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Forest School Help

Support Botley Forest School: Help Us Grow!

At Botley Forest School, we nurture a deep connection between children and nature, using natural resources like sticks, mud, moss, feathers, leaves, and berries. However, our small woodland needs our care and respect. To ensure its health and vibrancy, and to enhance our Forest School provision, we rely on the generosity of our community. We are incredibly grateful for all the support we receive, which directly enriches the children's learning experiences.

 

What We Need: Resources and Helping Hands

We are currently seeking donations of the following items to enhance our Forest School environment:

 

Essential Resources:

ItemQuantityReasonUrgency
Wood ChippingsContinuous SupplyPathways in The Woods, The Nature Reserve, and the Apple Grove.VERY HIGH
Wood Fire LogsContinuous SupplyForest School Campfires – We aim to build a good stock throughout the year.VERY HIGH
Tree Branches & SticksContinuous SupplyDen building, workshops, and general creative activities.HIGH
Jumbo Bulk Bags of Multipurpose Compost3-5Gardening projects.LOW
Corrugated Metal Sheets3-5To encourage slow worms to nest – these sheets warm up in the sunshine, creating ideal habitats.MEDIUM
Metal Pots, Pans, BucketsLotsMud Kitchen in the Apple Grove (no plastic, please).LOW

 

Site Improvements:

  • Apple Grove Shelter: Our Apple Grove shelter needs new roof felt after storm damage. We are looking for a roofer who can supply and fit the felt. (HIGH Urgency)
  • Woodland Entrance Gate: The new entrance to the Woodland/Nature Reserve would greatly benefit from a new double gate. We need help with the supply and fitting. (MEDIUM Urgency)
  • Apple Grove Gate & Fence: The Apple Grove also requires a new single gate and some fence repairs. We would appreciate help with the supply and fitting. (MEDIUM Urgency)

 

Tools and Equipment:

We also require various tools and equipment for our Forest School sessions. For a comprehensive list of these items, please visit our Amazon Wishlist:
 

Botley Forest School Amazon Wishlist

(Selecting the Gift Registry Address option will ensure items are delivered directly to the school.)

 

Volunteering at Forest School: Your Support Makes a Difference

Forest School thrives on a high adult-to-child ratio, ensuring the children feel safe, confident, and supported in their explorations. Our dedicated Teaching Assistants provide invaluable support, and we welcome volunteers to join our sessions and further enhance the children's learning experiences.

 

What a Forest School Volunteer Does:

  • Monitors children's safety: Ensuring children are safe while exploring and engaging in activities.
  • Encourages responsible risk-taking: Supporting children in taking appropriate risks within the Forest School ethos.
  • Respects individual needs: Being mindful of any Teaching Assistants working one-to-one with children and respecting their guidance.

 

Sessions run from 1:15 PM to 3:15 PM every school day (EYFS sessions are 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM).

 

If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the [Volunteer Application Form] and specify "Forest School" in section 6.

 

Thank You!

A huge thank you to everyone who has already contributed to our Forest School – your generosity is invaluable! Your support directly benefits our children and helps us create a truly enriching outdoor learning environment. We appreciate any and all help you can offer.

Forest School uses resources supplied by nature such as sticks, mud, moss, feathers, leaves, and berries, but we are not able to keep taking from our small woodland without causing a negative effect on it and its inhabitants. If you can help by donating any equipment, please get in touch.
 

We appreciate any help by supplying us with wood logs for burning on our campfire, wood sticks and branches to help the children build dens, whittling, and wood workshops. Stumps and trunks are used for seating and work benches - our current ones have begun to rot away and need to be replaced.
 

The Apple Grove shelter has felt roofing that was damaged this year in the storms. We would love to have it re-felted to protect it for the future. The new entrance to the Woods/Nature Reserve really could do with a double gate, can you help with the supply and fit of one?
 

THANK YOU

Thank you to everyone who has helped provide some of the items we need for Forest School already! Our Forest School has already benefited from this and will enrich the children's experiences.
 

A huge thank you from all the children, myself and the school.

If you would prefer to email, please complete the Contact Form below or call the office on 01865 248573

Forest School Donation Query

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