News
Looking back over the past few years it is heartwarming to to see how many wonderful people we have worked with and how many effective partnerships we have forged. We have been commissioned to lead projects locally and nationally, and worked with international colleagues, improving outcomes for young people, their educators, families, and the planet through connection to nature. This News page is a way for us to share some of them.
You can read what other people who have partnered with Sarah over the years have said, by clicking here.
September 2024
As FSA chair Sarah gave the Welcome address, asking delegates to think of ways that friction makes Forest School possible. After fire and knots the suggestions quickly moved into metaphorical territory, recognising that conflict and difficult conversations can sometimes be the place where growth and real change happen.
The conference theme, Kindling Curiosity, Courage and Resilience provided a strong framework for the two workshops Sarah led with colleagues: BuildingTeen Centred Communities Through Forest School and Coaching for Forest School Leadership
Nature Premium Campaign – WTFI Director Sarah Lawfull co-founded the campaign and has co-chaired the steering group.
Forest Foxes – Community Forest and Woodland Outreach Project – funded by DEFRA and the DfE – working collaboratively with the National Forest and Leicester City in the Community. WTFI led Paths to Resilience emotion coaching and Forest School leader training as part of the project.
‘Where The Fruit Is’ is a unique organisation leading the way, supporting and inspiring so that more children have more opportunities to benefit from Outdoor Learning.’ – National Forest Company Community Engagement Officer
Sarah shared the hope of Forest School with over 15,000 early years practitioners as the Keynote speaker on Day 1 of the II International Practical Online Conference “University of Childhood: Noteworthy Practices”, organised by The Russian University of Childhood Foundation and UNESCO IITE.
Phase three of this exciting project saw us working with Witney Town Council leading local nature play sessions through the seasons for child minders, parents and toddlers and refugee families.
July 2024
Royal Forestry Society – Sarah was commissioned to pilot the L1 Award in Forestry in the Community with autistic young people in Leicestershire and beyond.
You can read it by clicking on the link below: Forestry in the community
September 2023
“Nature can talk to us & teach us.” Sarah Lawfull
22 May 2023
Winter/Spring 2022
“We are calling for a Nature Premium to fund regular nature experiences for every child, to improve children’s mental and physical wellbeing after lockdown and demonstrate a positive investment in their future as part of the Green Recovery.” Forest School Association
MARCH/APRIL 2022
“Nature is good for us, lockdown in the UK has taught us that. In a survey related to the pandemic, eighty-three percent of children said being in nature makes them happy”
July 2021
Leicester City in the Community visited Rosliston Forestry Centre in the National Forest to see how Leicestershire teachers gain valuable training to make them Forest School leaders.
September 2021
October 2020
The High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Amanda Ponsonby, visited Rose Hill Primary School to watch an outdoor learning session organised by Sarah Lawfull.
Rose Hill has the largest grounds of any state primary in Oxford and its forest school encourages teaching outside of the classroom.
September 2020
Children Need Nature Now by Sarah Lawfull
August 2020
A Nature Premium would help children recover from lockdown and set them up to learn
Sarah Lawfull and Sara Collins
July 2020
Children need nature and nature needs children by Sarah Lawfull
February 2020
February 2020 Visit to Florida – Having spent some time in Oxfordshire with Sarah, visiting Forest School in action Kitty and Bud Chiles, directors of the Lawton Chiles Foundation persuaded her to get a passport and fly to Florida for a week to meet with educators and policy makers.
“Richard Dunne talks to Forest School Association Director and trainer Sarah Lawfull about the importance of bringing nature into children’s learning.” Bonnie Welch – The Harmony Project
Please click on the link below to listen to the interview.
“We believe that the Nature Premium would improve children’s mental and physical wellbeing after lockdown and demonstrate a positive investment in their future development as part of the Green Recovery” Lily Horseman, Chair of the Forest School Association
TAKE TO THE TREES – 2019
Reproduced with thanks
“Talking with Sarah about the potential of these programmes to transform children’s wellbeing and learning is truly inspiring.”
Baptist Together – Summer 2018
Reproduced with thanks to Baptist House
What people say
Sarah’s breadth of experience and generous approach to partnership contributed to the successful development of new outdoor learning projects now embedded within schools across the National Forest..
‘Where The Fruit Is’ is a unique organisation leading the way, supporting and inspiring so that more children have more opportunities to benefit from Outdoor Learning.
Sarah helped develop our strategic thinking by being part of our early enthusiastic exploratory discussion, working through the nitty gritty and resulting in workable programmes to engage a whole new generation in outdoor learning.
I have known Sarah Lawfull for over 30 years as a well-respected colleague; she has an impeccable set of principles underpinning her teaching and learning as an advisor and trainer. She has a great sense of humour, making her fun to work with. Sarah has vast expertise and experience to call on when looking for creative solutions.
Newsletters…
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Head in the Clouds Fantasy and imagination are vital to our everyday lives; novels, TV dramas, theatre, music and art all take us out of our own existence and into disasters, love stories, adventures. We work out what we feel and think about our own situations, even...
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The Magic of Trees- Hazel
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How to go to the toilet in the woods?
You're out for a walk and suddenly, you're caught short. But how do you go to the toilet in the woods? A conundrum that may face any one spending more than a couple of hours in the great outdoors with children or less if they have me, a middle-aged woman in their...
Sustainability
What am I doing to make the Earth happy? Professor Steve Van Matre’s question to the Forest School community got me thinking again about our sustainability policy. Are there more things we could be doing to live out what we are teaching at...
Steve Van Matre
We were thrilled to host Professor Steve Van Matre (SVM) for a couple of days in Oxfordshire to lead his Introduction to Earth Education workshop. Earth Trust gave us use of their beautiful Fison Barn. SVM shared the history of Earth Education,...
News and Nurturing
Children’s well-being is crucial, not just for their own lives, but for society as a whole. The Good Childhood Report 2016, The Children’s Society Well-being taster day Lots of fun was had by our guests at our recent Forest School taster day as we considered the...
Elderflower Cordial Recipe
Sambucas Commonly known as 'Elderberry or Elder'. From the family Adoxaceae. Sambucas Nigra is native to Europe and North America. So what does Elder look like? Elder trees are often bush shape and can grow to 15m tall. They are found on...