A woodland adventure course, bespoke storytelling chair, mud kitchen and den-building area are among the new features unveiled at Dame Allan’s Junior School as part of a major revamp of its Whispering Woods outdoor learning space.
Neil Seaton, the new Principal of Dame Allan’s Schools, in Newcastle, officially opened the redeveloped woodland alongside representatives of the school’s parent association, DASPA, which helped raise funds for the project.
The investment in the school’s outdoor facilities builds on its established outdoor learning programme, including the adoption of Skogsmulle – a Swedish approach centred on nature and imaginative play – and timetabled sessions for every year group from nursery through to Year 6.
Reception teacher and Forest School leader Gillian Williams, who helped shape the layout of the space, said: “Whispering Woods is so much more than an outdoor classroom. It’s a space for adventure where imagination can run wild.
“We want our pupils to take ownership – to explore, create, get muddy, take supported risks, make mistakes, try again and have fun together.”
The woodland has been divided into a series of distinct zones designed to encourage physical challenge, creativity and exploration. Among the key additions is Woodland Warriors, a large obstacle course featuring wooden logs and stumps, slacklines and cargo nets, designed to test balance and agility.
Mrs Williams said: “It’s about allowing pupils to test themselves safely, take supported risks and build confidence without adults taking over.”
In contrast, Natter Nook, offers a quiet, reflective area for reading, writing and creative inspiration. Its centrepiece is a bespoke storytelling chair hand-crafted by Flow, a North Shields-based community interest company that uses art to support young adults with diverse and complex needs.
Made from wood, the chair incorporates resin containing objects collected by Flow participants during beachcombing trips, including shells, stones and a washed-up key. Mrs Williams said: “The chair is a real focal point for storytelling and creativity, and a really lovely connection between the coast, the community and our children.”
Whispering Woods also features a Mud Kitchen, custom-built at varying heights to engage children from Year 1 through to Year 6, and a Camp Headquarters, a central meeting place where pupils gather for outdoor learning activities and challenges.
The redevelopment of Whispering Woods forms part of Dame Allan’s wider commitment to outdoor learning, which begins in the Early Years with Skogsmulle, a Swedish approach developed in the 1950s that uses imaginative play and a fictional forest character to encourage young children to explore nature and care for the environment.
Mrs Williams spent a week in Sweden training to become a qualified Skogsmulle leader and also holds a Level 3 Forest School leader qualification.
She said: “One of the core principles from my Swedish training is that if children learn to love nature, they will naturally want to take care of it. We want children to develop a love for the outdoors and a respect for the natural world.”
Principal Mr Seaton officially opened Whispering Woods. He said: “Outdoor education is a real strength of Dame Allan’s, and it’s something that pupils can continue to enjoy as they move through the Senior School and into the Sixth Form.
“It’s important that this starts early. Giving our youngest children the freedom to explore, get muddy, try things out and develop a connection with the natural world gives them experiences that will stay with them as they grow.”