School woodland copse inspiration needed

[stuckinthemud]

Well here’s a twist, my school is situated in a smallish woods. Not sure on exact size, maybe 2/3 of an acre. We don’t have enough room for playing fields, just a small triangular copse on a steep slope down to a river. The twist is that in a staff reshuffle, developing outdoor activities (turn that woods into a resource) might fall at my classroom door. The woods is unmanaged, full of ash dieback, downy birch and brambles . Any suggestions on where I can look for inspiration on what to do with it? Oh, this is for a school of 11 to 16 year olds, almost all of whom are boys.

 

[okeydokey]

This sounds like fun to manage - how good are you at preparing and getting approval for risk assessments.

The Scouts 60 years ago would have been a good source of information starting by making sure everyone had a knife complete with the getting stones out of horses hoofs attachment.

 

[toolsntat]

What a wonderful opportunity to get the next generation on point.
There must be a hedge ready for laying?

https://ncfed.org.uk/

https://linktr.ee/dcsg?fbclid=PAZXh...95Hrt7bIjeYDbZivag_aem_rZMSLVEsgeYkURHNOpiKfQ

If you do Instagram and look into any of these groups it should open up a world of information .
Cheers, Andy

 

[DrPhill]

Well here’s a twist, my school is situated in a smallish woods. Not sure on exact size, maybe 2/3 of an acre. We don’t have enough room for playing fields, just a small triangular copse on a steep slope down to a river. The twist is that in a staff reshuffle, developing outdoor activities (turn that woods into a resource) might fall at my classroom door. The woods is unmanaged, full of ash dieback, downy birch and brambles . Any suggestions on where I can look for inspiration on what to do with it? Oh, this is for a school of 11 to 16 year olds, almost all of whom are boys.

Maybe ask the Woodland trust for pointers, or local wildlife groups.

Maybe leaving it alone and studying the species in the wood and learning about their interactions? Cheap and nature-friendly.

 

[Tweedy]

Coed Lleol, Small woods etc.. would be good contacts for you. Tir Coed may be worth a go too.

They can advise on management and engagement.

I run some sessions around wood craft and the like, but I'm West Wales so a bit far possibly. I know some people closer if you'd like to engage that sort of thing.

 

[Jacob]

Might be difficult for growing anything in 2/3 acre and a whole school, as sheer footfall could completely dominate it.
Maybe look at using the ash dieback for making stuff?

 

[Stigmorgan]

As mentioned already the woodland trust is an amazing source of information and free trees
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/pl...QtaTLNMtT5cy8Eizz_NaD9yiEE4jOKRYaArHHEALw_wcB
Not sure about your location but down here in surrey we have to have our trees inspected yearly, I'm very lucky that the guy that does mine is extremely knowledgeable, he trained at Merrist Wood then became a lecturer there after working in Hong Kong for a few years, your local tree surgeons can also be a valuable friend to have.

 

[Tris]

With a river and a slope I'm thinking microhydro project. Ram pump and so on made in DT.
As for the woodland, my first concern would be the ash dieback and getting those trees surveyed before going any further

 

[stuckinthemud]

Some great contacts Thankyou. The trees are inspected annually

 

[Stigmorgan]

Some great contacts Thankyou. The trees are inspected annually

Your inspector will be the best person to help you chose the tree pack that suits your space if you do decide to use the free trees for schools scheme.

 

[Richard_C]

The RHS might be another source of support, they do a lot of work with schools. RSPB might also support small woodland wildlife development, bird boxes, owls ....

I remember almost 50 years ago visiting the centre for alternative technology in Wales. Back then they were just starting out and had various ways of generating small scale electricity, simple windmills, turbine in a small woodland stream. Maybe another place to look.

 

[Jameshow]

Power generation would be cool, as would a projector and screen for outdoor movies?

A sun / rainshade would be good too. Old sail or lorry taurpuline would do.

Perhaps some chickens?

 

[TRITON]

Coppicing ?
Use long straights to create areas of 'walls'

The walls or fences you can funnel into an area to sit. Maybe have the kids plant the area there and make a rustic bench or two so people can have lunch there or just enjoy the solitude

You can make it an exercise in how our forebears created early homes. Have a Robin Hod twist on it.

 

[stuckinthemud]

It looks like this, 100m long, average 30m wide:

 

[BravoNovember]

have a chat with Silverwood School in Devizes. They have a similar woodland and a pretty well established LOTC department. Sure they would be really happy to help you out with resources and ideas. I think they have just made a multi year scheme of learning for woodland LOTC too.

 

[Cabinetman]

That’s quite a slope, I think it would be difficult to climb without boots at the very least, perhaps some steps cut into the slope with wood retainers would be a good starting point, or maybe a zigzag path meandering across the slope, cut out to be flat.
Goats would love that area!

 

[whereistheceilidh]

Quite a small area if children can ramble all over it. Suggest a few discrete study areas....minibeast in rotting wood....then other opportunities where children are guided along paths or were they do not need access....bird & bat boxes.
Learning through Landscapes is an excellent charity with a range of teaching resources...https://ltl.org.uk/
Also organisations such as RSPB have teaching resources.
Good luck!

 

[Trextr7monkey]

I worked in a rural school in Cumbria that was given access to some woodland owned by the Parish council. A square block with access from the road sloping down to a beck. Council were very supportive but did not have a lot of money.
We pulled in a local wildlife group and got a grant that paid for a tree surgeon to survey and trim aged trees and provide a long term management plan.
With the assistance of parents a circular path was installed using half round treated timber, Terram membrane and quarry waste. A set of wide steps made from old sleepers was constructed and a bridge made from old telegraph poles.
Logs from felled trees were arranged in a circle used as a gathering area and for listening activities
Some hides / dens were built by children who were involved in all aspects of the project, daffodil bulbs were planted in the verge and a mixed species hedge was planted along roadside. Children made bird and bat boxes and the woods were used regularly. Andy Goldsworthy inspired art works were made
An area was roped off and left alone as a wild area, hedgehogs from local wildlife sanctuary were released there.
Children benefited enormously and won various awards from council and RHS Green fingers competition, signs provided by the High Sheriff, still in use now, great project