About us
Our vision is of a vibrant healthy forest at the heart of every community, where wildlife and people can thrive, now and into the future.
This vision for Children’s Forest arose out of joyful participation in the forest schools movement over many years and with many children. We witnessed the immense benefit of time spent in the forest, and asked, how can we give back? We realised that it is time to re-engage with our ancient reciprocal relationship with nature, and to plant trees for the wellbeing of the future generations of all species.
Imagining a bright future
As humans one of our greatest gifts is the power of the imagination, by imagining and actively working towards a bright healthy future we bring it into being. Our desire is to support children to have empowered and purposeful roles in working towards a bright future for all species.
In these times of climate uncertainty it is vital for young people to receive hopeful stories of the future and for them to be given opportunities to take positive action towards a bright future they feel excited to be part of.
A sense of purpose and the opportunity to take positive action is deeply nourishing for self esteem and mental health, as well as the health of the ecosystems we live amongst.
In order to nurture healthy ecosystems, we must work together as communities to tend the forests as they grow. In doing so we have an opportunity to re-learn how to live with one another in ways that bring connection and belonging. By investing in long term relationships with the land, trees and one another we are developing a sense of connection, responsibility and resilience. We are passionate about nourishing healthy human communities alongside healthy forest ecosystems. We are hardwired for connection and we thrive when we experience a sense of belonging and the opportunity to offer our gifts to our wider community.
What we do
Tree Planting
We have developed a unique tree planting technique, the Four Step Process which integrates nature connection, positive envisioning, heart centred tree planting and ongoing tending of the forests and communities who care for them.
Trainings
We offer Children’s Forest Facilitaor Trainings for those who work outdoors with children.
We also offer short CPD courses which are open to anyone interested in learning more about nature connection, trees, music, natural crafts and cultural design.
Events
We hold regular Community Tending Days at the Children’s Forests to care for the trees and bring healthy cultural practices to the communities. We host fundraising Ceilidhs and Film screenings, and we hold regular Childrens Fires where we unite with good intentions for the future generations and to connect as a community.
Meet our amazing team.
We’re a talented group of Nature Connection Mentors, Forest School Facilitators, Musicians, Artists, Naturalists and Cultural Designers.
Our structure is inspired by communities of trees in forests.
As the heartwood is the central supporting structure of a tree, the Children’s Forest Heartwood Team is the central supportive structure of the organisation.
There are many individuals and organisations functioning as the leaves, branches, flowers and roots, bringing in nourishment, expressing growth and providing structure as we grow.
Collaboration is very important to us, we partner with organisations holding similar values and support one another the way that trees in a forest do. We share resources, information and visibility, understanding that our collective health and vitality benefits us all.
Anna Richardson
Founder & Director
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Pippa Johns
Forest from Seed director & Permaculture consultant
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Sara Ramsey
Strategy & Finance
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Pippa Johns
Partnerships & Consultation
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Jack Durtnall
Musical director & Nature connection mentor
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Nicky Aisher
Psychological wellbeing consultant
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Emma Tuzzio
Communications & Course Coordinator
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Pippa Johns
Partnerships & Consultation
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Our Team
Our structure is inspired by communities of trees in forests.
As the heartwood is the central supporting structure of a tree, the Children’s Forest Heartwood Team is the central supportive structure of the organisation.
There are many individuals and organisations functioning as the leaves, branches, flowers and roots, bringing in nourishment, expressing growth and providing structure as we grow.
Collaboration is very important to us, we partner with organisations holding similar values and support one another the way that trees in a forest do. We share resources, information and visibility, understanding that our collective health and vitality benefits us all.
Anna Richardson
Founder & Director
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Anna Richardson
Founder & Director
Jen Beaufoy
Story keeper & Nature connection mentor
Jack Durtnall
Musical director & Nature connection mentor
Pippa Johns
Forest from Seed director & Permaculture consultant
Jen Beaufoy
Story keeper & Nature connection mentor
Jack Durtnall
Musical director & Nature connection mentor
Ellie Fuller
Planting facilitator & Nature connection mentor
Emma Tuzzio
Communications & Course
Land Owners
We work with land owners to positively steward the land for the long term benefit of future generations
At Children’s Forest, we bring together landowners, schools and local communities.
If you own land and would like to be a Land Guardian and host a Children’s Forest on your land for the benefit of future generations, we would love to hear from you.
Childrens Forest does not seek to own land, Landowners who host childrens Forests on their site become the Land Guardians.
“It has been the most inspirational training I’ve ever been on. I feel like I have been physically shifted in my heart after these four days. Your knowledge, your love and your organisation of the days have been os gratefully received.” Rosie,
…to give something back and also to give to the future. It’s so much more than just planting trees, having this whole educational element where children really understand the importance of maintaining and being in relationship with the woodland is such a wider vision for bringing this land back into balance.”
