We have our own natural forested area. This means that it’s accessible to us at all times. We never have to ask permission to go, and we can keep all sorts of equipment there. And, importantly, don’t have to worry about members of the public – or their dogs.

All Gan Alon staff are qualified forest-school educators: we can offer children so much more than a simple walk in the woods. They are committed to teaching children how to respect the forest and the opportunities it offers them: tarps, tools and territory.

Part of forest school is that children are left to be free to develop their own interests and abilities. They might climb on ropes, haul a log or build with sticks. We can introduce a new idea or a new piece of equipment, but we can’t legislate for them: what the children do has to come from them.

Forest school isn’t always just a matter of going down to the forest and playing. Sessions are planned, with games, activities and lessons about the forest environment. We’re constantly looking for new ways to push the boundaries of the forest-school experience.

Done right, forest school can engender a lifelong commitment to the natural environment.

We don’t pick the leaves off trees. We don’t leave litter, because a mouse might eat something harmful, or a fox might cut itself on something sharp. We’re teaching children the importance of taking care not just of themselves and their own needs, but also of their wider surroundings.

The first principle of forest school is to access the forest regularly. When they access the forest regularly, in all weathers, children build up a relationship with the outdoors and learn how to exist within it.

They notice the seasonal changes – new shoots; leaves turning; buds appearing. Forest school is about appreciating the beauty of nature, but it’s also about building resilience. It can be cold and wet out there. It’s about understanding the yin and yang of the forest.