Wild Lives Forest School CIC

04/09/2026

This week’s feelings encapsulated in this slime mould’s expression 😂🥴 Starting school, going back to school, going to a new school (or college as in our house!) brings all the feelings! Parenting really is a wild ride with all the changes and emotions! I’ve been thinking loads of our families with little wild ones starting school this week - I hope it’s been a good start and you’re all okay!! Such lucky teachers to have them and their beautiful wild hearts in their classes 💚💚💚

Despite all the changes, I’m definitely ready for getting back into routines and so glad it’s Autumn now! My favourite season! 🍁🍄🍂

We’ll be settling back into our usual rhythms of school and early years work in a couple of weeks. Here’s an update on what we have coming up…

🐞Little Wild Ones early years sessions are now fully booked - thank you for all your bookings 🙏 Welcome emails coming soon!
🦔Forest Friends pre-school sessions - booking opens on the Sandwell Changes website on Monday
🔥Grounded, a women’s gathering for the autumn equinox, is on Sunday 20th September and up on the booking site now
🌳Bournville Park Wild Tribe sessions are on Saturday 27th September and Saturday 17th October and booking opens two weeks beforehand.
🦊October half-term Wildlings adventure days are up on the booking system now!

🌳Katie will be back at St Francis with year 5 🍄‍🟫 Stu & I are looking forward to meeting our new group at Bristnall Hall Academy in a few weeks

I’m also very excited to share that we have a new forest school leader joining our early years groups. Her name is Melpo - some of you will have met her whilst she has been volunteering with us and she’s lovely and brilliant!

03/09/2026

My friend and colleague, Bracken, has a new regular campfire gathering for men starting in Warley Woods. Bracken is an experienced bushcrafter and therapeutic practitioner and these sessions offer a much needed opportunity for connection and time outdoors in nature as part of a supportive community of men.

I know it’s mainly women who see our posts locally, so please share with your menfolk 🙏

The Ember Path Campfire Gathering is back! Starting September 10th, we will be hosting regular monthly conversations around the campfire.

A great chance to connect with other men, chill around the campfire (weather and environmental conditions permitting) and help us build the Ember Path community.

23/08/2026

Blackberry tie-dye today with the Wild Tribe in Bournville Park. Aren’t the results just beautiful!! (Update: I’ve added the process and pinned in the comments)

Thanks to everyone who joined us to play for a lovely day. We’ll be back in Bournville Park with more free forest play on Sunday 27th September thanks to and funding from 💚🌿

Book your free ticket two weeks before at bookwhen.com/wildlives

19/08/2026

Today we were supporting the brilliant Ampersand Projects with their Wild Maker Studio at Midlands Arts Centre - MAC

We loved seeing all the children and their grown ups lost in flow states, making, creating and experimenting. Inspired by nature, natural and recycled materials, their creations are all so unique - it was a real feast for the eyes!

The final sessions are next Wednesday 26th August and you can book the last spaces at macbirmingham.co.uk - with pay-as-you-can tickets too ☺️

14/08/2026

Thinking of all those affected by these local fires in Stourbridge. Our lovely friends at The Fine Collective CIC have started a fundraiser to support them, please donate if you can.

Tp support those affected by the fires

07/08/2026

Fell totally in love with Ile de Re this summer 🇫🇷 enjoying the slow days full of pine forests, beautiful flowers, whitewashed buildings with shutters and doors all shades of green, cycling everywhere, vineyards, salt marshes, sandy toes, delicious food and most importantly, time together. Loved it!

Back home now, feeling totally refreshed and ready for the rest of summer full of woodland adventures starting with the Wildlings next week!

Don’t forget our early years sessions start back in September and booking is open for families currently part of our groups and those on the waiting list - I’ve emailed you ☺️

Laura 💚🚴‍♀️🍷🥐

14/07/2026

Time in nature, under the trees and around the campfire, with muddy hands and smoke in your hair, time spent playing and learning with your hands and whole body, sometimes on your own and sometimes as a team.

Feeling a sense of belonging and freedom, in a space to make your own decisions and be seen, supported and valued for who you really are.

This is our work, this is what we believe in.

At the end of each of our therapeutic programmes, we ask our tribe what they have noticed about themselves during their time in the woods. One of the students said “The rest of my week is easier when I’ve been to Forest School.”

Others said “I can concentrate out here”
“I like it because it’s quieter out here”
“I felt calmer when I’d been to Forest School”
“It’s somewhere I felt confident and didn’t worry about what other people thought”

Over 8 weekly sessions we have worked with these young people in the woods using bushcraft and wilderness therapeutic approaches. For many, the woodland environment reveals strengths and qualities that are less visible in the classroom. It was such a joy to see them develop and realise their strengths and to hear from school staff that this was showing up back in the classroom too. It reminds us of the real value of different learning environments and practical, relationship-based ways of being with young people.

Huge thanks to for trusting us to support their students and to our brilliant team and Stu for all their hard work and dedication.

08/07/2026

📣 Thursday’s wild ones! We have made some changes to our planned sessions for tomorrow (9th July) due to the heat - including earlier session times and lots of lovely water play. Please check your emails and let friends in the group know.
👉Please note they may have gone into junk folders as the email is coming from Katie , our forest school leader, not Laura 💚🌳😎