Thanks to this project, 90% of primary schools within the National Forest perimeter were already practicing outdoor education at least once a week in 2023.
The "Creating a forest for learning II" project is the continuation of an initiative which was set up in 2016 by The National Forest Company with the aim of establishing regular outdoor learning (at least once a month) in 50% of primary schools within the National Forest by the end of 2019. Given the success of the programme, The National Forest Company has decided to continue the project, and will strive to engage 100% of primary schools in outdoor learning. This second phase will also explore the possibility of introducing outdoor learning activities in 40% of secondary schools, as well as in pre-schools in order to encourage as many young people and children as possible to interact with nature.
The project develops the role of "champion host" schools, providing opportunities for schools embarking upon outdoor learning for the first time, to learn from schools where it is already well established. To further encourage schools to commit to outdoor learning, they are offered financial support for teachers to undertake Forest School Leadership training and improve their school grounds through The National Forest’s small grants scheme.
Finally, the ambition of the "Creating a forest for learning II" project is to influence schools and partners to use outdoor learning as a catalyst for embedding and implementing other environmental awareness initiatives across the curriculum.
