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:
Item | Quantity | Reason | Urgency |
---|---|---|---|
Wood Chippings | Continuous Supply | Pathways in The Woods, The Nature Reserve, and the Apple Grove. | VERY HIGH |
Wood Fire Logs | Continuous Supply | Forest School Campfires – We aim to build a good stock throughout the year. | VERY HIGH |
Tree Branches & Sticks | Continuous Supply | Den building, workshops, and general creative activities. | HIGH |
Jumbo Bulk Bags of Multipurpose Compost | 3-5 | Gardening projects. | LOW |
Corrugated Metal Sheets | 3-5 | To encourage slow worms to nest – these sheets warm up in the sunshine, creating ideal habitats. | MEDIUM |
Metal Pots, Pans, Buckets | Lots | Mud Kitchen in the Apple Grove (no plastic, please). | LOW |
Site Improvements:
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.)
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:
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