Ep 230- We Need Your Art: creativity, failure, and celebration in Forest School

In this reflective, funny episode, Lewis and Gemma reunite in the same room, fresh from a Royal Forestry Society award and a whirlwind visit to Westonbirt Arboretum. Using the provocatively titled book *We Need Your Art: Stop ***ing Around and Make Something as a springboard, they unpack how Western culture sidelines creativity, why Forest School’s process-first ethos matters, and how to plan for failure with kinder self-talk. Expect talk of “shitty art” challenges, class and permission to fail, celebrating small milestones without slipping into praise economies, acorn milk experiments, squirrel mysteries, and the radical power of modelling silliness so children feel safe to try, tinker, and try again.TENTSILE — Tree tents that transform tricky ground into magical campouts. Listeners get 10% off with code ForestChildren10 at checkout.Chris Holland — Nature connection resources we genuinely rate. Explore his 54-page plant guide and more via our affiliate link: https://chrisholland.myshopify.com/?ref=ForestSchoolPodcast00:43 – Back together: RFS award, Westonbirt Arboretum, and “Square Oil” giggles04:24 – The book: bold Sharpie manifestos that kick you into making06:15 – Structure: reflective prompts, a two-week “make something daily” challenge, and looking back07:36 – Why Forest School is a curriculum-free haven for creativity, not metrics08:52 – How school and society infantilise art and push it to the margins11:44 – Product versus process: performances, gifts, and the “motivation soup”19:18 – Class, safety nets, and permission to fail in creative careers21:39 – Plan your self-talk for when you fail; modelling kinder language with parents33:26 – Celebrating small milestones together without turning joy into judgment52:32 – Stop at 80%: making endings easy, sustainable, and actually enjoyable🌲 Keywords: Forest School creativity, process-focused learning, failure and self-talk, celebrating milestones, class and creativity, modelling silliness, acorn processing, non-judgemental spaces, child-led practice, practitioner reflectionSpotify: https://shorturl.at/4WdyIYouTube: https://shorturl.at/3qOUsApple: https://shorturl.at/FxfMFRSS: https://shorturl.at/A0kx9🔖 Hashtags:#ForestSchool #OutdoorEducation #ProcessOverProduct #CreativeConfidence #NatureBasedLearning🌐 More episodes and support:Listen and find resources at www.theforestschoolpodcast.comSupport the show and join our community at www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcastFor questions, feedback, or collaboration: [email protected] and partners⏱ Chapter timings🎧 Catch the full episode:

A heartfelt conversation with Mell Harrison about Kinda Education’s plan to become the new custodians of Ringsfield Hall and bring a living school to life. We explore the vision, the sociocratic way of working, multi-generational learning in practice, and the immediate ways listeners can help.TENTSILE: Outdoor leaders save 10% with code ForestChildren10 on tree tents and hammocks.Chris Holland: Get the 54-page plant guide with our exclusive discount and support the show: https://chrisholland.myshopify.com/?ref=ForestSchoolPodcastDonate or fundraise nowCrowdfunder main page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-kinda-education-save-ringsfield-hall Crowdfunder UKCreate a supporter fundraiser page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-kinda-education-save-ringsfield-hall/multiply Crowdfunder UKLearn about the projectKinda Education’s Ringsfield vision and plan: https://www.kindaeducation.org.uk/ringsfield Kinda EducationKinda Education homepage: https://www.kindaeducation.org.uk/ Kinda EducationFollow and share updatesKinda Education on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KindaEducation/ FacebookLaunch post about saving Ringsfield Hall: https://www.facebook.com/KindaEducation/posts/1409356451195227/ FacebookKinda Education video update: https://www.facebook.com/KindaEducation/videos/1935777910328794/ FacebookInstagram fundraiser reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPUEKUOiEew/ InstagramInstagram update post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPD3MvzDZ9K/ InstagramRingsfield Hall on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ringsfieldhall/ InstagramRingsfield Hall on X: https://x.com/ringsfieldhall X (formerly Twitter)Donate or start a mini fundraiser on the crowdfunder.Share the crowdfunder link and the Instagram reel in your groups.Follow Kinda Education on