Forest for All Project

Wild, windy days did not dampen the enthusiasm of 700 inner city schoolchildren from Birmingham, Derby and Leicester, when they came out and about in The National Forest to learn about woodland and the environment and to help in the creation of the Forest.

The youngsters, aged between 6 and 11 years, first visited in the autumn, when they spent time on a variety of National Forest Tender Scheme sites. Under the inspirational guidance of Kate Allies and Vicki Smyth of Rosliston Forestry Centre, they became nature detectives for the day: listening for Forest sounds, looking for evidence of wildlife and scrutinising mini beasts with the aid of magnifying glasses and the handy tanks which housed the creatures before they were carefully returned to their home in a nicely mouldering wood pile.

In January the children returned to the Forest to plant trees with the expert tuition of BTCV's Lucy Ashworth. At Windmill Hill near Woodhouse Eaves in Leicestershire, the children were full of questions about which birds used the bird boxes, why the sheep were in the turnip field and where the train went to. At Daniel Hayes Farm, English was the second language for many; the challenges presented to the Punjabi interpreter by the detail of woodland and countryside brought home the true meaning of cultural difference – it was a fascinating and useful experience for all concerned. The tree planting day at Dunstall Hall Estate in Staffordshire was graced by a front page spread in The Birmingham Post but – more importantly – by youngsters getting stuck in and having a great time with spades and mud and loads of enthusiasm!

'The National Forest is a natural, living, healthy resource for everyone. It is important that as many people as possible have the opportunity to experience it at first-hand,' commented Sue Anderson, Community Liaison Officer, National Forest Company. 'The Forest is on the doorstep of several large cities and we have instigated this project to bring children here, particularly those who may not find it as easy as some to get here, to have fun in the Forest, and find out about aspects of the countryside.'

The project targeted inner city schoolchildren from Birmingham, Leicester and Derby. An audit of National Forest sites had identified two main factors preventing schools and groups, particularly from inner city and deprived areas, from visiting the Forest: the cost of transport and the lack of suitably trained staff. The National Forest, supported by grants from the Countryside Agency, funded both the coach transport and the work of Kate, Vicky and Lucy in bringing the Forest alive to the children.

Comments from staff and children:

• Head Teacher: 'The day was a great educational experience which the children thoroughly enjoyed.'
• 'I like going to the forest. I like to pick the leaves up from the floor,' schoolchild.
• 'Children experienced planting trees for themselves - they LOVED IT!' - teacher
• 'A sense of achievement when planting trees' - teacher
• 'Good for health and fitness' - teacher
• Children did not understand the word 'view' and thought it was amazing that they could see so far.
• Many children thought that having travelled some distance from Birmingham to another town (Burton) it must be London
• 'Lucy, I love your garden!' - child to project officer, describing field being planted to create Daniel Hayes Woodland.