Islington’s little wildlings – How a community forest school took root in Islington – A greener life, a greener world

By Kirstie Wielandt

A year ago, I set out on a simple quest: to find a local forest school for my young daughter. 

I envisioned muddy weekend adventures, little ones in wellies exploring nature, and wholesome learning amidst the trees. 

However, the reality was starkly different; weekday-only sessions, long bus journeys to reach them, complete waiting lists, and hefty price tags seemed the norm. 

More room for outdoor education

This felt particularly jarring in London, which was declared the world’s first ‘National Park City’ in 2019 and boasts 20% public green space. There is plenty of room for more outdoor education, especially in inner-city dense boroughs like Islington, where 70% of households lack private outdoor space.

We all know the benefits of fresh air and physical activity for children’s mental health, confidence, and resilience—not to mention the welcome break from screens! 

Grassroots organising

In the absence of other options, I decided to explore the possibility of setting up our own forest school sessions in the community park next to our home.

With a bit of help from AI to draft a proposal, some thankfully successful fundraising applications to Islington council’s Make it Happen Fund and Tesco Stronger Starts community fund, I got to work. 

My next step was to connect with other enthusiastic local parents via a WhatsApp brainstorming group. Together, we embarked on a fascinating and insightful journey. 

Twelve months later, I’m thrilled that we are finally hosting a pilot weekend forest school in our local pocket park, which is only two-thirds the size of a football pitch!  

It is a testament to everyone involved how much you can get out of a small green space if you just put your mind to it.

The challenges

It hasn’t been straightforward. Finding qualified child educators with weekend availability in central London was a significant hurdle. 

But we persevered, navigating complex insurance parameters and stocking up on tiny gardening tools. And we couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved.

It should be a standard offering

However, I firmly believe that programs like this should be standard in densely populated urban areas, funded and organised by local authorities. 

The long-term savings in children’s mental and physical health would far outweigh the initial investment. The math on this is very clear.

While we wait for this common-sense approach to prevail, perhaps our little project can inspire others. 

A model for you to replicate

Would you like to see more outdoor learning opportunities in your community? If this story resonates with you, here’s how you can help:

Four actionable steps

🌿 Get involved – If you’re local to Islington in London, UK, come see what we’re building! We’d love to welcome more families and volunteers. Get in touch.

🌱 Start your own – If you have a green space nearby, why not gather like-minded parents and explore the possibilities? A little teamwork can go a long way!

💡 Spread the word—Share this story with friends, local groups, and community leaders. The more people champion outdoor education, the stronger our case.

🏡 Support the movement – Encourage local authorities to invest in accessible forest schools and nature sessions. Every child deserves a space to connect with nature, no matter where they live.

Let’s plant the seeds for a future where outdoor learning is the norm, not the exception! 🌳✨

Editorial note: You can discover more about the wider sustainability proponents of Graham St Park here.

Kirstie Wielandt is an environmentalist and strategic adviser to A greener life, a greener world and works full time for Greenpeace International.