Facebook and Instagram to boost reach.If you have relevant skills or local knowledge, contact Kinda via the website.00:00 Intro and why this matters02:31 Mell’s background and the roots of Kinda07:30 The project reveal and why Ringsfield Hall13:39 How the living school will work day to day16:26 What living curriculum means in practice19:47 Working with different stakeholders through clear layers23:32 Social impact, elders, and a transferable model27:50 Momentum in alternative education and home education31:49 Starting points for new projects and sociocracy37:07 The crowdfunder and immediate next steps#ForestSchool #AlternativeEducation #HomeEducation #OutdoorLearning #NatureConnection #Sociocracy #CommunityEducation #SEND #TraumaInformed #RingsfieldHall #KindaEducationSponsors and supporter perksListen and take actionHow to help in two minutesChapter timings

In this calm, reflective conversation, Lewis and Wem sit down with play worker and artist Max Alexander of Play Radical to explore autistic play as a joyful, valid, and richly varied landscape. Max shares how one to one playwork can reconnect isolated young people to authentic play, why reflection habits from nursing training shaped their practice, and how non extractive documentation like session haiku can honour privacy while communicating value. The trio unpack the difference between rigid taxonomies and Max’s lighter play shapes, discuss why autistic play matters for wellbeing today rather than only for future outcomes, and explore practitioner shorthand that helps teams notice and scaffold emerging shapes. The second half turns to adult play, instincts, and the social barriers that police how bodies move in public. The result is a practical and humane guide to noticing more, intervening less, and creating space where play can breathe.TENTSILE is supporting this episode. Forest School leaders can get 10 percent off a Stingray tree tent with the code ForestChildren10 at checkout.Chris Holland is also supporting this episode. Grab his 54 page plant guide with our affiliate link and discount: https://chrisholland.myshopify.com/?ref=ForestSchoolPodcast00:43 Windy morning intro and Max joins the chat02:11 What Play Radical is and how Max works across roles03:47 One to one playwork and inclusion for isolated autistic children05:22 From nursing to The Yard and how practice took shape08:03 Reflection habits and a commitment to accessible information13:06 Haiku as non extractive documentation and a live example16:25 Play shapes versus taxonomies and how to hold them lightly22:34 Why autistic play matters for wellbeing and joy right now23:26 Practitioner shorthand and supporting emerging shapes33:42 Adult play instincts and barriers in public spacesAutistic play, play shapes, neurodiversity, inclusive playwork, one to one playwork, reflective practice, haiku documentation, Forest School, Bob Hughes play types, practitioner shorthand, adult play, privacy in play, anti ableism, teen play, Play Radical, The Yard Edinburgh🎧 Catch the full episode:Spotify: https://shorturl.at/4WdyIYouTube: https://shorturl.at/3qOUsApple: https://shorturl.at/FxfMFRSS: https://shorturl.at/A0kx9#ForestSchool #AutisticPlay #OutdoorEducation #ReflectivePractice #Neurodiversity🌐 More Episodes and SupportListen to more and access resources at www.theforestschoolpodcast.comSupport the show and join our community at www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcastFor questions, feedback, or collaboration: [email protected]

In this warm, idea-packed episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Wem move from personal updates to a deep dive on resilience. Using Looby McNamara’s Cultural Emergence and Chris Johnstone’s framing, they explore recovery, adaptive, transformative, and spreading resilience. They challenge the “just power through” myth, contrast perseverance with true resilience, and look at how groups become more sustainable through transparency, shared roles, and flatter hierarchies. Expect practical examples from fire-lighting to policy writing, plus reflections on neurodivergence, school attendance narratives, and how adults can model resilience when there’s a supportive team around them.