The Forest School Podcast

In this lively, laugh-filled episode of The Forest School Podcast , Lewis and Gemma welcome long-time online linchpin Lily Horseman (Chair of the Forest School Association and founder of Kindling) for a free-ranging chat that moves from stationery obsessions to slime-mould revelations. Together they explore: the comfort—and peril—of social-media echo chambers for practitioners Lily’s journey from...

In this wind-swept instalment of The Forest School Podcast , Lewis and Gemma retreat to the kitchen and dive deep into Vivian Gussin Paley’s provocative book You Can’t Say You Can’t Play . Using the storm outside as a backdrop, they explore children’s right to choose their playmates, the pain and purpose of rejection, and whether practitioners should ever enforce inclusion. Along the way they cont...

In this rain-spattered, crisp-crunching episode of The Forest School Podcast , Lewis and Gemma huddle by the fire to mull over boredom, deep-vs-shallow play, and why children (and adults) need unstructured pauses to stretch their “play roots.” From Christmas gift overloads to Minecraft marathons — and a sidetrack on cul-de-sac “Mad Knobbly Monopoly” — they explore how real learning blooms when you...

In this fireside-crackling, pre-Christmas episode of The Forest School Podcast , Lewis and Gemma start with crooning crooners and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” then dive into what really keeps children warm: challenge in the “Zone of Proximal Development.” They unpack Vygotsky’s 1930s idea, why Maslow’s triangle irks Lewis, and how authentic play naturally pitches itself at just-right difficulty—prov...

In this thoughtful, occasionally fiery episode of The Forest School Podcast , Lewis and Gemma begin with a half-empty toddler session—children abandoning a bright but biting morning—and spiral into a wide-angle interrogation of what schooling is for . Bouncing off John Taylor Gatto’s 1991 “Teacher of the Year” speech, they question Maslow’s hierarchy, explore schooling as childcare, weigh up socia...

In this brisk, wind-whipped episode of The Forest School Podcast , Lewis and Gemma tackle the perennial British dilemma: “Do we still run Forest School when it’s tipping it down?” Drawing on soaked tarps, collapsed shelters and toddler groups in hail, they weigh up risk, kit, site impact and that elusive “hookah” feeling of singing round a stove while the storm hammers overhead. From leggings-plus...

In this wide-ranging, good-humoured episode of The Forest School Podcast , Lewis and Gemma start with storms, sea swims and the perils of playground design before digging into their main theme: “Woodland Management With Children.” They unpack why trimming paths, felling sycamores, planting saplings and chopping firewood are much more than chores—they are long-term lessons in ecology, heritage and...

Gemma dashes in straight from the woods—muddy boots, leaf-tangled hair—and Lewis hits record for a rapid-fire chat on how democratic play actually works in real life 🌱. Kicking off with Peter Gray’s latest Psychology Today essays, they unpack why true democracy boils down to “freedom + responsibility” and why unstructured, child-led play is the only arena that consistently teaches it. From there...

Gemma kicks things off—shoes off, that is—explaining why a mud-bath “bare-foot break” can reset practitioner wellbeing as effectively as any spa session. From there the conversation pivots to a thornier theme gripping UK newsfeeds: 🌍 climate activism . Should Forest School leaders join Extinction Rebellion marches, glue themselves to bridges, or remain politically neutral? Lewis admits he’s never...

Lewis & Gemma dive into one of their favourite teaching tools—📚 picture books—and ask a thorny question: Do illustrated stories belong in Forest School, or should they stay indoors? After skimming recent battles on practitioner forums, they argue that well-chosen picture books can deepen nature connection and social-emotional learning. The duo outline multiple benefits: Bibliophilia – fosteri...

The autumn equinox is here 🍂 and Lewis & Gemma are feeling the shift in both daylight and energy. This week they explore why the September-to-October stretch can be physically and mentally draining for Forest School leaders—and how to stay resilient. First, they unpack the “extra hustle” of welcoming new groups after summer: rebuilding routines, re-establishing play dynamics, and absorbing ch...

Lewis and Gemma are back from the summer break and diving straight into ☕ caffeine, kombucha — and books. After a light-hearted catch-up about their latest ferments (matcha for now, homemade kombucha soon), they turn to the main event: a deep review of The Whole-Brain Child by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson. The duo explore the book’s core idea of brain “integration,” breaking dow...

Recorded round a picnic bench at the Wilderness Gathering (West Knoyle, Dorset). Lewis, Gemma, Adrian, Kay and Dave talk about staffing the Forest School Association (FSA) stand, county gatherings and the value of swapping ideas face-to-face. • Why the FSA Southwest team came to the festival – pointing visitors to local settings, sharing good practice, recruiting new members • Gatherings as “mini-...

