Jess looks around the forest glade where she is standing. "Where's the toilet?" she asks. Graham Brandwood, the youth worker in charge, points nonchalantly into the woods and says "Use the trees". The answer prompts a shriek of horror from the 16-year-old: "That's disgusting." But her tone is more one of excitement than genuine distaste.
Bolton Lads & Girls Club already has one of the most modern and well-attended clubs in the country. But last year it set up a project in the Burnthwaite Wood, a few miles outside the town. It started by chance, says the club's chief executive Jeremy Glover. "There used to be an old children's home on the site, which was demolished. A friend told me about the woods and we came up with this idea of trying to use it for the club. Then the whole idea of the forest school started emerging."
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
