Wilder Woods

About our organisation…

• Our group is open to anyone who supports improved access to high quality outdoor learning for all ages in Central and South Somerset. There is no membership fee.
• We function at two levels – the outdoor learning partnership which involves volunteers in woodland management and provides training and skills (rural skills and crafts) and the Wilder Woods Forest School which delivers sessions for children and young people in a variety of venues including within school grounds.
• We are committed to a high standard of delivery at every level and are affiliated to the Forest Education Initiative. Some of our group are members of the Yeovil and Dorset FEI Cluster group, Somerset and Exmoor Environmental Network and the Devon Forest School Network. Our group has joined BTCV.
•  We provide support to new leaders and groups and schools setting up forest school. We aim to link independent qualified practitioners with communities.
• The woodlands we use are managed sustainably for wildlife as well as for forestry and we continuously aim to improve bio-diversity.
• We provide a valuable link for young people interested in a career in forestry or related fields.
• We work closely with parents who are an important part of our support network and are represented on our management committee.
• Our meetings are informal and include skills shares and social events as well as meetings to discuss other business, funding applications, future directions of the group etc. See Calendar for dates.
• We have many partnerships with wildlife and environmental organizations. We work closely with the Ham Hill rangers and have access to support and advice from the warden at Shapwick  Heath Nature Reserve.
• We began by running community after school clubs for children in woods during  2006 and are now running a wide variety of events for schools and communities in Somerset, with help from grants (see news).
• We became a constituted group in March 07 in response to local community interest.
• We have expanded our activities through the use of specialist instructors and now offer a wider range and also provide for adults. We have run courses in bushcraft, bow making, spoon carving, natural dyes, story telling, living history sessions, woodland crafts, creative writing and woodland drama at a variety of venues. We offer training for teachers wanting to do more learning outside.
• We operate an equal opportunities policy and we now involve more young people in the delivery of our activities. We welcome volunteers and offer support and training. We are members of BTCV and have a Volunteer Co-ordinator to develop this important aspect of our group.
• We prioritise disadvantaged children and marginalized groups of all ages wherever possible and seek funding to subsidize the cost of sessions for low income families and to expand our provision for different groups in need. We are registered as a provider for the ‘Give it a Go’  scheme which enables 5-16 year olds in the Yeovil, Glastonbury, Street and Bridgwater catchment areas on free school meals or in care, to access free enrichment activities with us.
• We have registered with Child-Safe and have two Child Protection Officers who have received training.
• We are members of CHYPPS.
• We have access to a number of sites and our leaders are mobile. We are able to set up sessions anywhere suitable, subject to the necessary risk assessments and consents.
• We also use two small private woodland venues with toilets and shelter for all weather access.