Carrying out fieldwork involving trees and woodland

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The purpose of this set of resources is to provide support, guidance and ideas for teachers who want to carry out some fieldwork involving trees and woodland. Together, they trace a spiralised progression pathway so that every time a pupil engages with this substantive knowledge, they have an opportunity to build on what they have done before.

However, they also work as standalone resources, providing an idea of what a high-quality fieldwork involving trees and woodland might look like for each key stage. From KS2, they induct pupils into the process of carrying out a geographical enquiry and are designed to easily fit into existing schemes of work or plans.

Trees are a significant and indicative feature of Earth’s landscape whether as a single planted tree beside an urban street or a majestic oak standing for two hundred years as part of mature woodland stretching across countless acres of countryside. They provide, amongst other things, shade, shelter, habitat, food, wellbeing, oxygen for human and non-human alike.

Geographically, their species distribution, numbers and effect on life and livelihood are woven into the fabric of a place, its history, development and future. This holds true on every scale, from those found on, or near, school to the global tropical rainforests of Amazonia.

Trees provide an accessible and valuable window on the world and therefore a ‘tree-mendous’ opportunity for the teaching and learning of geographical knowledge, skills and understanding. Trees offer both a physical and symbolic opportunity to engage with the real-world, empowering children to build not only understanding of, but a connection with their world.

‘If you see, touch, name, connect with something, you will value it more’

R. Louv, 2005