Forest School Training, Newcastle, UK
Welcome to our Forest School Training page
We offer both the Level 1 Forest School Training and the Level 3 Forest School Training If you know which course you're interested in, please click on the link to find out more.
All courses are held at our lovely site here at Scotswood Garden in Newcastle upon Tyne. Our highly experienced, knowledgeable trainers ensure that all courses are both engaging and informative. If you choose to train with us, you'll join of hundreds of like-minded people who have trained at Scotswood Garden over the years.
We also run a Forest School Alumni Network for those who have trained with us which includes a free annual get together and regular CPD workshops to enhance and develop you Forest School skills.
For any questions about anything Forest School related, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Our trainers
Harriet Menter, Education Manager
Harriet has worked at Scotswood Garden for 20 years, developing and delivering a wide range of environmental education and forest school programmes. She has delivered long term programmes with parent/carer and toddler groups, mainstream primary, secondary and specialist SEND schools; and adults with and without learning disabilities. In 2016 she developed the Breeze Project, working with Newcastle University and partner schools to understand how forest school can support the emotional wellbeing of children and young people who are struggling in education. The Breeze network now has 15 partner schools and organisations. She is committed to increasing diversity within the forest school sector, and removing barriers to participation. Harriet likes to try out different nature based crafts, never sticking with one, recent activities include shibori indigo dyeing and pine needle baskets.
Favourite forest school activities: Any wide games, natural paints, whittling, bird watching.
Favorite forest school recipe: Anything except a marshmallow! We recently added borage and lavender flowers to shortbread cooked in hazel leaves and the results were delicious!
Favourite place in the garden: Underneath the scots pine on a sunny day, listening to the cones popping open in the heat.
Harriet is one of only 20 people in England recognised as an ENDORSED Forest School Trainer by the Forest School Association (FSA). Go to this page of the FSA website Find a Forest School Trainer and click on our pin to view our listing.
To find out more about the FSA, please see here: Forest School Association | What is Forest School? | Forest Schools | Nature Premium
Alice Holliday, Education Officer
Alice started as a trustee at Scotswood Garden in 2019 where she first heard about the magic of forest school and eagerly signed up to do her Level 3 the following year. In 2021 she joined the staff team and has since worked across the detached youth work team, the Breeze Project and delivering the Level 1 and Level 3 forest school training. Most recently in the Breeze Project she has been working with therapeutic and education professionals to co-create forest school sessions to support care experienced young people to develop trusted relationships, feel safe, regulate and have fun. She has a keen interest in trauma informed practice and how this can be embedded into forest school sessions in practice (and is still learning lots about this!). Alice loves the autonomy and freedom that forest school brings which enables children and young people to each get what they need from the session to meet their needs. Alice is happiest when squirrelled away in a sunny spot being able to whittle for hours on end.
Favourite forest school activities: Cordage & weaving, anthrotype printing (using light sensitive plant pigments and the power of the sun!), knots, learning new games and whittling.
Favorite forest school recipe: Campfire 'pot noodles'
Favourite place in the Garden: Climbing up one of the field maples to find a nice nook to rest in and listen to the birds.
Forest School Events in 2026
October 2026 - We run our first ever Cooking on the Fire workshop for our Alumni and other trained Forest School Leaders.
October 2026 - Our next Level 3 Forest School Leaders course gets underway.
September 2026 - Our second Level 1 Forest School course of the year takes place
September 2026 - Several members of staff and volunteers not only attend the FSA Annual Conference, but also lead workshops.
June 2026 - It's our free annual Alumni Get Together for anyone who trained with us. A chance to catch up with others, share knowledge and update skills.
May 2026 - We run our first ever Whittling courses for our Alumni.
April 2026 - Our Spring Level 1 Course takes place.
March 2026 - The Scotswood Garden Education team host the Forest School Association Roadshow event. A fabulous, but windy, day!