Wild Isle Week

Many of you will have watched the David Attenborough TV series Wild Isle. A beautiful in-depth exploration of the British Isles and its surrounding seas. It made it clear that the wildlife, ecological balance, and therefore the life led on these islands is facing decimation.

Within the school curriculum there are pockets of learning regarding ecosystems, flora, fauna, pollution, and sustainability, which aim to explain what they all are before the class move on to the next subject. However, the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and with the current predictions perhaps these lessons need to be a constant. 

In Forest School we provide the opportunity for that theory to be seen in practice, week in and week out. Children are exploring and observing the natural world, encountering wildlife, watching life cycles and food chains play out, experiencing season changes, and are encouraged to support and preserve the environment they are in.

Sadly, for most children who attend, Forest School ends after Year 6. 

Having set a solid foundation for children to care and help the environment the connection we foster ceases to be nurtured.

Hopefully, the children keep their enthusiasm, some will continue Forest School, some will attend the Scouts/Guides, many parents will involve their children in their own love of nature.

We can't even say that secondary education fails to provide an alternative because Forest School ceases, as not every Primary, infant, junior, or Middle School has access to a Forest School, School Garden, or natural outdoor space. Many that do do not use it to its full advantage. There have to be budget considerations before any beneficial ones are weighed. The lack of Forest School in schools for those aged 11+ follows on from those issues with additional barriers.

Yet the generations of adults coming through are facing an environmental battle. Either to maintain what we traditionally think of as 'British Wildlife' or to find a way to work with what is left of it.

"We now have a few short years during which we can still make a choice. Where just enough remains of the natural world for it to recover. This starts and ends with us.”

Sir David Attenborough.

Save Our Wild Isles wasnt just a TV series, it is an urgent call to action for all of us

The WWF, the RSPB and the National Trust have collaborated to call for an immediate end to the destruction of UK nature and recognition for the urgent action required for its recovery.

This week schools across the nation are encouraged to take part, their website has lesson plans and resources to help. We'd urge any School who isn't able to take part this week to still use these at some point this term, and to use them in future. The nature of the curriculum doesn't always work with the nature outdoors! An assembly to explain the importance of this campaign and some activities dotted across the term will still have an impact on the children's understanding. 

In secondary schools this is even more important as nature connection fades in teenagers, partly because it isn't fostered.

As an individual you can support this week from home, at work, or within your community - but it can't all cease on Friday! 

As a Primary School we aim to get as many classes outdoors and actively exploring nature this week. We also back to back Forest School sessions provided by on staff Forest School Leaders. Plus Monday & Tuesday we jave students from across Kent on-site completing their Skills days as part of their Level 3 Forest School Training, and on Friday we have an Open Day for Schools other FSLs to come and look at what we do. 

We are not perfect, we have space to collaborate with training more Forest School Leaders in Kent Schools and other settings, and we understand that sharing practice and supporting each other is the only way to improve our own, and to spread outdoor learning further.

So we end on a plea to schools, primary and secondary:

Please consider acknowledging this week in school, delaying it, using part of it, or embedding it into your calendar!

Our job is to ready children for their future. The health of where they live is an essential part of that.