The Nature of Scotland – Autumn 2011 – Issue 13

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If you go down to the woods
Nature play in schools doesn’t always need big changes
to the playground. Several hundred Scottish schools
have areas of woodland either in or directly next to the
playground. Schools are increasingly using woodland for
curriculum-based learning in class time, but in most cases
the woods are out of bounds to children for play in break
times.
With funding from Forestry Commission Scotland and
Inspiring Scotland, GfL are helping six of these schools to
open up their woodland for break time play. It’s a remarkably
low cost route to providing incredible play experiences.
In most cases, there’s been no need for any big
woodland operations. All that’s usually required is a bit of
tree safety work, some time to create suitable access points
and a chance to clear litter. Some simple features have been
introduced, such as tarpaulins for den building or ropes
for swinging, but mostly it’s about using what nature has
provided.
Watching the children at play is fascinating. Fairy gardens
are created, a log becomes a seesaw, someone’s found a
froglet and a group of boys is figuring out how to move that
log. In some cases, teachers have been so impressed by the
creativity and co-operation that they’ve allocated class time
to play in the wood. They’re also using the experiences in the
wood as the basis for some of their classroom work, such as
how could we measure the height of that tree or the volume
of that log? What’s that bug we found? Write a story about
the fairies who created the garden…
Providing these enriching experiences for children has
challenged existing school culture, policy and practice.
Playground supervisors are used to being able to see
most of the children from one or two vantage points, and
the prospect of children disappearing out of sight has
raised all sorts of questions and anxieties. Schools have
needed a lot of support with training and the development
of play guidelines, management systems and risk benefit
assessments. It’s not always been comfortable or easy.
But 10 minutes in the wood at break time will convince
anyone that it’s worth it.
If you’re interested in finding out more about this
approach, then look out for two short online films about GfL’s
nature play and woodland play projects due out later in the
autumn. If you’d like to be notified about the films, or to find
out more about these projects, contact gfl@ltl.org.uk or visit
www.gflscotland.org. You can also keep in touch with GfL
on Twitter @gflscotland 7
How many games can
you invent using
cones?
8 and 9
Getting close to nature
through play.
10
Once out of bounds,
but now an extension
to the school
playground.
12 The Nature of Scotland