Renaturing Playgrounds for Urban FS

Come along to this session to find out more about how Hackney Outdoors CIC is supporting the sixth FS principle ("FS takes place in a natural or woodland environment") in London, by improving and renaturing school playgrounds to better support both outdoor education and urban biodiversity.

The session will cover:
1. What Hackney Outdoors CIC defines as 'urban forest school' (and why this is not pure Forest School)
2. The main challenges director Nina Lovelace faces running sessions in often tarmac and astroturf spaces, many of which will be common to fellow tarmac-warriors (and worriers!)
3. Nina's experience in raising (and spending!) £16k in 2024 on a Hackney state primary school to renature and create an urban forest school site in a formerly nature depleted playground for 430 kids. She will cover lots of practicalities such as how to build a parent and corporate volunteer team to get things done and how you don't need to be an expert to make a difference.
4. The value of herb gardens and other 'hacks' to maximise Urban Forest School and biodiversity in small school playground spaces. Nina will also lead a Q&A/debate to share ideas and intel between attendees - bring paper and a pen!