Gemma and Lewis record in the dark by the camp-fire during a family camping sleep-over. It’s 9:50 pm, owls are calling and they’re a bit overtired – so expect extra waffle and late-night tangents. • Rain relief – finally breaks a three-week dry spell; both admit jumpers are Britain’s national security blanket • A huge sweet-chestnut limb dropped after drought; quick reminder about “summer branch d...

Gemma and Lewis open in classic British style – celebrating the first proper rain in almost three weeks and admitting national jumper-anxiety. While thunder rolls in the background they: • compare iPhone “floors climbed” stats • share a long digression about government tracking, MI5 recruitment myths and targeted phone ads • recount a huge sweet-chestnut limb that dropped on site after the recent...

Gemma brings the Birdsong button-book and Lewis plays “name-that-tweet.” From ravens’ office gossip to goldcrests in conifers, we derail into MI6 recruitment, chicken nappies and phone-based surveillance – but somehow loop back to purposeful listening outdoors. 🚗 Apple “steps & floors” chat, blocked noses and elevation paranoia 🕵️‍♂️ Lewis’ totally-real MI5 recruitment story (“Do I have to ki...

Lewis & Gemma spiral into a midsummer head-cold haze and ask, “What actually makes a good rite of passage?” From hot pennies hurled at peasants to Year-6 mortarboards, nothing is safe. 🤧 Lewis can’t remember life with two nostrils; Gemma’s hen snores on the stairs 🌓 Solstice rituals, Charlotte Church’s democratic-school idea & smashing down the bit you built 🎓 Primary-school “graduation...

Lewis & Gemma welcome Tracy MacIver – Forest-School trainer, perennial swearer, and author of three (almost four!) beloved activity handbooks . Between squirrel-raids on the mud-kitchen and tales of backpack knives, the trio wanders through: 📚 How Tracy’s first book began as a photocopied “activity diary” for one anxious colleague 🪄 Handbag-survival hen parties (tampons = perfect fire-lighte...

It’s Solstice time—or as Lewis and Gemma imagine it, post-apocalyptic bunker-time, when all that remains is a crumbling podcast archive passed through generations. In this reflective, meandering, and slightly pollen-fogged episode, your hosts explore adult learning at Forest School , the strange self-consciousness of grown-ups in the woods, and what it means to meet parents, trainees, and professi...

In this rain-tapping, fireside-style episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Gemma explore the unexpected side effects of being a Forest School practitioner. Born from a moment of atmospheric pressure-drop telepathy, this conversation drifts through proprioception, weather instincts, sensitivity to group energy, and the profound (and often hilarious) personal changes that unfold after year...

Lewis and Gemma drift on a gentle breeze into the world of dens —from childhood hidey-holes to Forest School fortresses. They spin together memory-stories (hedgerow hideaways, Aladdin-cave fireguards, war-ready clay-ammo dens in building-site dumps), debate what materials make “better” dens (natural sticks vs. tarps, pallets, top-holes), and wrestle with the real play-worker dilemma of permanence...

In this energetic, hands-on episode Lewis and Gemma explore the magic of springboard activities —those simple setups that spark hours of play, learning and wonder. After nibbling Romanian walnuts and defining “springboard” with a nod to Lily Kindling’s session-plan template, they share their top examples: from fluttering paper swallows to a tangled rope labyrinth, Sally Secret’s hidden den, collab...

In this thoughtful, wide-ranging episode Lewis and Gemma return from a fog-shrouded break to explore Cal Newport’s “Essentialism” and its powerful lessons for both life and Forest School practice. They unpack Newport’s core principle—focusing relentlessly on what truly matters—and discuss opportunity costs, the art of saying “no,” and how Amish communities vet new technologies against their values...

In this misty, reflective episode Lewis and Gemma savour a fog-shrouded morning in the woods, admire dew-spangled spider-webs and commiserate over hay fever—before taking on a thorny topic: is outdoor education a right or a privilege? They kick off with the BBC’s recent “walled-playground” story and a thought-provoking blog by Nick Lewis on the hidden costs of outdoor pursuits (DofE kit, waterproo...

In this lively, outdoor episode the team greets a curious raven and riffs on corvid fascination—before diving into a deep review of Heather Shumaker’s game-changing parenting guide It’s Okay Not to Share & Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent & Compassionate Kids . They unpack Heather’s surprising background (from Antarctic trash-collector to oral-history biographer), the book’s bite...