The seed was planted...

Sat around a campfire in the middle of a small coppiced woodland, in the middle of West Sussex, during the middle of February, the seed for From the Ashes... was sown...

Working on a weeks' training course to be a Level 3 Forest School Practitioner, Kate H Bryant was enthralled at the way of teaching and learning that the Forest School ethos had to offer. The weather was cold and damp, and yet when getting home each evening Kate was bouncing with energy, where normally she felt sluggish after a day in the classroom. Grabbing for the dog's lead, instead of a packet of biscuits, Kate still had the motivation and energy each evening to go for a long dog walk, instead of feeling drained and sleepy...   She thought to herself that if she felt like this after a hard day's learning in the outdoors, then surely children would feel this energy too.

Childhood was spent outside in wellington boots, playing in the puddles or in trainers in the woods on walks with the family and Ben, the black lab. Whether this was due to the fact that we hadn’t entered the age of technology fully yet or because there was very little money for any other entertainment, I’m not sure, but nevertheless happiness was at its highest. The television was something that was watched for relaxation and generally on a Saturday afternoon together as a family.

Sadly this isn’t the case today; the television acts more as a babysitter and when not watching the television, children are attached to other electronic pathways for their entertainment. Is this form of entertainment relaxing? When do children have the chance to unwind and free up their minds of all the twaddle that they fill it with? Weekends should be about exploration and imagination and freedom and play, but sadly for many this is not the case. With frustratingly busy parents, children miss out on those wonderful woodland walks or beach visits unless they are on holiday.  Richard Louv describes this as ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ (Louv, 2010) with today’s children missing out on those natural day to day experiences that are dwindling from their lives. If From the Ashes... can deliver these experiences on a weekly basis to children through Forest School sessions then they feel that they have given back, a little something that has been taken away from so many.

In May 2013 Kate H Bryant qualified as a Level 3 – Forest School Practitioner and was verified by the Forest School Association  (FSA) in September 2014 during their Annual Conference held in Danbury, Essex and can be found on their Qualified Practitioner Map, following this link…

Kate H Bryant (About) (forestschoolassociation.org)

From the Ashes'... is inspired by nature and enthused by children.

With a passion for the outdoors, From the Ashes... wants to share with individuals the enjoyment that the natural environment gives... the freedom to discover and explore nature at its best. To be immersed within the elements and share a connectedness with nature, whilst enjoying the world in which we live, should be readily accessible to all. I hope to deliver this through working as a Forest School Practitioner and give back to children, that which for some has been taken away... creativity, curiosity and connection.

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Qualifications

• OCN Level 3 Forest School Practitioner (May 2013)
• Post Grad. Studies in Education - Action Research on Forest Schools
• 2.1 BSc HONS Youth & Psychology
• Certs. Youth: Perspectives & Practice; Personal Lives & Social Policy
• Surrey First Aid Training (16hr FSP Outdoor) (Mar 2021)
• C&G Level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene for Catering
• Enhanced DBS/CRB
• Birnbec Business Insurance

fleet Cottage

The Fleet

Fittleworth

West sussex

RH20 1HN

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