Forest From Seed ‘Greet the Trees’ Autumn term offering (for community)

Course dates October 30 - December 4 2023, 4-5.30pm Spring Rise Community Gardens, Emerson College, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5JX

Price Options

Adults £48, children free (for 6 week block) or £8.50 drop-in per family

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Mondays 4pm-5.30pm in a 6 week block including:

Oct 30th, Nov 6th, Nov 13th, Nov 20th, Nov 27th & Dec 4th

About the course

Each week we will meet a new native tree, close to the tree nursery. We will learn the song of the tree together and gather in gratitude for the fruits and seeds. We will process the tree seeds to prepare them for germination after their winter sleep and enjoy together a story and tea around the fire.

This course replaces our Thursday tree nursery tending sessions. It will continue through the winter and into the spring when we will be tending the germinating seeds we gather in autumn as they grow into saplings for planting in Children’s Forests.

Who is this course suitable for?

  • This course is suitable for adults and accompanied children, both beginners level and those with more experience in nature connection.

The course will cover

  • Learn how to identify and forage seeds from native trees
  • Foraging and plant lore
  • Learn a variety of tree songs and stories
  • Learn how to process the tree seeds to prepare them for germination.
  • Connecting more with local community

With gratitude to the People’s Project in partnership with The National Lottery for supporting this course.

About the tutors

Pippa Johns: Pippa has 25 years experience of working with land, designing and making ecological gardens that produce food for people alongside providing habitat for abundant wildlife and building soils. She has worked on Organic farms and smallholdings and has taught Permaculture for over 20 years. Pippa is passionate about inspiring people to develop their own connection to a piece of land to grow food for families and communities. She has designed and taught on Permaculture design courses, been a tutor for the Permaculture Diploma and developed her own courses in ecological gardening and connection gardening. She has created the first Children’s Forest tree nursery, facilitating children to grow native trees from local seed, for planting Children’s Forests. 

Erica Shorter: Erica has been learning and playing in nature as a Forest School Leader and Nature Connection Mentor for over 10 years. She is happiest wandering barefoot in the forest and brings a flavour of deep nature connection into her work with children and adults. She is informed and inspired by the 8 Shields and is passionate about creating spaces for people to feel deeply connected with nature and their inner landscapes.

Jack Durtnall Jack is a musician, nature connection facilitator and forest school leader who came to nature connection work through an innate love for nature and folk song, inspired by the life-work of Jon Young and the 8 Shields. Jack’s background is in music. As well as his role leading workshops and facilitating on plantings, Jack co-leads the Children’s Forest Tree Choir and is part of the team bringing through the Song Forest project. Jack is part of the Folkadelix band, hosts a monthly jam session at the Hop Yard in Forest Row and performs solo shows.

Testimonials

Slide 1

“I love everything about Children’s Forest's courses. These immersive nature days are filled with so much enchantment and joy that leave me feeling deeply connected to the more than human world and to my true self as an inseparable part of nature. I particularly adore singing tree songs together, which feels like a beautiful way of reciprocating the many gifts the trees offer us. I've shared with my children and they are now Children's Forests biggest fans!"

Rachel P
Slide 2

"A really wonderful day connecting with trees and learning more about our own indigenous traditions too. I'd highly recommend these workshop for anyone looking for a couple of hours escape - I arrived exhausted and left energised and rejuvenated!"

Lucy R
Slide 3

"I've attended numerous Children’s Forest short courses and each time I leave brimming with inspiration and new knowledge that I can't wait to share with my family and the groups I teach. I've learned so much from the wealth of wisdom they share on tree lore, responsible foraging and some truly connective nature crafts, games and songs that will really enrich my educational groups!"

Sally B
Slide 1

“Thank you so much Children’s Forest, the days you bring feel very special, like a forest school for adults. Beautiful beloved songs sung from the heart, weaving and connecting hearts together, hands on experience with nature from source to creation, gathering in circle and being truly human and releasing all the bliss you have inside can be shared.”

Jo P
Slide 1

"I loved learning how to process and eat the nourishing acorns on the acorn workshop. The Children's Forest course was fun and left me with skills that I will be using for the rest of my life!"

Millie D
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Upcoming courses

May 22-25th 2025

Three day Facilitator Training Course ~ Sussex

Standard fee: £500, Supporters fee: £650 (contact us for Concessionary fee). Paying the supporters fee enables us to offer concessionary fees. (payment plans are possible)

The Children’s Forest Facilitator course is an immersive 3-day camp that aims to provide participants with a deep nature immersion experience in a beautiful Sussex woodland while experiencing the four step journey of the Children’s Forest. Our aim is to create a heart centred learning experience that will inspire you to create your own tree planting projects through nature connection practice, practical knowledge and indigenous wisdom.

Find out more