~Lulu Guinness @ The Heugh
What does a Children’s Forest need:
A minimum of one acre of land
Access to a mature woodland
Access to the site and water.
An appointed land guardian, community guardian and facilitation guardian to hold responsibility for the ongoing well being of the Children’s Forest.
Funding to pay for the planting and tending of the forest.
Our commitment:
Children’s Forest facilitators hold full responsibility for the children and communities while visiting the land, holding full insurance, DBS, first aid etc.
Children’s Forest Facilitators will organise the planting days and risk asses the site.
Eco restoration through seasonal tree planting and on-going tending. Cultural restoration of our relationship with nature.
Your commitment:
An honourable pledge as a Land Guardian to protect the Children’s Forest into the future
Provide access for regular appointed community tending days, approximately x3 per year.
Four Step Process
We plant trees using a 4 step process which has arisen from our nature connection work with children and is informed by successful tree planting practice. We integrate nature connection, ecology, positive envisioning and community engagement.
How our Four Step Process works
We believe in the importance of building positive wellness habits through a heart-centered healing relationship with our natural world. This is why our four steps…..
Step 1: Experiencing
The journey begins with an embodied experience in existing woodlands. Using Forest School activities where we spend time playing, exploring and connecting with nature. We support children to develop genuine care and a personal relationship with the natural world.
Step 2: Imagining
Through story telling and creative visualisation, children are offered a bright vision of the future which they express creatively. Their imaginations are engaged through art, music, poetry and song. Children are inspired to envision the woodland they will plant and the life it will support growing far into the future.
Step 3: Planting
Children are taught practical tree planting skills. As they plant the trees, they plant their wishes for future generations, inspired by the creative processes: “These woods will never be cut down”, “All animals will have a home”, “We will all have clean water to drink”.
Step 4: Tending
Supported by their families, communities and Children’s Forest trained facilitators, children continue to gather in years to come to tend the forest.
Children & Community
Children and Communities are at the heart of Children’s Forest. We believe that children are the future….
Learn how to involve children and communities
The primary way to be involved is as part of a group of children who are facilitated to plant a Children’s Forest. This could be a school group, home education group or a community group. The projects are inspiringly successful when initiated and supported by you, local people who are invested in the land, children and community.
These projects involve the coming together of the following three elements;
1.Landowner who is happy to host a Children’s Forest
2. Group of children/community group
3. Children’s Forest facilitator.
Land:
If you are in a position to approach local landowners, introduce Childrens Forest and share this landowners information document, this is an excellent way to seed a forest.
School:
You could begin a conversation with your child’s school about the value of nature connection, the issues of climate anxiety, and the benefit to children in taking positive action to create a bright future. Introduce them to Children’s Forest and send them this schools document to share more information about what we do and what a Childrens Forest project would entail.
Forest School:
If your child has a Forest School Facilitator, speak to them about Children’s Forest. You could send them the link to our facilitator page and if they are interested in training, they could facilitate a Children’s Forest planting in your local area.
We have a core team of facilitators who can….
Community Tending Days
All of the Children’s Forests that have been planted have regular community days where the children and their communities gather to tend the trees, habitats and nourish their connections with one another through seasonal crafting, foraging, storytelling and much more.
To come along to a community day, have a look at the map of the Children’s Forests, contact your local Community Guardian and find out when the next open community day will be.
Facilitators
For those who work with children outdoors. We offer training to enable you to join our growing team and plant your own Children’s Forest.
Join our growing team of facilitators to plant Children’s Forests
If you are a Forest School Practitioner, a Nature Connection Mentor, or work with children outdoors, this is for you.
We offer an immersive Children’s Forest Facilitator Training, which enables you to join our growing team of facilitators to plant and tend Children’s Forests.
Skill building at our Community Tending Days
We also offer Childrens Forest Community days at Children’s Forest sites in Sussex. These are a combination of facilitated space, designed to expand your experience, knowledge and provide you with tools and skills to use with the groups you work with. As well as this, these days will provide you with modelling in holding community groups, cultural regenerative practices and practical skills and knowledge regarding tending young forests and habitat creation.
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Why Plant a Children’s Forest?
Bringing children and their communities together to plant and tend trees is a tangible and hopeful response to tackling the climate crisis and strengthening community.
Doing that in a way that supports a connection to nature, and a capacity to imagine and create a world where all beings can thrive, can awaken a lifetime commitment to becoming stewards of the natural world.
We’ve seen the benefits of Children’s Forests first-hand, and we believe they offer a simple but profound solution to the interwoven crises of our time. We would love to help you plant a Children’s Forest in your community.
Building positive wellness habits
through a heart-centered healing relationship with our natural world.
