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Share your woodland words and images

Take your class on a woodland adventure and capture the experience through art, photography and creative writing.

Encourage your pupils to get creative!

Credit: Woodfield Infant School / WTML

Take a camera into the woods and ask pupils to photograph what catches their eye.

Credit: Jill Jennings / WTML

Experiment with different art materials and techniques.

Credit: Welshpool Church in Wales Primary School / WTML

Think about all aspects of the wood, such as the wildlife that live there.

Credit: Emily, aged 4 / WTML

Make something that reminds you of your woodland visit, like these journey sticks,

Credit: Eco Club at Sudell Primary School / WTML

Woods are exciting places to explore, especially for children.

They can experience the thrill of climbing a tree. Follow a trail of mystery footprints in the mud. And catch a glimpse of a shy creature darting through the undergrowth. And the best bit? No two visits are ever the same.

We love hearing how much youngsters enjoy trees and nature, so for this challenge we’d like your pupils to tell us about their trip to the woods.

When you send us their art, stories and photos you’ll earn two points on the Green Tree Schools Award.

Your pupils could highlight the animals that live in the woods.

Credit: Sabina, aged 7 / WTML

Gather natural materials to make a collage, like this brilliant bee.

Credit: WTML

Colouring is a great way for children to capture their woodland visit.

Credit: James, aged 8 / WTML

Think about the tiny creatures that live in the woods.

Credit: Cate, aged 10 / WTML

Collect leaves and twigs from the woodland floor and use them in your art.

Credit: WTML

Get creative

Encourage your students to think about how the woodland made them feel. What did they expect it to be like? Which sounds, sights and smells did they experience? What was their favourite bit?

Your pupils can express their thoughts and feelings in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas to get them started:

  • Create a piece of outdoor art using natural items found in the woods.
  • Write a review of their woodland adventure and give it a star rating.
  • Record their comments on audio or video.
  • Draw or paint a picture of the wood.
  • Write a poem about the different sights, sounds and smells.
  • Take photographs of their favourite parts of the wood and write captions about each one.

Your pupils could make scrapbooks about their woodland visit.

Credit: Thornhill Junior and Infant School / WTML

Encourage your pupils to write poems about the woods.

Credit: Woodstock CE Primary School / WTML

Create a classroom display to share your experiences with the rest of your school.

Credit: St Ronan's Primary School / WTML

How to claim your points

This challenge is worth two points on our award. To claim them, send us your pupils’ experiences of their woodland adventure.

Email your photos, videos and stories to learning@woodlandtrust.org.uk with the subject line 'Woodland words and images'.

We’ll add your points to your account after we’ve received your evidence (usually within two weeks).

How we use quotes and photos

We like to use comments and photos from schools to inspire other teachers and young people about outdoor learning. With your permission, they could appear on our award materials, website, press releases and social media.

You can find out more about how we use and look after your personal information in our privacy policy.

Permissions

If you're happy for us to share your quotes and photos as outlined above, please include the following permission statements in your email:

  • We confirm we have permission from the photographer to submit these photos and use them for the purposes stated.
  • We confirm we have permission from pupils' parents/guardians to share their photos, comments and names and use them for the purposes stated.

If you'd rather we didn't share them, please include the following statement in your email:

  • We would prefer that our photos and comments are not used for the purposes stated.

More ideas for schools