Forest nurseries gain popularity in London

LONDON - On the outskirts of southwest London in the Wimbledon Common natural forest park, a group of twenty 2-5 year-olds were busy digging earth, climbing string ladders or playing on wood swings.

Wearing brightly colored water-proof hoodies and boots, the kids indulged themselves up to ten hours a day with various activities fully immersed in nature. A nappy-changing tent and outdoor toilet were just around with warm water and soap provided for hand washing.

It was not a summer camp. Little Forest Folk, a new concept of nursery originated in Denmark using forest as its classrooms, was named in April one of the winners of prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise.

Leanna Barrett, the founder and director of Little Forest Folk, said her inspiration was simply triggered by her own children's desire to play outside.

"We had the freedom that children don't have these days," said Barrett, who grew up in Wales in the countryside, "There are a lot of researches saying that this generation of children is the first generation that is being raised in captivity. And I didn't want that for my children."

"We thought we had to create something for our children so that's why we created our first nursery," she told Xinhua.

The concept of outdoor nursery has gone wild since the first such nursery was established in London three years ago. Little Forest Folk has more than 2,100 children on waiting lists across its five nurseries in Chiswick, Barnes, Wandsworth, Fulham and Wimbledon.

It was not just all play in the forest. Following the core Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum like the normal schools, Little Forest Folks seeks to incorporate learning into free play, fresh air and the natural world.

Sitting all together in a circle on wood logs, teacher Alice O'Reilly was explaining to the kids how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly and kids should try not to touch them when seeing them in the woods.

"Our curriculum has been developed to meet the seven areas of learning as set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). We do this through a variety of outdoor play activities," said O'Reilly.

Numbers and counting are encouraged by looking at trees and birds. Shapes and colors are aided by leaves and feathers. Nature is explored using water, air and earth.

Even when it rains, the nursery erects tarps above kids' heads or asks them to shelter under the natural canopies of trees so that the kids can continue to play and learn. The kids seemed to be even more excited while capturing water in containers, looking at rain flow and jumping in puddles. The water-proof outfits make sure kids remain dry and comfortable all day long.

Meanwhile, a full risk assessment system was in place to ensure children remain safe in the forest, explains Barrett.

Children are always kept within line of sight of two or more adults. The adult to child ratio is maintained as at least one adult for each four children, allowing many eyes to be kept on the children. Headcounts take place regularly and staff all carries walkie-talkies to keep in constant communication.

Meanwhile, the children are also involved in their own safety precautions. Each morning the children work along with the adults to set boundaries, with multiple rainbow ribbons on sticks, for their play in that area.

"It empowers the children to be involved in their own safety and ensures they show safety precautions a far greater respect," Barrett said.

"Our nurseries connect children back to nature, inspiring them to live a naturally healthy lifestyle that builds resilience, confidence, independence and self-motivation -- all the tools they need for a happy and successful life," she said.