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Artwork for The Forest School Podcast

The Forest School Podcast

Lewis Ames and Wem Southerden
Forest School
Nature Connection
Outdoor Education
Child Development
Education
Community Building
Pedagogy
Ecology
Failure
Childhood Development
Transparency In Education
Play Cycle
Nature Saturation
Owls
Outdoor Learning
Safety In Education
Community
Clean Language
Urban Forest School
Re-Naturing Urban Spaces

Wem Southerden & Lewis Ames have run Forest School and training centre Children of the Forest since 2017. The Forest School Podcast was born when they wondered if their daily wafflechats and reflections about pedagogy, play and nature connection might be of interest to others. The podcast aims to inform and support educators, parents, outdoor and play practitioners and anyone interested in nature ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes248Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

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Artwork for The Forest School Podcast

Latest Episodes

Unlocking the Secrets of Soil: An Interview with Ellen Fay from the Sustainable Soils Alliance

Discover the fascinating world beneath our feet with Ellen Fay, a passionate advocate for soil health and biodiversity. In this episode, we delve into wha... more

We recorded this one outside in the sunshine, which felt almost unreasonably good. Wem and I had a lot to catch up on and approximately no plan for how to do it. This is what came out.Wem started with a holiday debrief from the Picos de Europa in nor... more

YouTube

This episode explores the realities of forest school leadership, challenging idealized expectations with authentic experiences. Hosts Wem and Lewis share insights on community building, industry myths, and the importance of authenticity in outdoor ed... more

YouTube

This episode explores the fascinating world of loose parts in outdoor play, focusing on natural resources like trees, seeds, and bark. Discover criteria for selecting the best loose parts, the importance of seasonality, and creative ideas for outdoor... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Ellen Fay
Founder/Director, Sustainable Soils Alliance
Sustainable Soils Alliance
Episode: Ep 244 - Sustainable Soil Alliance
Susan Barker
Works for Avon Needs Trees and specializes in community tree planting and engagement
Avon Needs Trees
Episode: Ep 239 - Community Woods with Susan Barker from Avon Needs Trees
Dr. Shelley Newstead
Expert in playwork with a PhD focus on its history and current practices
PARS Playwork
Episode: Ep 235 - PARS Playworking with Dr Shelley Newstead
Mell Harrison
A nature-based educator with over 30 years of experience, co-founder of Kinda Education.
Kinda Education
Episode: Ep 229 - Save Ringsfield Hall with Mell Harrison of Kinda Education
Max Alexander
A play worker, artist, consultant, and author of 'The Joys and Shapes of Autistic Play.'
Play Radical
Episode: 228 - Creating Play Taxonomies with Max Alexander
Nicole DeRushie
Author and speaker focused on ancient fashion and crafts
Episode: Ep 226 - Bog Fashion at Forest School with Nicole DeRushie
Dr. Alistair Bryce-Clegg
Expert in early years education, author, and speaker
Independent Educator
Episode: Ep 225 - What defines 'Ready for School'? w/ Dr Alistair Bryce-Clegg
Dr. Richard Buggs
Researcher at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Queen Mary University London
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Episode: Ep 223 - Combating Ash Dieback w/Dr Richard Buggs from Kew Gardens
Dr. Jo Hume
An academic with a focus on forest school research and pedagogy.
Northumbria University
Episode: Ep 221 - Post-Humanism in the Woods: With Dr Jo Hume

Hosts

Wem Southerden
Co-host of the show; long-running presenter with a focus on forest school pedagogy, community engagement, and nature-based education.
Lewis Ames
Co-host and co-founder; experienced educator and organizer with a focus on nature-based learning and forest school practice.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 135 ratings
  • A Playful Approach to a Playful Topic

    Such an informative Podcast! Lewis, Wem, and guests take a playful approach to Forest Schooling, which matches Forest School’s playful approach to education!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Peter Kindfield
    United States5 months ago
  • Story time

    Really enjoyed the last podcast around shared community stories. Echoes many things I am interested in at the moment, but also just a good broader listen. And addition, not easy to post a post on your own, so kudos to Lewis for that.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BertGrieves
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Truths Be Told!

    Thank you for sharing the Truths of the joy, humour and humbling experiences of being in nature with children. The Bush Pods ~ Nature School in South Australia loves your podcast. I love legs 🐸!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SVadventures
    Australia2 years ago
  • A must for current or potential forest school leaders

    Varied, honest, insightful, funny and challenging- brilliant!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pondie61
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Perfect for Forest school leaders

    As a fairly new forest school leader I love this podcast. So informative and the wealth of experience shared gives me so much food for thought on so many areas of this practice. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Biddy Runs
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show provides CPD-like, practical ideas for forest school leaders.
Listeners appreciate the mix of humor and honest reflection.
Guests bring diverse perspectives on play, education, and nature connection.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 239 - Community Woods with Susan Barker from Avon Needs Trees
Q: Could you just tell us a little bit about yourself personally and your career path that led you to work with Avon Needs Trees?
Susan describes a transition from a previous career in academia to horticulture, driven by a desire to work outdoors and engage with nature.
Ep 235 - PARS Playworking with Dr Shelley Newstead
Q: How do you see the relationship between forest school and playwork?
Forest school can be seen as playwork in the woods, where both emphasize children's competency and curiosity; however, forest school also ties into educational outcomes.
Ep 235 - PARS Playworking with Dr Shelley Newstead
Q: Can you, for those listeners who maybe don't know that much about playwork at the moment, how would you define a playwork perspective?
A playwork perspective focuses on the needs of children and childhood, arguing for allowing children the freedom to engage in play without adult interference.
Ep 229 - Save Ringsfield Hall with Mell Harrison of Kinda Education
Q: Is living school just a name for what you've described, or is there sort of more detail to that?
Mell elaborates on the 'living school' concept, emphasizing a curriculum based around community needs and hands-on experience.
Ep 229 - Save Ringsfield Hall with Mell Harrison of Kinda Education
Q: Can you tell us a bit more about the project that's coming out?
Mell explains the initiative to save Ringsfield Hall, detailing its educational history and their vision for revitalization.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Forest School Podcast

What is The Forest School Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, outdoors-focused show that centers on nature-connected learning, play, and pedagogy. Episodes combine expert interviews with experienced host perspectives to explore forest schooling, community engagement, and creative education in outdoor settings. The format often blends philosophy with hands-on tips, from loose parts and playwork to CPD-style discussions for forest school practitioners. A notable strength is its down-to-earth banter and willingness to tackle complex topics (resilience, measurement of play, community-driven initiatives) with humor and candor, making it appealing to educators, parents, and outdoor practitioners seeking actionable ideas and candid conversations.

Potential listeners should expect long-form, con... more

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How many listeners does The Forest School Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Forest School Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Forest School Podcast:

1. The Mel Robbins Podcast
2. Dial Emma
3. Super Great Kids' Stories
4. The Child Psych Podcast
5. Desert Island Discs

How many episodes of The Forest School Podcast are there?

The Forest School Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 248 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Forest School Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Forest School Podcast?

Recent guests on The Forest School Podcast include:

1. Ellen Fay
2. Susan Barker
3. Dr. Shelley Newstead
4. Mell Harrison
5. Max Alexander
6. Nicole DeRushie
7. Dr. Alistair Bryce-Clegg
8. Dr. Richard Buggs

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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