School are using natural world to build connections

Weekly sessions are for pupils with additional needs

A FOREST school and an additional needs group are to unite to bring nurture through nature.

Moorlands-based community forest school, Greenwood Growth CIC, is offering play and exploration for people with physical and mental health impairments, beginning this month.

The forest school programme will offer weekly sessions that aim to restore and build connection to friends and family using the natural world to build self esteem, physical and mental health and wellbeing, confidence and to have a lot of fun.

Each week there will be plenty of opportunities for people to spend time together, to play, to develop skills and set themselves challenges.

The programme is the brainchild of Claire Ball from Be You Crew, and Lorna Stoddart, Greenwood Growth CIC.

Throughout August, Claire wanted to ensure families had an opportunity to spend time with each other and their friends outdoors, especially important as many people’s usual support networks had disappeared through lockdown.

Lorna and the team provided weekly forest school designs to plug the gap felt by many.

Claire said: “The Greenwood team actively seek ways of facilitating and best meeting the needs of what is a very mixed group of individuals representing a range of ages, needs and abilities.”

Councillor Darren Price became involved in the scheme during the summer.

He said: “The pressures on young people with additional needs have been immense during the last few months, with many support services unavailable. This programme from the Be You Crew and Greenwood Growth will really help them and their families - it’s all outdoors too, making it much safer for all involved.”

Councillor Price, right, has decided to sponsor the programme immediately and is accessing the Councillor’s Community Initiative Fund so the programme could continue through autumn and the benefit of time in the forest be experienced by others, especially as support is so lacking currently. The forest school programme begins this month.

For more information contact Greenwood

Growth via g reenwood. growth@ gma i l . c o m or go online at www. beyoucrew. co.uk