⏱ Chapter Timings:00:00 – Patreon intro and setting the scene for a busy month01:39 – London “bird orchestra,” road trip vibes, and upcoming FSA plans04:26 – What the FSA road shows are and why mini-conferences matter06:03 – Workshop picks: coil baskets, nature connection, and “dangerous toys”07:24 – A secret embargoed event, outfit chat, and Wem begins a PhD10:28 – Four types of resilience via Looby McNamara and Chris Johnstone12:53 – Oxford definitions: beyond “hardness” to bouncing and recovery20:12 – Adaptive resilience vs perseverance: the fire-lighting example22:42 – Community resilience: transparency, small teams, and avoiding burnout41:54 – Modelling resilience, flatter hierarchies, and support networks🌲 Keywords: Forest School resilience, Looby McNamara, Chris Johnstone, adaptive vs perseverance, community resilience, transparent roles, policies as pearls, neurodivergent perspectives, FSA road shows, outdoor learning practice🔖 Hashtags:#ForestSchool #OutdoorEducation #Resilience #CommunityLearning🌐 More Episodes & Support:Listen to more and access resources at www.theforestschoolpodcast.comSupport the show and join our community at www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcast🎧 Catch the full episode:Spotify: https://shorturl.at/4WdyIYouTube: https://shorturl.at/3qOUsApple: https://shorturl.at/FxfMFRSS: https://shorturl.at/A0kx9For questions, feedback, or collaboration: [email protected]

In this warm and curious episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Gemma sit down with historian and fibre artist Nicole DeRushie to explore her new book, Bog Fashion: Recreating Bronze and Iron Age Clothes. The conversation traces Nicole’s path from Forest School leader to public historian, then dives into experimental archaeology, everyday clothing in prehistory, women’s roles in textile innovation, and why craft skills like nalbinding still matter. Expect practical insight for educators who want to bring textiles into sessions, thoughtful reflections on value and labour, and plenty of joy in imperfect making. Note for listeners: this was a cloud recording so audio quality varies, yet the content is rich throughout.Sponsored byTENTSILE, makers of tree tents and hammocks that Forest School leaders love. Use code ForestChildren10 for 10% off at checkout.Chris Holland’s 54-page plant guide for outdoor educators. Get an exclusive discount through this link: https://chrisholland.myshopify.com/?ref=ForestSchoolPodcast⏱ Chapter Timings00:00 Patreon intro and why listener support keeps the show going01:11 Episode set up, Nicole’s book Bog Fashion, and what to expect02:42 From Forest School to public history, museums, and ancient craft practice07:53 Why Bronze and Iron Age clothing, and why bog finds matter for teaching13:29 Everyday lives over kings and dates, making museums feel lived in22:39 Who made the cloth, evidence, myths, and what we can and cannot claim31:32 The changing value of textiles, from household wealth to fast fashion37:58 The crafter’s triangle, learning through failure, and Forest School links49:11 Endangered crafts and nalbinding, how to keep skills alive1:05:17 Where to find Nicole and Bog Fashion, retailers, events, and Instagram🔗 Links from this episodeBog Fashion at ChronoCopia Publishing, book details and retailers: chronocopia.se/books/bog-fashion/ chronocopia.seNicole DeRushie on Instagram: instagram.com/grounded_history InstagramHeritage Crafts Red List overview: heritagecrafts.org.uk/skills/redlist Heritage CraftsNalbinding craft page, background and status: heritagecrafts.org.uk/craft/nalbinding Heritage CraftsMust Farm, Late Bronze Age settlement and textile context: mustfarm.com/bronze-age-settlement/about Must FarmAshmolean Museum shop listing among UK stockists, via publisher page: shop.ashmolean.org and chronocopia stockist list chronocopia.se🌲 Keywords: Bog Fashion, prehistoric textiles, experimental archaeology, nalbinding, heritage crafts, women and weaving, Bronze Age clothing, Iron Age clothing, Forest School activities, public history🔖 Hashtags:#ForestSchool #OutdoorEducation #BogFashion #PrehistoricTextiles #ExperimentalArchaeology #Nalbinding #HeritageCrafts #ChildLedLearning #CPD #NatureBasedLearning🌐 More Episodes and SupportListen to more and access resources: www.theforestschoolpodcast.comSupport the show and join our community: www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcastQuestions or collaboration: [email protected]

