Through our passion, enthusiasm and experience we help people connect with nature, feel healthier and have meaningful experiences through positive activity and creative play.
We are experienced outdoor educators with a background in bushcraft, forest school and nature therapy, who love what we do.
Lea Kendall
I have years of experience working with children and young people, including four years working in a primary school as a Learning Mentor focusing on the social and emotional aspects of learning and working one to one with vulnerable children and challenging behavior. I share my time leading activities for Woodland Classroom with my work as a qualified integrative Counsellor. I am also a qualifed practitioner of Mindfulness in a Woodland Setting.
I am a firm believer in the power of nature to be therapeutic for everyone. I believe that play for all ages should be a large part of our lives. My training as a Counsellor worked toward my long-term goal to incorporate nature and play therapy into our future services. I am passionate about finding ways to increase the self-esteem of people and encouraging motivation through positive experience, shared enthusiasm and a nurturing environment. In my spare time I enjoy going to festivals, travel and practicing circus skills, another activity, which has proved popular with kids and adults alike at my Circus Workshops.
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James Kendall
I am a Bushcraft Instructor, qualified Forest School Leader, Social Forester and experienced Woodland Skills Tutor. I have worked widely with children, young people and adults, leading on a variety of outdoor education and environmental projects. I have worked for several well-known environmental organisations. I was also the Project Manager for Long Wood Community Woodland, the largest community owned woodland in Wales, overseeing management of 300 acres (120ha) of broadleaf and conifer forest. I am a former Director of Llais y Goedwig, the voice of community woodlands in Wales. They are a 250 member strong grassroots network which aims to represent & support community groups & practitioners across Wales. I enjoy working with schools and communities to raise awareness of the environment, where my enthusiasm for spreading the message of learning through nature comes through. Lastly, but not least, I was awarded the Bushcraft Competency Certificate through the Institute for Outdoor Learning after 18 months of practical study in the field.. or rather, the woods.
My passions are reflected not only in my work but also in my own interests and hobbies which include; woodland wildlife, bushcraft, ancient trees and traditional greenwood crafts. I am also an experienced historical re-enactor with a passion for history. My enthusiasm for our ancient past has been harnessed for Woodland Classroom with the historical school visits and event services we offer under the Wild History banner, click here to find out more about that. In 2010 I won the BTCV Green Hero Award in recognition for my work leading volunteers in environmental community projects.
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Our Partnership with National Trust
In 2017 we partnered up with the National Trust at Erddig Hall & Gardens and Chirk Castle, both amazing outdoor venues in Wrexham county, to base our activities out of Felin Puleston Outdoor Centre at Erddig. This is a purpose built outdoor education centre on the edge of the Erddig estate with Wrexham town on our doorstep. We’re very happy to be partnered up with the National Trust as it’s enabled us to be able to offer so much more to children, school groups and adult learners with these fantastic outdoor spaces available for our activities. These are very exciting times for Woodland Classroom.
To find out more about our base at Felin Puleston Outdoor Centre, just follow THIS LINK