Silverwoods Forest School

Welcome to
Silverwoods Forest School

Our Forest School Woodland site offers a unique outdoor educational experience for children, young people and adults. Where you are all given the opportunity to develop confidence and self-esteem, through fun social experiences, achievable tasks, engagement in nature, individual and group challenges, adventure, games, art and crafts. Forest school takes place all year round in almost all weathers, except in high winds or thunder & lightning storms. You will work with tools, play, problem solve, toast marshmallows around the camp fire, thus exploring and developing your physical and emotional capabilities, whilst gaining a better understanding of the natural world around you, but above all having lots and lots of fun! Here at Silverwoods we work hard to create a memorable Forest School experience like no other.

For up-to-date information on all our forest school sessions, please like and visit us at our Facebook page @silverwoodsforestschool or book below on our booking system.

Why we do it

Hi my name is Victoria Hofgartner, I am the Owner of Silverwoods Forest School. I am also a mother to a very happy, confident, content and loving boy called Sterling.

I am creative, strong willed and passionate, as I inspire children and adults that attend my forest school to be more in tune with nature. To create a world where people are more attached to one another and nature, and less attached to the material things in life. To escape the modern stresses of the wider world, and to be more mindful and present in the moment!

Everyone needs a little nature and the great outdoors in their life, it feeds the soul!

I am a qualified Forest School Practitioner Level 3, I trained with Archimedes (now known as forest school’s education) We have full public liability insurance up to 5 Million Pounds, I hold both Paediatric First Aid and Outdoor Forest School First Aid Certificates, up to date DBS Check on the update service, TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Safeguarding, Prevent and British Values (RQF) 2021, and a Level 2 Award in Food Safety.

I have several years’ experience working as a Nanny with children from all ages. I have worked in local schools; set up and run forest school programmes for Pyrford Primary C of E School and Little Acorns Day Nursery in Cobham. I have helped in the running of forest school sessions for four Forest schools across Surrey and London; I have experience working around children with special educational needs and disabilities.

I am also very passionate about Wild Food and how we can sustainably forage for it in the wild. I am currently studying “Teach Foraging” with Di Hammill at the Wild Harvest School. So, watch this space in the coming future!

I hold so much love and passion when it comes to working with children; it's great to see children in an outdoor learning environment being able to follow their own direction, working things out for themselves and having lots of fun in the process. My job is for your children to become more independent learners, whilst having a good understanding of the woodland world around them.

We believe that everybody should have access to a safe outdoor space to learn, play and have fun, by providing this we can increase self-esteem, confidence and enhance personal, social and emotional development. We promote equality, offering a fun accessible approach to our work, with the knowledge and understanding that there can be a broad range of personal and social barriers to people taking part.

What are forest schools?

Forest School is an innovative approach, providing learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self esteem through hands-on learning experiences in and around a woodland or natural environment.

Forest school is to inspire and encourage all individuals of any age, gender and background, to enjoy the freedom to explore the natural world through positive outdoor encounters, in all seasons and weathers.

Forest School aims to develop:

Self awareness
Self regulation
Motivation
Confidence
Empathy
Independence
Great communication skills
Self esteem
Positive mental attitude
A greater understanding and respect of the natural world around them

Forest school is a great trailblazer that is used to encourage all individuals, from all walks of life, to get outside and use their open spaces more for play, health, wellbeing, recreation and personal development uses.

Why forest school?

Today’s children are often very well protected and cherished, where they are unable to make their own judgments about risk. Forest school allows children to experience managed risk and make their own decisions and therefore help produce more confidant individuals. Forest school offers children regular opportunities to undertake learning and play in local woodland. Sessions in forest school are not timetable-led, but driven by the learners themselves, drawing on their interests and imagination. Through forest school children are able to develop a lifelong love and understanding of the natural environment, whilst developing the core purposes of the forest school ethos, namely, development of self-esteem, confidence and social skills.

Find Us - Brooklands Community Park

Brooklands Community Park, covers open meadows, a riverside walk, mixed broadleaf woodland, a brand-new outside nature playground, and a Forest School teaching area, all with free parking and toilets onsite.

The grassland habitat here is home to all sorts of wildlife, including many species of bees and butterflies, attracted by a profusion of wildflowers in the spring and summer. Look out for beauties such as the small copper and common blue butterflies, which are not your common-or-garden species.

We are located within Brooklands Community Park, just off the roundabout, near the large Tesco Extra and Marks & Spencer on Barnes Wallis Drive.

The address is below:

Brooklands Community Park,
Sopwith Drive,
Weybridge,
Surrey,
KT13 0XF (Nearest Postcode.)

Find Us - Harry Edward’s Healing Sanctuary

Harry Edward’s Healing Sanctuary

Burrows Lea Country House
Hook Lane
ShereGuildford
GU5 9QQ (Nearest Postcode.)
Location - We are the first turning on the right-hand side, after Burrows Lea Farm.

Find us By Road:

From Guildford, take the A25 to Dorking for about five miles. Turn right at the signpost to Shere. Proceed under a wooden footbridge and then take the first turning on the right in the village centre. Continue through Shere village (ignoring left turn by a small green), going up the hill (about half a mile) until you reach a railway bridge. Cross over the bridge and immediately bear left into Hook Lane. This road is signposted to Peaslake and to Burrows Lea. The Sanctuary is approximately half a mile on the right and is clearly marked - ignore an earlier sign on the right for Burrows Lea Farm, we are the first turning on the right-hand side, after Burrows Lea Farm.

From Dorking, take the A25 to Guildford for about seven miles until you reach the village of Gomshall. After passing under a railway arch, take the second turning on the left, carry straight on over a level crossing, and continue up the hill (about half a mile) until you reach Burrows Cross crossroads. Turn right into Hook Lane to Burrows Lea and the entrance to The Sanctuary is clearly marked as the first large driveway on the left.

Car parking is provided

Toilet facilities on site

We take the safety of our staff and children very seriously, please see below for our full COVID-19 Risk Assessment.

Covid-19 Risk assessment