Visit a wood with your school

Take your class on a real adventure and explore a fascinating woodland habitat.

A woodland visit is an exciting adventure for all ages.

Credit: Ben Lee / WTML

Visit at different times of year to see how the wood changes through the seasons.

Credit: Michael Heffernan / WTML

Challenge your pupils to identify the trees and plants they see.

Credit: Michael Heffernan / WTML

Which creepy crawlies will you find on a minibeast hunt?

Credit: Michael Heffernan / WTML

Den building is a great team-building activity for the whole class.

Credit: Jill Jennings / WTML

Marvel at mighty trees. Discover tiny woodland creatures. Let your imagination run wild.

Visiting a wood is a great opportunity to take learning outdoors where youngsters can immerse themselves in nature’s sights, sounds and smells. You can visit any wooded area, big or small, and you can choose what to do while you’re there.

Your woodland visit can link to many areas of the curriculum. Help pupils learn about wildlife and habitats with a hands-on investigation. Use the experience to inspire a piece of creative writing or art. You can even bring numeracy to life by measuring, weighing or sorting natural objects. The possibilities are endless.

By visiting a wood you can earn two points on the Green Tree Schools Award.

Visiting woods

Find a wood to explore

We care for more than 1,000 woods across the UK. They are all free to visit, so find one near you and plan an unforgettable class trip.

I love to put my wellies on and get my hands dirty!

Samir, aged 8

Fun woodland activities

Our Tree Tools for Schools website has a wealth of resources to ensure your pupils enjoy their woodland adventure. Discover tree ID sheets, nature crafts and much more.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Identify trees, plants and creepy crawlies.
Make natural art – create a leaf collage, a twig tower, or a mud pie!
Explore using your senses – what can your pupils see, hear, feel and smell?
Go on a scavenger hunt – use it to encourage team working and communication skills.
Have a healthy class picnic.
Take a camera to record your day – make a photo story back in the classroom.

How to claim your points

This challenge is worth two points on our award. To claim them, tell us how your school has explored a wood and the date of your visit. You can share pupils' comments, drawings and photos too.

To submit your evidence, log onto your Green Tree Schools Award dashboard and click the 'Submit evidence' button at the top right of the screen. Complete the form to show how you've completed this challenge and we’ll award your points within 10 working days.

Submit your evidence

Log onto your Green Tree Schools Award dashboard and tell us how you've completed this challenge.

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.