Forest School and its impacts on young children: Case studies in Britain

Urban Forestry and Urban Greening

Volumn 6, Issue 4, 2007, Pages 249-265

  O'Brien, Liz ^a   Murray, Richard ^b  

^a Social and Economic Research Group   (United Kingdom)

^b New Economics Foundation   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Constructivist learning; Forest school; Outdoor education; Participatory action research; Self esteem; Young people

Indexed keywords

EDUCATION; LEARNING; METHODOLOGY; STAKEHOLDER; WOODLAND;

ENGLAND; EURASIA; EUROPE; UNITED KINGDOM; WALES; WESTERN EUROPE;

EID: 35348955942     PISSN: 16188667     EISSN: 16108167     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2007.03.006     Document Type: Article

References (43)

1. Becta (British Educational Communications and Technology Agency), 1992. Learning styles an introduction to the research literature. Available at: 〈http://industry.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=15472〉 (accessed 4 August 2006).
2. Bingley, A., Milligan, C., 2004. Climbing trees and building dens: mental health and well-being in young adults and the long term effects of childhood play experience. Research Report. Institute for Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster.
3. Department for Education and Skills. Every child matters (2003), Department for Education and Skills, London
4. Department for Education and Skills. Learning outside the classroom manifesto (2006), DfES, London
5. Department of Health. Choosing Health: Making Healthy Choices Easier (2004), Department of Health, London
6. Derr, V., 2001. Growing up in the Hispano homeland: the interplay of nature, family, culture and community in shaping children's experiences and sense of place. Doctoral Dissertation, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven.
7. Dietrich, K., Jacobsen, C., Mygind, E., Stelter, R. (no date). A weekly nature day in a Danish 'Folkeskole': an educational setting. Available at: 〈http://www.groen-skole.dk/ecobase/naturklas/knut-bog.pdf#search=%2 2weekly%20dietrich%22〉 (accessed 12 February 2007).
8. Dillon J., Morris M., O'Donnell L., Reid A., Rickinson M., and Scott W. Engaging and Learning With the Outdoors - The Final Report of the Outdoor Classroom in a Rural Context Action Research Project (2005), National Foundation for Education Research, Berkshire
9. Direct Gov., 2006. Understanding the national curriculum. Available at: 〈http://www.direct.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/Schools/ExamsTestsAn dTheCurriculum/ExamsTestsAndTheCurriculumArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=40166 65&chk=9QQaw4〉 (accessed 4 August 2006).
10. Fjortoft I. Landscape as playscape: the effects of natural environments on children's play and motor development. Children Youth and Environments 14 (2004) 23-44
11. Forest Education Initiative, 2006. Forest School. Available at: 〈http://www.foresteducation.org/forest_schools.php〉 (accessed 31 July 2006).
12. Gardner H. Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences (1983), Basic Books, New York
13. Grahn P. Wild nature makes children healthy. Swedish Building Research 4 (1996) 16-18
14. Greenwood D., Foote Whyte W., and Harkavy I. Participatory action research as a process and as a goal. Human Relations 46 (1993) 175-192
15. Hein, G., 1991. Constructivist learning theory. Institute for Inquiry. Available at: 〈http://www.exploratorium.edu/ifi/resources/constructivistlearning. html〉 (accessed 1 March 2007).
16. House of Commons Education and Skills Committee, 2005. Education outside the classroom. Second Report of Session 2004-2005. The Stationery Office, London.
17. Kahn P. The Human Relationship With Nature: Development and Culture (1999), The MIT Press, Cambridge
18. Kahn P., and Kellert S. Children and Nature: Psychological, Sociocultural and Evolutionary Investigations (2002), MIT Press, Cambridge
19. Kaplan R., and Kaplan S. The Experience of Nature. A Psychological Perspective (1989), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
20. Kellert, S., 2002. Experiencing nature: affective, cognitive, and evaluative development in children. In: Kahn, P., Kellert, S. (Ed.), Children and Nature: psychological, sociocultural and evolutionary investigations, pp. 117-151.
21. Kirkby M. Nature as refuge in children's environments. Children's Environments Quarterly 6 (1989) 1-12
22. Kirkham L. Forest Schools in Wales: Forest School at Duffryn infant and junior schools. Environmental Education autumn 2005 (2005) 5-9
23. Lewis I. Nature and adventure. ECOS 1 (2005) 14-19
24. Massey S. The benefits of a Forest School experience for children in their early years. Primary Practice 37 (2004) 31-35
25. Moore R.C., and Young D. Childhood outdoors: toward a social ecology of the landscape. In: Altman I., and Wohlwill J.F. (Eds). Children and the Environment (1978), Plenum Press, New York
26. Murray R. Forest School Evaluation Project: A Study in Wales. Report to the Forestry Commission (2003), New Economics Foundation, London
27. Murray, R., O'Brien, E., 2005. Such enthusiasm - a joy to see: an evaluation of Forest School in England. Report to the Forestry Commission. Available at: 〈http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/website/forestresearch.nsf/ByUniq ue/INFD-6HKEMH〉 (accessed 31 July 2006).
28. Ofsted. Outdoor Education: Aspects of Good Practice (2004), Office for Standards in Education, London
29. O'Brien E., and Tabbush P. Accessibility of Woodlands and Natural Spaces: Addressing Crime and Safety Issues (2005), Forest Research, Farnham
30. Parsons, T., 2006. Natural learning. Guardian Newspaper 20th April 2006. Available at: 〈http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,1757481,00.html 〉 (accessed 31 July 2006).
31. Phenice L.A., and Griffore R.J. Young children and the natural world. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood 4 (2003) 167-171
32. Pyle R. Eden in a vacant lot: special places, species and kids in the neighbourhood of life. In: Kahn P., and Kellert S. (Eds). Children and Nature: Psychological, Sociocultural and Evoluntionary Investigations (2002), MIT Press, London 305-328
33. Siraj-Blatchford J., and Sylva K. The Effective Pedagogy in the Early Years Project: A Confidential Report to DfES (Dept for Education and Skills) (2002), London University Institute of Education, London
34. Sobel D. Children's Special Places: Exploring the Role of Forts, Dens and Bush Houses in Middle Childhood (1993), Zephyr Press, Tuscon
35. Taylor A.F., Wiley A., Kuo F.E., and Sullivan W.C. Growing up in the inner city: green spaces as places to grow. Environment and Behaviour 30 (1998) 3-27
36. Teachernet, 2006. Welcome to Growing schools. Available at: 〈http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/growingschools/〉 (accessed 2 August 2006).
37. Thanasoulas, D. 2006. Constructivist learning. Available at: 〈http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Teachers_Page/Language_ Learning_Articles/constructivist_learning.htm〉 (acessed 26 February 2007).
38. Thomas G., and Thompson G. A Child's Place: Why Environment Matters to Children (2004), Green Alliance and Demos Report, London
39. Valentine G. Children should be seen and not heard: the production and transgression of adults' public space. Urban Geography 17 (1996) 205-220
40. Valentine G. Angels and devils: moral landscapes of childhood. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 14 (1996) 581-599
41. Waite S., Davis B., and Brown K. Forest School Principles: 'Why We Do What We Do' (2006), Report University of Plymouth, Plymouth
42. Ward Thompson C., Aspinall P., Bell S., and Findlay C. Open Space and Social Inclusion: Local Woodland Use in Central Scotland (2002), Openspace Research Information Note, Edinburgh
43. Wilson E.O. Biophilia (1984), Harvard University Press, Cambridge