Who Are We?
The Forest School Association Suffolk (FSA Suffolk) is a friendly, supportive community for Forest School practitioners across the county. We bring people together to share experiences, learn from one another and feel connected to the wider Forest School family. Through meet-ups, shared knowledge and encouragement, FSA Suffolk helps practitioners feel confident, inspired and supported as they nurture meaningful outdoor learning experiences.
Suffolk FSA
In 2019, a group of Forest School Leaders and trainers in Suffolk came together to form a Forest School Association (FSA) affiliated local group.
From the outset, we agreed on our core purpose: to provide support, friendship and inspiration for all Forest School practitioners in Suffolk. To achieve this, we set out the following objectives:
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Promote and support quality Forest School in Suffolk, enabling children, young people and adults to enjoy a wide range of meaningful learning experiences in the natural world.
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Support the aims and objectives of the national Forest School Association, representing members’ issues at a local and national level, and working in partnership with other FSA local groups.
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Celebrate and promote local good practice, raise awareness of the FSA Forest School principles and encourage sharing of practice and collaboration among practitioners.
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Support all those with an interest in Forest School in Suffolk through communication, networking opportunities and events.
To put these aims into practice, we began organising termly gatherings for Forest School Leaders. These meetings provide space to connect, exchange ideas and gain inspiration for work with groups. Given Suffolk’s size, venues rotate between the east, west and central areas of the county to make them accessible to as many people as possible.
In 2021, we introduced a membership scheme, which has since been refined to best meet the needs of our community. Membership includes free access to all termly ‘Networking and Sharing’ events, each built around a themed CPD focus guided by members’ interests. Past themes have included storytelling, woodland games, animal tracking, plant identification, fire, foraging and campfire cooking. Non-members are still welcome to come along to our termly get-togethers and pay a small fee to do so.
Our work is overseen by a small but dedicated committee, which includes a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Minutes Secretary, FSA Local Group Representative, Membership Officer and Events and Social Media Officer.
Meet The Team
Chair
Charlotte Atkinson
I have over 25 years’ experience working with children, schools and families in a variety of roles including primary school teacher, headteacher, educational consultant and Forest School leader and trainer. I’ve been leading sessions with children aged 2–11 for more than a decade and have been an FSA-endorsed Forest School trainer and trainer assessor since 2015.
I’m committed to supporting others in developing their own nature-based practice, offering guidance on setting up and running Forest School in a way that is safe, sustainable and child-centred. I also deliver outdoor food safety training, facilitate group CPD sessions and provide one-to-one coaching in nature - mainly from my private woodland, Charlotte’s Wood, in Suffolk.
My work brings together a wide range of experiences and approaches, all rooted in a deep belief in the power of nature connection. From parent and toddler Forest School sessions and holiday clubs for children to Forest Bathing, Wellbeing Retreats and Nordic Walking for adults, I’m passionate about helping people of all ages nurture their physical and mental wellbeing through connection - with themselves, each other and the natural world.
Joanne Atkins
I am a woodland wanderer, a lover of nature and a wild swimmer. I am particularly passionate about plants, and our many relationships with them. I love discovering mysteries in nature, and sharing those discoveries.
I started my Forest School journey many years ago, creating Nature Bugs outdoor toddler group and Forest School when my children were little and there was very little provision about. I am now an Engagement Officer with Suffolk Wildlife Trust, based at Bradfield Woods, connecting children, teens and adults with nature through my work. I deliver outdoor learning, Forest school sessions, and events, including Women of the Woods, skills and leisure courses, and co-leading Forest School Training courses with Emma.
Emma Keeble
As an Engagement Officer with Suffolk Wildlife Trust for over 20 years, I have delivered a vast variety of environmental education visits for groups such as schools, families, home educated children, teachers and education practicioners. Through my career I have facilitated a variety of training courses from STEM sessions, SCITT courses, INSET days and am now one of the lead tutors with Suffolk Wildlife Trust on their Accredited training courses, tutoring levels 1-3 Forest School Leader and Leader in Outdoor Learning courses along with a number of skills courses.
Nature grounds me, calms me, excites and inspires me and I love sharing and seeing that passion and connection grow within others and being part of their journey.
Valerie Hyett
At peace with nature.
Teacher, space holder, leader
- at home swimming wild.
Christine Oliver
Hello there,
I'm Christine. I have been working in Forest school for over Ten years now. One of my biggest achievements was setting up Suffolks first fully outdoors Preschool. I am now a Freelance outdoors leader working all over the East Anglian region. Forest school is where my heart is always. Seeing the deep connection and healing that it gives all ages is simply a gift for my soul.
Want to join the team?
Want to be part of our team?
Send us and email and we'll get back to you as soon as possible