In this lively and wide-ranging episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Wem are joined by Dr Alistair Bryce-Clegg for a passionate conversation about early years education, authentic child development, and how political targets can squeeze the joy out of childhood. From the UK government’s 75% ‘good level of development’ goal to the cultural biases baked into classroom expectations, Alistair shares decades of experience as a teacher, head, author, and consultant. The discussion challenges compliance-focused models, explores the link between environment and behaviour, and highlights the importance of safe failure and intrinsically motivated play. With powerful anecdotes from around the world – from Cumbria classrooms to Icelandic snow schools and Australian bush kindy – this episode is a call to create spaces where all children can flourish, indoors and out.⏱ Chapter Timings:00:00 – Introducing Dr Alistair Bryce-Clegg and his unexpected journey into early years03:14 – The politics of ‘school readiness’ and targets not based on child development07:36 – Cultural differences, compliance vs engagement, and the risk of starting too soon12:20 – Why typical behaviour is often punished – and the gender bias in compliance17:01 – International examples of environments that foster genuine listening22:40 – Narrowing age bands, Ofsted pressure, and creating authentic spaces for all children27:54 – Forest School, play-based learning, and the value of safe failure35:40 – Training, bias, and the risk of disillusionment with learning44:02 – Forest School as a ‘pressure valve’ vs an integrated approach to wellbeing53:58 – Advocating for autodidactic learning in a system built for compliance🌲 Keywords: early years education, school readiness, good level of development, authentic child development, compliance vs engagement, play-based learning, safe failure, gender bias in education, Ofsted pressure, forest school ethos, outdoor learning, international education, neurodiversity, classroom environment, intrinsic motivation🔖 Hashtags:#ForestSchool #EarlyYears #OutdoorLearning #ChildDevelopment #AuthenticPlay #SafeFailure #IntrinsicMotivation #Neurodiversity #ComplianceVsEngagement #ForestSchoolPodcast #PlayBasedLearning #EducationPolicy #TeacherTraining #WellbeingInEducation #AutodidacticLearning🌐 More Episodes & Support:Listen to more and access resources at ⁠www.theforestschoolpodcast.com⁠Support the show and join our community at ⁠www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcast⁠For questions, feedback, or collaboration: ⁠[email protected]

In this thought-provoking episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis speaks with Melissa, widely known as The Modern Mortician, to explore the deep intersections between death care, nature connection, and community learning. Beginning with light-hearted bug encounters and moving into meaningful reflections, the conversation spans Melissa’s career journey from traditional funeral homes to her current role as a death doula and advocate for greener, more intentional end-of-life practices. Together they unpack topics including green burial, water cremation, the realities and myths around “eco” death products, and how environmental considerations influence our final choices. They also discuss the emotional and cultural importance of involving children in death rituals, parallels between small animal burials at Forest School and human funerals, and how openness, presence, and hands-on experience can change our relationship with loss. With a mix of practical insight, personal stories, and gentle humour, this episode invites listeners to rethink death as a natural, participatory part of life.🌲 Chapter Timings:00:00 – Clay hairpieces, bug encounters, and the day’s woodland context02:01 – Introducing Melissa: The Modern Mortician’s work and journey into death care06:37 – Animal burials at Forest School and what really happens underground09:19 – Green burial processes and Melissa’s personal story of exhuming her cat12:24 – How grief and burial choices can shift over time20:07 – Balancing professional knowledge with honouring people’s choices24:14 – Water cremation explained: process, benefits, and environmental impact26:39 – Why conservation burial tops the list for eco-friendly end-of-life care31:18 – Myths, marketing, and the truth about “eco” burial products37:24 – Local sourcing, human composting, and hidden environmental costs50:52 – Why children benefit from involvement in death rituals56:26 – Behind-the-scenes realities of funeral industry “natural” presentation1:01:02 – Advice for Forest School leaders: normalising involvement and presence🌲 Keywords: green burial, water cremation, human composting, conservation burial, natural burial, eco death care, death doula, child involvement in funerals, animal burials, Forest School rituals, end-of-life choices, environmental impact of funerals, grief and participation, cultural attitudes to death, The Modern Mortician🔖 Hashtags:#ForestSchool #OutdoorEducation #GreenBurial #WaterCremation #ChildLedLearning #EcoDeathCare #DeathDoula #ForestSchoolPodcast #NatureAndDeath #LifeCycles #CommunityRituals #SustainableFunerals #EndOfLifeEducation #HandsOnHealing #TheModernMortician🌐 More Episodes & Support:Listen to more and access resources at www.theforestschoolpodcast.comSupport the show and join our community at www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcastFor questions, feedback, or collaboration: [email protected]

