Forestry Commission Scotland

Forestry Commission Scotland works with schools to encourage the use of Scotland’s trees, woods and forests as a resource for learning and to show forestry as an exemplar of sustainable development. The main ingredient is the woodland itself for learning outdoors.

Why use trees and woodlands for learning?

1. Woods are a rich curricular resource for a range of learning and experience from art to maths to wildlife.
2. Woods and forestry show the complexities of sustainable development in respect of environment, people and the economy, locally and globally in countries and cultures across the world.
3. Woods are accessible environments that stimulate all the senses, and children's innate desire to learn.
4. Safety in learning, and learning about safety and risk, is a priority. Woods are relatively safer places in which to learn compared to other outdoor environments.
5. Woods are restorative and reduce stress levels, and teachers have noted that children are calmer after regular visits to woodland.
6. Using woods for learning gives opportunities for physical activity and can contribute to children’s health and wellbeing.
7. Making up 17% of Scotland’s land, woods offer a huge outdoor learning resource.

The Forestry Commission Scotland has a network of staff who work with schools to delivery range of activities in woodlands for a variety of ages and abilities.  Many of our staff work with the following programmes:

1. Forest Education Initiative (FEI): Forestry Commission Scotland is part of the Forest Education Initiative. This is a partnership initiative with partners of the Scottish FEI steering group drawn from education, forestry sector and environmental NGO’s. There are 13 local FEI cluster groups across Scotland delivering education projects to suit local needs. There are 2 key areas of work: careers and vocational education and Forest School.
   http://www.foresteducation.org/

2. Forest School: Forest School involves regular visits to the same wood over and extended period of time. It delivers of a wide range of curriculum areas, and on other school initiatives like Active Schools, Enterprise in Education and citizenship. Training programmes for the development of Forest Schools are run in Scotland.
   http://www.foresteducation.org/forest_schools.php

3. The Tree Trunk:
   The Tree Trunk online contains information on a wide range of books, posters, videos, sound tapes and leaflets and indicates how and where they could be used to support the delivery of specific areas of the Early Years, 5-14, Standard Grade and National Qualifications curricula. It is currently being upgraded to include links to A Curriculum for Excellence.
   http://www.forestry.gov.uk/treetrunk

Contact:

Sally York
Forestry Commission Scotland
231, Corstorphine Road
Edinburgh
EH12 7AT

Tel: 0131 314 6458

Tel: 0141 552 5222

Email: sally.york@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

www.forestry.gov.uk