A One, Two, Tree of Outdoor Learning

Following the felled timber logs on their travels from the conservation woodlands around Dartmoor can reveal some interesting journeys. Some of the softwood sawlogs can end up being hauled by road to commercial sawmills but, in recent years, more and more of this valuable resource is staying local. Timber from the woodland restoration work can be used in many forms, from boards to beams but, sometimes it remains in the round and, this time, another Devon primary school has benefited from a donation of timber poles from the woods at Fingle and the Bovey Valley.

Larch trees that were planted in the mid-20th century are reaching a stage where harvesting them for timber can have multiple benefits for the wildlife of the wooded valleys and the education of local children. After being felled and stacked, this batch of timber was destined for an inspiring school garden but first, the bark had to be peeled. A job best done by old-school hand tools.

Rob Taylor is an experienced countryside ranger and an outdoor educator. He previously constructed an outdoor learning shelter at Lydford School but has recently built a second shelter of a similar design. The children at Northlew and Ashbury Primary School are used to learning outdoors in their school grounds with the dramatic backdrop of the tors of Dartmoor in the distance, but the woodlands of the moor have been brought a lot closer by this donation of timber from the Woodland Trust sites at Fingle and the Bovey Valley. This new timber shelter brings together outdoor education with the woodland conservation work going on around the moor.

After the children began to use their new shelter for their weekly Forest School classes, the ‘Forest School News’ page in the weekly newsletter reported that, “We are all really thrilled with our new Forest School shelter! This will mean that we are able to continue our outdoor learning in all weathers without worrying about blowing away in the wind and rain!” As well as providing protection from the wilder elements it also offers a healthy, fresh air learning experience to benefit the next generation of budding environmentalists. The Head of School was also keen to express, “A huge thank you to Rob Taylor … and to the Woodland Trust for their kind donations in order to make the project happen.”

by Matt Parkins