At Northlands Wood we encourage and nurture our children to become pupil leaders. At Forest School, children are encouraged to develop the necessary skills to enable them to take responsibility for elements within Forest School and to then contribute positively both to the school and to thewider community.
This year we had a huge amount of amazing applications to become Forest School Rangers and we could not bring ourselves to turn down such enthusiastic, passionate children. So we have done things a little differently this year and have introduced some new and exciting roles.
Our dedicated Forest School Rangers help plan our Forest School programme, maintain the school site, conduct regular litter picking and regularly supporting other pupils in their sessions. As well as becoming knowledgeable experts, other duties involve speaking to groups of children, explaining correct safety procedures, and giving advice and encouragement.
They will also help with the woodland management of Turvey Woods and have the opportunity to be involved with planning and organising the sustainable management of the woodlands. They will help control invasive species, whilst also cutting back trees and shrubs to ground level to stimulate growth. Amongst other seasonal tasks, they will also be instrumental in developing leaky dams as well as learning how to develop natural fencing around the seasonal pond area. They are invited to meetings and sessions where they can learn how to use tools safely, learn leadership skills and how to support children across other year groups.
We have had some great Rangers in the past, who have fully embraced the role and who have been lucky enough to be invited offsite to help ecological groups implement different initiatives in our local communities. Forest School Rangers have also been given opportunities to work across different year groups to help out at class sessions. Occasionally our Rangers are asked to attend lunchtime meetings to help with certain projects, where we eat our lunch around the fire circle (weather permitting) and discuss the business of the day!