In this wonder-filled episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Wem speak with Dr Richard Buggs—geneticist at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Queen Mary University London—about ash dieback, DNA sequencing, and the unseen resilience of trees. With clarity and warmth, Richard explains how genome research is unlocking crucial answers about pest resistance, why ash trees are evolving faster than expected, and how broadleaf diversity might just be the secret weapon in the fight against invasive fungi. From the naming of Betula buggsii to Darwin’s “abominable mystery,” this episode weaves together science, stewardship, and surprise. The conversation also highlights the vital role of biosecurity, the complex interplay between genetics and environment, and the hope offered by natural regeneration. It's a deeply grounding listen for educators, woodland stewards, and anyone curious about trees, time, and how we make sense of the mysteries still growing all around us.🌿 Sponsored by:🛏 TENTSILE – Get 10% off their tree tents with code ForestChildren10. Perfect for overnights, basecamps, and wild play. Learn more at www.tentsile.com🌱 Chris Holland – Nature connection guide and author of The Story of the Wind. Get 10% off his 54-page plant ID guide using code ForestSchoolPodcast at: https://chrisholland.myshopify.com/?ref=ForestSchoolPodcast⏱ Chapter Timings:00:00 – Introducing Dr Richard Buggs and his work at Kew and Queen Mary03:24 – Naming a birch tree: Betula buggsii and the story behind it06:06 – From weed science to ash genome sequencing09:49 – How tree genomes are sequenced: glowing letters and supercomputers14:12 – Ash trees, biodiversity, and co-evolution with fungi15:59 – What ash dieback is and how it kills trees18:30 – Why some ash trees survive and the role of natural regeneration23:00 – Faster-than-expected evolution and what it reveals28:00 – How DNA research helps where traditional trials cannot35:05 – Darwin’s abominable mystery, flowering plants, and sacred questions🌲 Keywords:Ash dieback, forest pathogens, DNA sequencing, Richard Buggs, Kew Gardens, tree genomics, Darwin’s abominable mystery, tree evolution, natural regeneration, plant biosecurity, broadleaf trees, Forest School safety, invasive species, Victorian botany, sacred mystery, forest ecology🔖 Hashtags:#AshDieback #TreeGenomics #ForestSchoolPodcast #KewGardens #BroadleafBiodiversity #PlantScience #OutdoorLearning #DNASequencing #NaturalRegeneration #ForestEcology #SacredMystery #OutdoorEducation #ForestSchoolSafety #Biosecurity #AbominableMystery🌐 More Episodes & Support:Listen to more and access resources at ⁠www.theforestschoolpodcast.com**⁠Support the show and join our community at ⁠www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcast**⁠For questions, feedback, or collaboration: ⁠[email protected]

In this warm and wonderfully meandering episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Wem dive into The Joys and Shapes of Autistic Play by Max Alexander. Nestled among tangents about shouting sparrowhawks, jewel-encrusted slugs, and beloved sticks, they explore how Max's taxonomy of autistic play shapes offers both validation and practical insights for outdoor educators. Together, they unpack play types like pancake stacking, relational mapping, and object harmonising, and reflect on how this lens supports more inclusive, curious, and non-judgemental practice. The conversation touches on inner worlds, the limits of Bob Hughes’ taxonomy, and the value of reframing behaviours through a neurodivergent-affirming perspective. With humour, honesty, and deep respect for Max’s work, this episode is a love letter to the strange, sincere, and silly world of play.