Why Lease a Wood?

Not everyone can afford to buy a wood outright. Here Jackie Jeffrey explains how, with a little inspiration and a lot of perseverance, she managed to make her dream of a Forest School come true.

‘Hi, my name is Jackie Jeffrey. My friends call me the crazy dreamer but I don’t care because occasionally my dreams come true and I am rewarded for my optimistic view of life. My contact with Woodlands.co.uk is a tale of one such occasion and I would like to share it with you here.

The story begins many years ago. I was lucky enough to have teachers who used many different methods to help me to learn. I remember my times camping in the forest and having to find out the names of the different trees and birds that I had previously ignored. I remember the feeling of freedom and pure satisfaction and now as an adult seek that feeling whenever I am feeling stressed or want to slow down. When I set up my company Play Action Limited, taking children camping was one of the first projects I set up and again saw the power of the outdoor environment for providing a sense of peace missing from so many of our lives. As usual I began to dream of what I could really do if I owned a piece of the forest but when I looked into the prices, I realised it would be a long way off before I could afford it so I put in to the back of my mind and continue to work in my various roles.

In September 2007, having just returned home from two weeks of heavy teaching, I sat in front of the telly to hear of more young inner city children killing each other and workers and parents talking about the despair of what was happening. So I turned off the TV and called my colleague Mo and asked her if she would work with me to find a space to take children away from the madness within their environment to see if they could feel and learn something new and different – by whatever means necessary – she said yes, so I excitedly searched the internet and sent out a few emails telling people that I wished to set up a forest school and asking people if they had any land suitable.

That was on a Sunday. By Wednesday, I was having a conversation with this strange man who said he had 100 acres of woodlands that he didn’t want to sell but thought it would be perfect for my needs and offered to rent it to me. I knew this was really happening, but couldn’t take it in. I said thanks and agreed to meet with him and visit the space. Immediately I called Mo and by the Friday we were in Angus’s office meeting with him and discussing possibilities and ideas. He told us about the animals, the lake and the existing adventure playground. We were lost for words. By the end of the conversation (having pinched him on the leg to check that he was for real) we knew that we had found someone who understood our aspirations and shared some of our thinking. Within two hours we were walking around the most beautiful piece of woodland with full recognition that our dream could become reality.

We returned to London and began to spread the news. Within a week we had our first group signed up for a visit and since then two more groups have used the space. We took one young lad whom teachers say lacks concentration skills and watched him strip a dead branch bare for over an hour: totally immersed into the experience – if only his teachers could see him now!! We now have 2 members of staff in training to become Forest School leaders, a group of students from Middlesex University developing the marketing campaign for the local schools and groups while we continue to spread the word in our local communities. We have youth and Play workers interested in the possibilities and are in negotiation with a number of charities and voluntary organisations in terms of access for all children including those with disabilities and additional needs. We hope to be totally operational by April 2008, with a woodland conference in June 2008. We intend to limit numbers to make sure we continue to look after and not destroy the gift we have been given.

So you see why I am happy to be a crazy dreamer and why I will continue to dream of the possibilities. If you want to find out more please send an email to playactionltd@hotmail.co.uk.’

Why Lease a Wood?

About us >>

Contact us >>

Latest Blog Articles