YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST FOREST SCHOOL CLASSES & ACTIVITIES IN NORTH YORKSHIRE
Forest School Sessions in the Ripon, Easingwold, Boroughbridge, Thirsk, and Surrounding Area
Don’t miss out on the best forest school clubs near you.
Forest Schools in North Yorkshire offer children a unique opportunity to connect with nature, build confidence, and develop essential life skills through outdoor learning. Set in the stunning countryside of the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors, and surrounding rural areas, these child-led learning environments encourage exploration, creativity, and resilience. Many Forest School programmes run year-round, allowing children to experience the changing seasons while learning about the natural world through hands-on activities like den building, fire lighting, nature crafts, and wildlife tracking.
Browse our list of local North Yorkshire forest schools below.
Base Camp, Near Thirsk
From the beautiful Baldersby Park in Topcliffe, Base Camp offer term-time, nature-loving after school adventures for primary age children as well as forest school holiday clubs for ages 5-11 years. Forest school sessions for Reception to Year 1 are on Mondays, 3.30 pm – 5.00 pm, and forest school classes for Years 2-6 happen weekly on Thursdays, 3.30 pm – 5.00 pm. Base Camp also offer opportunities for schools to book sessions. For more information, contact the Base Camp team.
Born of the Forest, Harrogate
Popular provider of forest school sessions. Offering adult and child preschooler forest school sessions (0-5 years), age 5-11+ forest school classes, and therapeutic forest school sessions for additional needs. Also offers parties and forest school holiday camps. Contact Born of the Forest via their web form for more information.
Bright Woods Forest School, Barnard Castle
Nestled in Woodland at the Deepdale Nature Reserve in Barnard Castle, this forest school offers unique experiences, allowing children and adults to explore the outdoors. They also offer ‘Bright Seedling’ sessions for toddlers and preschoolers, home school sessions, and allow schools to book on. Contact Bright Woods for more information.
Chevin Forest School, Otley
Offers school away days, birthday parties for ages 3-11 years, and a holiday club for ages 5-11 years. In addition, the first Saturday morning of the month boasts preschool sessions for ages 3-5 years. All forest sessions are located in the beautful Chevin Forest. For more information, get in touch with Chevin Forest School.
Forest Church, Lower Dunsforth
On the second Sunday of every month at 4.00 pm, there is a free forest school activity session followed by outside worship at St Mary’s Church, Lower Dunsforth. This is currently not running but is hoping to return when the church vacancy has been filled. Contact Boroughbridge Churches for more information.
Forest Quest, Near Easingwold
Provides Saturday forest school sessions for ages 4-8 years at 10:00 am and 9+ years at 2:00pm as well as various adult forest school sessions, a variety of bushcraft sessions, primary school forest school provision, and parent and toddler forest school sessions. In addition, they host forest school birthday parties. Contact Forest Quest for more details.
Grass Roots Muddy Boots, Boroughbridge
Offering preschool forest school sessions for 0-5 years at Yolk Farm in Minskip, Boroughbridge on Thursday mornings at 9.00 am and 10.30 am. Also offers 5-12 years and adult sessions. They also run forest school sessions in primary schools within North Yorkshire and the Pontefract and Wakefield area. Contact Grass Roots Muddy Boots via their web form for further details.
Little Birds Forest School, Hovingham
A home based Early Years setting offering year round, full time Forest School childcare as well as classes for ages 2-11 years and a summer holiday camp. This Forest School childminding setting was graded outstanding by Ofsted. Contact Little Birds for more information.
The Log Circle, Wharfedale
Offering forest school sessions for babies, toddlers, children, teens, families, and adults from a forest location in Pool-in-Wharfedale and Ilkley, West Yorkshire. Contact The Log Circle forest school for more details.
Outdoor Adventures Forest School, Ripon
Outdoor Adventures Forest School runs in-school forest school provision, forest school holiday clubs, toddler groups, birthday parties, event days, staff training, and festival areas in Ripon, Harrogate, Thirsk and the surrounding area. Contact Outdoor Adventures for further details.
Wild Things, York
An award-winning forest school operating in the grounds of Millthorpe School, York. Offers a variety of forest school sessions including a preschool club on Mondays and Fridays, 9:45am – 11:30am, as well as nursey sessions, primary school classes, and adult sessions. Contact Wild Things for more information.
Yorkshire Forest Folk, Near Thirsk
Offering preschool and toddler forest sessions on term-time Mondays and Tuesdays as well as birthday parties and holiday camps at Kilburn Woods near Thirsk. For more information, contact Yorkshire Forest Folk.
LEARN AMONG THE TREES
Forest Schools Near Thirsk, Knaresborough, Ripon, Boroughbridge, and Easingwold
Time to get outside for some fresh air, foraging, bushcraft, den building, scavenging, and outdoor learning. Meet new people, enjoy nature, feel the health benefits or bathing in the forest, and feel connected to the world.
From Ripon and Harrogate to Thirsk, there are a growing number of experienced Forest School leaders delivering safe, inclusive sessions for children and adults of all ages. Whether part of a school curriculum or an independent weekly club, Forest Schools in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire promote emotional wellbeing, social development, and environmental awareness.
Parents are increasingly choosing forest-based learning to complement traditional education and support their child’s holistic growth. In addition, adults are starting to embrace forest bathing opportunities themselves with adult-only forest school sessions and bushcraft classes.
If you’re looking for outdoor education in North Yorkshire, Forest Schools offer a powerful way to nurture curiosity, independence, and a love of the outdoors. Find a Forest School near you and give your child the gift of nature-led learning.
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If you know of any other forest schools or forest school sessions close to Ripon, Masham, Knaresborough, Easingwold, Thirsk, Boroughbridge, and the surrounding towns and villages, please do let us know. Please also help us keep this a useful resource for everyone by letting us know if anything above is out-of-date.