Introduction

In trying creating engaging opportunities for children to experience nature, the more a Practitioner is familiar with that place themselves and what grows there, the more interesting and informed that experience will be.

We will begin to explore different tree and plant species, some of which are common and well known (and dismissed as weeds!), some slightly more unusual, in an effort to reveal the many layers to nature which we can explore and use where appropriate with our Forest Schools programmes. To start we will look at the "Four Friends", some of the most common species to be found throughout the UK, each with a large number of uses, some of which I will introduce. If you have access to just a couple of these species in sustainable numbers, there is already a lot that you can introduce in your Forest School.

The Forest School practitioner needs to understand the sustainability, biodiversity value, risks, uses and habitats of those species they are likely to come across. This not only gives them the ability to predict where there might be issues and put in place the appropriate measures (eg educating children about dangerous plants and fungi in a fun and engaging way so that they know to leave them alone) as well as understanding how to interpret the outdoors and support learning opportunities.

With identification it is important to take your time. Select a few and get to know them really well before moving onto learning others. Try different identification books/sheets and find those which work for you. Nothing beats plenty of `dirt time`, spending an afternoon getting to know a handful of plants within your Forest Schools area can open up whole worlds.

In any gathering, think about the environment in which it has grown. Ensure that there is a healthy population locally before collecting anything and be absolutely clear that you have the land owner's permission to be there and to remove anything. Some plants are protected so also make sure you know if what you plan to collect has a protection order/plan (this can be local, regional or national).

If you are collecting for consumption of any sort, pay very close attention to the air, ground and water quality. Avoid anywhere which might have industrial or domestic run off and avoid collecting from near roadsides as there will be run off and the plants will be breathing in exhaust fumes, which is what they will then taste of.

Be 120% clear about what it is you are collecting if you intend to consume anything. There are species which make good eating, which are can look very similar dangerous species which can cause illness or death. As a good friend of mine says, "All plants are edible, ....once, if you know your stuff, you will still be around to go back for more.". There are a number of good quality courses that you can go on to learn about edible plants and I would highly recommend attending one if you are new to this area of study. Even if you have some experience, when trying new species, consult with an expert if possible and only try a little to begin with. If you feel any effects what so ever, consult a doctor immediately.

Along with the `common name` of the species I have also put the `scientific name` to help with identification. These scientific names are an invaluable piece of information within the fields of biology, natural history, anthropology etc where a clear and precise reference, devoid of local terms and interpretations, is crucial. Please do not be concerned with memorising the scientific names as the very best thing about them is that they are in the books!

There are a thousand stories out there to discover, all interesting, enlightening, enthralling and educating. Take your time, listen to those that know study hard and tread carefully.