Across the UK, schools are re-discovering the importance of play and its ability to impact on some of the most significant aspects of child development. They’re also discovering that natural environments and materials offer some of the richest play opportunities.

While many schools are now developing their playgrounds to provide these ‘natural play’ spaces, hundreds of schools already have access to a wonderful, but un-used, woodland playground right on their doorstep.

The aim of our Woodland Play project was to find out how woodlands in or adjacent to schools could be made accessible for regular play during break times.

With support from Inspiring Scotland and the Forestry Commission, we embarked on a 2-year project with 6 Scottish primary schools that recognised the potential of their woodlands for play but who needed help to turn their aspirations into reality.

Find out how woodland play has benefitted children and school life and learn how schools have successfully dealt with the practicalities of supervision, risk, weather and mud using the resources below.