Ep 87 - Winterising our site & 'Yearly Theme' setting

In this relaxed but thought-provoking episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Gemma record from indoors during a national lockdown and reflect on the rhythms of winter, social dynamics in education, gender politics, and gratitude. They discuss lockdown resilience, the myth of perfect nature provision, and how Forest School leaders can deepen their relationship with the woods during seasonal downtime. The conversation expands into a lively debate on gender equity sparked by a controversial US classroom policy, and circles into the symbolism of site maintenance, reciprocity with nature, and setting sustainable themes for the year ahead. From domestic social history to rushlights and post-hole diggers, this episode weaves together practical woodland advice, philosophical musings, and professional development reflections.

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This episode is supported by our wonderful partners:

👉 TENTSILE – Makers of the original tree tent. Get 10% off with code ForestChildren10 at www.tentsile.com

👉 Chris Holland – Nature connection guide and author. Get 10% off his 54-page plant ID guide using code ForestSchoolPodcast at our affiliate link: https://chrisholland.myshopify.com/?ref=ForestSchoolPodcast

⏱ Chapter Timings:
00:00 – Lockdown check-in: emotional weather and national context
03:40 – Forest School families as more winter-ready than most
06:00 – Why kids "can’t" run around in lockdown—and challenging that narrative
07:00 – The LEGO gender divide debate: equity, exclusion, and classroom ethics
14:00 – Gender in the woods: helping, assumptions, and scaffolding equality
19:50 – Site rest and slow noticing: the gift of pausing during lockdown
25:00 – Winterising muddy paths: woodchip strategies, Christmas trees, and sourcing tips
32:50 – Rethinking visual impact, straight lines, and the Holly King's reminder
36:50 – Planting, coppicing, and regenerating the middle woodland story
45:00 – Yearly themes: gratitude, reciprocity, and sustainability in practice

🌲 Keywords: Forest School winterisation, muddy path solutions, tree care, lockdown in nature, gender and equity in play, gratitude practice, site sustainability, LEGO gender politics, woodland pedagogy, coppicing, posthole diggers, social history, New Year themes, Forest School themes

🔖 Hashtags:
#ForestSchool #OutdoorEducation #WinterWoodland #NatureConnection #SustainableTeaching #GenderEquity #ForestSchoolPodcast #MuddyPaths #ChildLedLearning #ReflectivePractice #GratitudeInNature #Reciprocity #Coppicing #SiteMaintenance #WoodlandCare

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