westbury Wildlife Park, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol Runs outdoor forest preschools for 2 to 4 year olds at Stoke Park and Westbury Wildlife Park in Bristol, with a stay and play group, holiday camps for 5 to 11 year olds and birthday parties.
- Out There Forest School Holiday ClubActivity centre and green space in Brislington, Bristol A Bristol CIC that runs forest school holiday clubs for 4 to 9 year olds in Brislington during school holidays.
- Outdoor Adventurers Forest SchoolSchool woodland at Merley, near Wimborne, Dorset · School woodland at Broadmayne, near Dorchester, Dorset Runs child-led forest school after-school clubs and holiday days in school woodlands at Merley and Broadmayne, with occasional evenings for adults.
- PlayWood Forest SchoolWoods around Monkton Combe, near Bath A forest school and outdoor learning provider near Bath running seasonal workshops for children and families, and forest bathing sessions for adults.
- Poole Forest SchoolWoodland near Poole, Dorset Runs holiday clubs in every school break, after-school clubs and birthday parties around Poole, and outdoor learning for primary schools and SEND groups.
- Primary Forest School & Outdoor EducationHoliday club sites in Bridport, Weymouth and Christchurch, Dorset · Holiday club site near Taunton, Somerset · Schools across Dorset, East Devon and Somerset Delivers forest school to schools and nurseries across Dorset, East Devon and Somerset, and runs holiday clubs in Bridport, Christchurch, Weymouth and Taunton. It also offers under-fives parent groups, home education groups and sessions for adults with SEND.
- Saplings in the WoodWoodland near Great Torrington, North Devon Runs woodland stay and play sessions for children up to about 8 and a baby group near Great Torrington. It also hosts parties and school groups.
- Shared Earth LearningAllotment and woodland site in Frome, Somerset A Frome co-operative running holiday forest school sessions in most school holidays, including for children with additional needs. It also runs a free adult wellbeing group.
- The Outdoors GroupWoodland at Exmouth, Devon · Escot estate near Exeter, Devon · Woodland near Okehampton, Devon Runs forest school sites across Devon, including Exmouth, Escot, Okehampton and Totnes, with toddler clubs, home education groups, holiday clubs and birthday parties. It also delivers sessions for schools.
- To The Woods Forest SchoolPrivate woodland just north of Ivybridge, South Devon Runs a weekly parent and child forest school group for preschoolers in private woodland near Ivybridge, with sessions for school groups and singing circles for women.
- Where Wildlings FlowWoodland near Totnes, South Devon Runs child-led forest school and home education sessions in woodland near Totnes, along with woodland workshops and parties.
- Wild InspiredWoodland near Swindon, Wiltshire Runs forest school and bushcraft around Swindon, with woodland toddler sessions, home education groups and family sessions, and woodland birthday parties.
- Wilder WoodsHallr Wood at Charlton Mackrell, Somerset · Drayton Woods near Langport, Somerset A small educational charity running forest school programmes, home education groups, family play sessions and school enrichment at two woods in central Somerset.
- Wildlings Forest SchoolOutdoor site near Corfe Mullen, Dorset Runs weekly parent and toddler nature play sessions with fire cooking and den building, sessions for childminders and holiday clubs for 8 to 12 year olds.
- Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Forest SchoolSites across Wiltshire and Swindon The county wildlife trust delivers forest school for school groups across Wiltshire and Swindon, and taster sessions for groups of adults.
Forest school training in the South West
For practitioners: Level 1, 2 and 3 courses. Which level do I need?
- Children of the ForestCullompton, Mid Devon Runs Level 3 forest school leader training in a Mid Devon woodland, as an intensive or a Sunday course, alongside weekend CPD for practitioners.
- Dorset Forest SchoolCerne Abbas, Dorset Runs Level 1, 2 and 3 forest school training at its base in Cerne Abbas, with a 10-day Level 3 course and twice-yearly skills shares for practitioners.
- Inspired Forest School TrainingChurchdown, Gloucester, Gloucestershire Not-for-profit provider near Gloucester running AIM-accredited Level 1 to 3 forest school courses, with Level 3 cohorts starting through 2026 and 2027.
- The Outdoors GroupExmouth, Devon Devon forest school provider running ITC Level 2 and Level 3 forest school training, plus forest school first aid and short CPD workshops.
- Wiltshire Wildlife TrustLangford Lakes, near Salisbury, Biss Wood, Trowbridge Runs NOCN Level 2 and Level 3 forest school courses at Langford Lakes and Biss Wood, starting with six days of practical training.
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