Tamworth community pitches in to create magical Forest School

Move aside Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan! ‘Green’ pupils and staff have created a woodland wonderland Forest School in their grounds – with a little help from the community of Tamworth. 

Children at Coton Green Primary School, part of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership family (ATLP), are blooming, thanks to an outside classroom where they can explore a range of outdoor learning opportunities, including bird watching, crafting, tree identification and bug hunting. 

From wellies to timber, businesses and families have dug deep to bring the enchanted Forest school to fruition so that Coton Green fingered children can explore their learning potential.  

The idea took seed ahead of the last lockdown when dedicated teacher and Tamworth resident, Emma Palser (pictured) decided to create an immersive outside learning space for children. 

“I wanted to develop a safe and accessible outdoor area that children could access during lockdown and beyond, and the idea grew from there,” said Miss Palser. 

“We found an existing space on the school site where trees had been planted eight years ago by our reception teacher. We asked the children in key stage two to design what they would like the area to look like. My cousin’s husband works for Bellway Homes and they donated materials, along with other donations from the community and local businesses including Mahoney’s, Newhall Fencing, Log Heads, Tamworth Tyres, R H Tree Surgery, Four Oaks Reclamation and Tamworth Allotments. We’ve been overwhelmed by their generosity.

“I was so motivated by the donations. Work began during the second lockdown in February when our team of volunteers started to bring the vision to life. I roped in my dad, fiancé, mom and sister – it was a family project, a real labour of love.” 

The Forest School initially hatched with a few bird feeders and nesting boxes, but this soon expanded organically to include other features such as a workspaces, little fairy walk, forest play area, fairy doors and toadstool. There’s also a critter corner full of bugs for the children to find and explore. Now the young environmentalists have welcomed a hedgehog house on to site, while forest herbs are set to line the new sensory pathway that has been made from different natural materials. Every class has had three sessions at Forest School so far, including bug hunting, bird spotting, games, crafting and reading.  

Miss Palser said: “The children love it! We’ve had emails and comments from parents who can see the area on their walk to and from school. They’ve been so supportive and even donated a wheelie bin full of wellies and waterproofs!

“The area looks beautiful – you can see it from some of the classrooms and the children comment on the continued developments. The positioning of the site works really well and now we hope to build more shelters where children can read, learn and play, whatever the weather.” 

Miss Palser hopes to get families more involved in the Forest School with the introduction of a Junior Forester Award, along with other events and activities.   

She said: “The main thing is getting children outdoors, especially those pupils that don’t thrive in a conventional setting. I am keen that much of the learning in the area is child-led and children have the opportunity to face and take risks.   

“One early success story is how a year 5 child, Morgan, who has a diagnosis of autism, has found a new love for the outdoors since our Forest School sessions commenced. During lockdown, while teaching remotely, we introduced a ‘Get Wild!’ challenge linked to Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, where children could complete 20 or 50 mini challenges. We extended this to 80, and Morgan completed them all! He loves being in the Forest School and the setting really allows him to thrive. We are so proud of his engagement in sessions, and we hope the development will support other children with special needs too.”  

Miss Palser, who has completed an outdoor learning teaching course, wants to build on the many benefits of the Forest School. She plans to link it to the curriculum, with an English unit based on a new book for each year group, where pupils will be inspired by their surroundings to write creatively. 

Headteacher Richard Osborne said: “All the children love going to the Forest School – as do the staff! Miss Palser has created a lovely area for pupils to enjoy and learn in. It’s our little corner of paradise.”