Staff and students from Wilson Stuart School on the water at Bendrigg Trust, Lake District / Photograph supplied by Wilson Stuart School
Words supplied by Wilson Stuart School
(Ed’s note – this BACK TO SCHOOL article was first written for the Erdington Local printed edition and published on 15.05.25)
Fourteen secondary students from Wilson Stuart School embarked on a life-changing four-night residential trip to the Bendrigg Trust in the Lake District towards the end of the spring term.
The group participated in a wide range of adapted outdoor adventure activities including archery, rock climbing, canoeing on Lake Windermere, caving, and zip wires.
For many students, it was their first time staying away from home, offering a valuable opportunity to develop confidence, independence, and resilience. The experience also supported the growth of essential life skills as part of their journey into adulthood.
Leigh Noble, Forest School Lead and organiser of the residential, shared: “It’s an amazing experience for our students – a chance to try new things, learn new skills, and build new friendships.”
They added: “None of this would be possible without the dedication of our incredible staff team, who not only work tirelessly to meet the needs of each student but also have a great deal of fun themselves.
“This trip is truly a team effort, and it simply couldn’t happen without that shared commitment and enthusiasm.”
The excitement continues, as another group of students is set to visit Bendrigg in July, ensuring even more learners benefit from this enriching experience.
EcoGrow team at Court Lane Allotments / Image supplied by EcoGrow CIC
Words by Hema Chumber
In the spring of 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown, a group of families with young children in Erdington came together with a shared goal: to address the growing challenges their community was facing, including food shortages and the lack of accessible green spaces for children to play and learn safely.
What began as a small grassroots effort evolved into EcoGrow CIC, a community-led environmental education group that focuses on sustainability, wellbeing, and environmental stewardship.
Based at Court Lane Allotments in Erdington, with activities now also operating from sites in Moseley and Sutton Coldfield, EcoGrow CIC has expanded to offer a range of programs designed to connect people with nature and promote community engagement.
The group provides adult gardening sessions, forest school programs for children, bush-craft workshops, and art and wellbeing activities.
Outdoor family cooking session at Court Lane Allotments / Pic supplied by EcoGrow CIC
In addition, EcoGrow offers environmental education in schools and community groups, as well as corporate team-building events that incorporate sustainability and hands-on learning.
Naomi Gregory, Environmental Educator at EcoGrow CIC, said: “I believe that by encouraging people to get outdoors and experience the wonders of the natural world, we can better understand our connection to it.
“Once we recognise this, we’re more likely to respect and protect the world around us.”
Celebrating Halloween with home grown pumpkin carving / Pic supplied by EcoGrow CIC
She added: “A normalising skill like gardening and growing our own food is gaining momentum, and it’s rewarding to be part of that in the community.”
One of the group’s standout services is its forest school program, which has become increasingly popular with local families.
Paula Sheldon, a parent whose children attend the sessions, added: “We’ve had the pleasure of being part of the EcoGrow community for nearly four years, and it’s been an absolute delight.
“As a family, we’re passionate about spending time outdoors and getting our hands dirty, and EcoGrow has provided us with the perfect platform to do just that.
“The forest school sessions have been a highlight for our children, who love exploring the outdoors and getting creative with art and nature.”
Children riding dressed up donkies as part of an special ‘unicirn and drago adventure’ / Pic supplied by EcoGrow CIC
She added: “The fire pit and mud play areas are always a hit, but what we appreciate most about EcoGrow is the sense of community they’ve fostered among families.
“It’s wonderful to see my children making new friends and learning valuable skills alongside us.”
One of EcoGrow’s new initiatives is the Salad Bags Project, which will run every Friday during term time from 12:30pm to 2:20pm.
People will help grow salad from seed and package it into bags for local distribution, promoting healthy eating and food security within the community.
EcoGrow will also host seasonal nature walks across various green spaces in Erdington, where people can learn about the environment, and connect with others who share an interest in nature.
Another new project is the fortnightly woodwork group, which will give community members the chance to develop practical woodworking skills, to create simple, yet useful items.
EcoGrow CIC team dressed up for the Spring Fair at Court Lane Allotments / Pic supplied by EcoGrow CIC
To contact EcoGrow CIC email [email protected] or call 07421 329 836.
Watch out for more COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT features from Erdington Local, online and in our monthly newspaper.
If you are from a community group or an active volunteer anywhere in the Erdington constituency then we want to hear for you. Please email our Community Reporter Hema Chumber at: [email protected]
At Marsh Hill Primary School, we have been delivering Forest School sessions since January 2022 with a Forest School Practitioner from Forest Schools Birmingham to develop our pupil’s social skills, problem solving skills, taking risks and enjoyment for the outdoors.
Research in the UK into Forest School and its impacts on young children found positive impacts on children in terms of confidence, social skills, language and communication, motivation and concentration, physical skills and knowledge and understanding.
Our pupils complete a 12-week programme which covers all of the forest school rules, learning new skills and having fun along the way. After the 12 week programme, the children invite their parents/carers into school for a Forest School celebration assembly to share what they have learnt at Forest School and showcase their amazing achievements.
We are extremely grateful for the work we are doing with Forest School Birmingham and our children have an amazing time.
Marsh Hill Primary School is part of the Erdington Local BACK TO SCHOOL programme, working together to celebrate school life from staffroom to classroom.
To find out more about going BACK TO SCHOOL please email: [email protected]
