“That’s a delicious mud pie you’re making!”

“I’m making a marshmallow toasting stick” said seven-year-old Rory, “and I’m carving a Roman soldier’s sword” said his classmate, Henry.

The boys are part of a wider group of children who are seated on logs in a circle around a campfire. They are spending the afternoon at Burrington Primary School’s Forest School which is hosted by their teacher, Beth Kuipers von Lande. They are learning how to whittle whilst mastering the techniques needed to safely use child-suitable knives and peelers.

‘Forest School has lots of managed risk going on’ says Beth, as she reminds a pupil to readjust his seating position for maximum safety. ‘The children sit in what we call ‘blood bubbles’, they know that when they are using sharp tools, they have to be at least two seats apart from each other.’

Whilst a handful of children are whittling, several other workstations are also set up so that the children can freely flow from one activity to another. Today, Beth has also set up a ‘cooking’ area where four children are using old saucepans to create their own recipes, ‘That’s a delicious mud pie you’re making’ I say, only to be corrected ‘It’s a chocolate cupcake actually!’ says Leonora ‘And I’m making a smoothie with sprinkles which is also a magic potion’ says Tilda, as she scatters small, snapped sticks and dried flowers on to her mystical concoction.

The next station over has a makeshift washing line with a series of papers hanging to dry. ‘These are our cyanotype impressions’ says Beth ‘I’m working in line with the curriculum so that the children can learn about sunlight and photography in nature.’

Discovered by Sir John Herschel in 1842, the chemist influenced many botanists to use light-sensitive chemicals to create images of plants through the power of UV light. ‘The children collected leaves from the many trees we have here – it’s lovely that they are learning the names of the trees in combination with science skills – and all whilst being outside in the fresh air.’

‘Forest School means that kids can just be kids.’

Gina Bundock, Burrington Primary School PTA

It is with thanks to a £1,915 grant from the Mendip Hills Fund that these school children have more access to the outdoors for their learning. Gina Bundock, secretary of the PTA said, ‘Our school is small; it doesn’t really have much of a playground so the PTA committee applied for the grant so that we can offer our children more time outside. Forest School means that kids can just be kids.’

‘The Fund is an important tool for helping local schools and groups to experience their local environment.’ says Jim Hardcastle, Manager of the Mendip Hills National Landscape. ‘Through experience comes awareness, and through awareness comes caring. The Mendip Hills will be better for everyone if we can help young people get outside more.’

The Forest School Association ethos states: Forest School is a child-centred inspirational learning process, which offers opportunities for holistic growth. It is a long-term program that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting.

‘We are so fortunate to live amongst the Mendip Hills National Landscape’ says Beth, ‘and to be able to give the children a lifelong love and wonder of the natural world is so rewarding. There is so much pressure for the children to complete a curriculum. With Forest School sessions we can run classes which adhere to the curriculum whilst also appreciating nature. The vision for our school children is for them to be part of a joyful community of lifelong learners, to live with love and purpose, and grow and flourish together.’

You can learn more about the Mendip Hills Fund here

The Mendip Hills Fund works in partnership with the Somerset Community Foundation