Launch of Forest School at De La Salle St Helens

We are excited to celebrate the launch of Forest School at De La Salle School using some of our Leavening Project funding. This is located, where our fruit tree area is and has been transformed into a welcoming and adventurous outdoor learning space throughout the Autumn term this year.

With lots of teamwork and determination, pupils and staff worked hard to clear litter, dig and turn soil, cut back brambles, repair and build fencing, add a bamboo screen, and create a willow entryway. Forest School is led by Ms Turner, Mrs Hughes, Mrs Lindsay and Miss Williams, with support from other staff along the way.

Pupils in 8Thrive have loved their Forest School sessions and have taken part in a wide range of exciting activities. These include leaf identification, habitat searches (including finding a bird’s nest!), fire building, shelter building with ropes and tarps, tree climbing and learning how to use tools safely. They have also enjoyed picking fruit from our own trees and using it to make a crumble and chocolate-dipped fruit (when Storm Amy hit and it was too windy to be outside).

The pupils also went on a mini adventure to Mill Brow Nature Reserve, where they compared the trees there with those in our Forest School area, identified natural and invasive plants, and enjoyed a fun chocolate coin hunt left by our Christmas elf, Mrs Hughes.

Come rain or shine, pupils have shown fantastic resilience, teamwork and positivity. They have helped one another, made new friendships and tried things that pushed them out of their comfort zones.

We are incredibly proud of all the pupils involved and look forward to Forest School continuing to grow at De La Salle School.