🎁 Sponsored by Tentsile and Chris HollandEnjoy 10% off Tentsile tree tents with the code ForestChildren10 – perfect for immersive outdoor sessions.Get Chris Holland’s 54-page plant guide at a discounted rate using the code on his site:https://chrisholland.myshopify.com/?ref=ForestSchoolPodcast⏱ Chapter Timings00:00 – Shouting sparrowhawks and reptilian parent brains03:30 – Jeweled slugs and ceramic plant pot friends04:07 – Introducing The Joys and Shapes of Autistic Play by Max Alexander06:03 – Why it’s accessible, shareable, and belongs in your backpack06:58 – What the book is: eight play shapes and how to support them08:29 – Play shapes vs. play types: where Bob Hughes meets inner worlds10:44 – What counts as valid play, and what we sometimes dismiss15:14 – Pancake stacking, poisoned cakes, and joyful repetition22:30 – Relational mapping and understanding bodies as play resources32:21 – Voice as a sensory toy and reframing 'disruptive' behaviours40:31 – Object harmonising, companionship with sticks, and the story of a ruby-red brake light52:27 – Nesting as a verb, den conflicts, and design implications for Forest School spaces58:12 – Sincerity + silliness = play; where this book belongs in your CPD journey🌲 KeywordsAutistic play, Max Alexander, play shapes, Bob Hughes, Forest School, inclusive practice, neurodivergent affirmation, relational mapping, object harmonising, nesting, voice as a sensory toy, pancake stacking, playwork, non-judgemental education, play taxonomies, play diaries, observation🔖 Hashtags#ForestSchool #AutisticPlay #PlayShapes #InclusiveEducation #NeurodivergentAffirming #Playwork #ObjectHarmonising #VoiceAsSensoryToy #PancakeStacking #ForestSchoolPodcast #NatureBasedLearning #ChildLedPlay #OutdoorEducation #RelationalMapping #ReflectivePractice🌐 More Episodes & SupportListen to more and access resources at ⁠www.theforestschoolpodcast.com⁠Support the show and join our community at ⁠www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcast⁠For questions, feedback, or collaboration: ⁠[email protected]

In this deep-dive episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Wem are joined by Dr Jo Hume to explore the rich and expanding world of Forest School research. Starting with nettle seeds and caffeine journeys, the conversation quickly flows into Jo’s unique academic path—from early years teaching to leading-edge post-humanist research. Together, they unpack how Forest School practice can be explored through alternative lenses: from non-linear time and place memory to intra-action, post-humanism, and the oft-missed agency of trees, mud, and materials. Dr Hume shares her ‘three Fs of Forest School,’ talks about embodied research methods (including her embroidered GPS maps), and challenges listeners to think beyond human-centred perspectives. Whether you are an outdoor educator, curious academic, or passionate practitioner, this episode will expand your understanding of what makes Forest School profoundly different from other outdoor experiences—and why it truly stays with us even after we leave the woods.https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/our-staff/h/joanna-hume/⏱ Chapter Timings:00:00 – Nettle seeds, caffeine experiments, and energising toddler groups02:10 – Introducing Dr Jo Hume: early years teaching to academic research07:30 – Weekly woodland trips and the ripple effects on child independence13:45 – Bringing Forest School to teacher training: possibilities and limitations19:00 – The ‘three Fs of Forest School’: frequency, familiarity, freedom24:15 – Forest School as an alternative life-thread: time, memory, and identity33:35 – Understanding post-humanism and intra-action in outdoor learning41:15 – Animism, tree relationships, and de-centring the human perspective50:00 – Creative research methods: embroidered maps and sensory entanglement58:30 – The future of Forest School research and Dr Hume’s upcoming book🌲 Keywords: Forest School research, post-humanism, intra-action, place memory, three Fs of Forest School, non-linear time, animism, alternative pedagogies, early years education, embodied research methods, intra-relationship, reflective outdoor practice, Forest School academia, Jo Hume, teacher training and Forest School, post-humanist education🔖 Hashtags:#ForestSchool #OutdoorLearning #ForestSchoolPodcast #PostHumanism #IntraAction #ForestSchoolResearch #EarlyYears #ReflectivePractice #NaturePedagogy #ForestSchoolTraining #ChildLedLearning #AnimismInEducation #TeacherTraining #AlternativeEducation #CreativeResearch🌐 More Episodes & Support:Listen to more and access resources at ⁠www.theforestschoolpodcast.com⁠Support the show and join our community at ⁠www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcast⁠For questions, feedback, or collaboration: ⁠[email protected]