Doddiscombsleigh Primary School launches new forest school with a little help from Greenman Garden Tools

“Our forest school will offer children the opportunity to get amongst nature, to learn about our local habitats, and to keep mind and body healthy” Mr Stewart Forest School teacher at Doddiscombsleigh Primary School.

Forest School is renowned for offering health and well-being benefits to children and in the current climate these attributes are more important than ever. Outdoor activities like gardening have seen a huge growth in popularity as the country navigated its way through the Covid -19 national lockdown, old and young alike saw gardening as a way to support mental and physical wellbeing.

Doddiscombsleigh Primary school community, found in the heart of the Teign Valley in Devon, will nurture this new wave of enthusiasm for the great outdoors and celebrate the beautiful wild spaces and rich biodiversity of species found in the area with its new forest school programme.

Greenman Garden Tools, a family business with its roots in the Teign Valley, plans to support this fabulous gardening project and help promote the enjoyment that gardening has brought to children in the last few months. 

Adam Greenman of Greenman Garden Tools comments “We’re delighted to have been asked by Doddiscombsleigh primary school to support them in launching their forest school initiative. I love to see children enjoying the great outdoors, particularly now when learning has been so screen based.  Giving children proper tools and letting them work out the right tool for the job is so great to see.  Having three children of my own I feel really passionate about forest schools and the way they teach children.”

Mr Stewart, one of two forest school teachers’ at Doddiscombsleigh School comments “the new Forest School at Doddi will offer children the opportunity to get amongst nature, to learn about our local habitats, and to keep mind and body healthy. It will enrich our Science, Geography, DT and Art curriculum and give an opportunity to enjoy our beautiful surroundings.  We would like to particularly thank Greenman Garden Tools who have donated a variety of Forest School tools to us so we can launch the scheme this September.   

Mr Collings is passionate about gardening with the pupils at Doddi and developing the new forest school, he goes onto say “We have an exciting vision for the new equipment with den building,  creating woodland cookies, making fairy houses, growing our own veg, making catapults, bow and arrows, and all manner of fun projects planned for the new term ahead. Allowing the children to work with real tools makes all the difference!”

About Greenman Garden Tools

Owned by Eliza Tinsley a leading name in the hardware industry,  Greenman Garden Tools is a third generation family business with a proud heritage in tool manufacture and supply.  The Greenman range  has been developed using inspiration from much loved antique tools,  reflecting the traditional craftsmanship of tools that have survived the test of time.  Traditionally crafted from sustainable Ash with beautiful stainless steel heads, these tools are perfect for budding gardeners as well as the green fingered professionals and includes a beautiful miniature version for children. The Greenman Garden Tool range is widely available from garden centres nationwide or visit  www.greenmangardentools.com