A rich and abundant treasury in celebration of the outdoors, The Children's Forest encourages children’s natural fascination with the forest and its inhabitants. The authors have produced an enchanting book in which imagination, story, and play bring the world of the forest to vibrant life. Filled with games, facts, celebrations, craft activities, recipes, foraging, stories, and Forest School skills, this book is much more than a manual: it is an invitation. The book is organized into the eight Celtic seasons of Imbolc, Spring, Beltane, Summer, Lughnasa, Autumn, Samhain, and Winter. Within each chapter are the following sections: The Life of the Forest; Plant Lore; Imaginary Journey; Tree Lore; Activities, crafts and games; Animals; Celebration. The appendices cover woodland skills, safety, the Ogham alphabet, story sources, and more resources. Ideal for ages 5 to 12, The Children's Forest will also be enjoyed by adults, families, and younger children. “With this beautiful book―coauthored by Dawn Casey, Anna Richardson, and Helen d'Ascoli―Hawthorn Press have scaled fresh heights in its vocation to put inspiring storytelling resources into our hands. There is naturally a practical aim at work in providing ‘stories and songs, wild food, crafts, and celebrations all year round.’ But this achieved with visual and verbal excellence.” -- ―Donald Smith, Scottish International Storytelling Festival “With this beautiful book―coauthored by Dawn Casey, Anna Richardson and Helen Ascoli―Hawthorn Press have scaled fresh heights in its vocation to put inspiring storytelling resources into our hands. There is naturally a practical aim at work in providing ‘stories and songs, wild food, crafts and celebrations all year round.’ But this achieved with visual and verbal excellence.” -- ―Donald Smith, Scottish International Storytelling Festival “If you only have one handbook for outdoor learning and forest school on your bookshelf, them make sure it is this one!” -- ―The Froebel Network “With this beautiful book―coauthored by Dawn Casey, Anna Richardson and Helen Ascoli―Hawthorn Press have scaled fresh heights in its vocation to put inspiring storytelling resources into our hands. There is naturally a practical aim at work in providing ‘stories and songs, wild food, crafts and celebrations all year round.’ But this achieved with visual and verbal excellence.” -- ―Donald Smith, Scottish International Storytelling Festival “If you only have one handbook for outdoor learning and forest school on your bookshelf, them make sure it is this one!” -- ―The Froebel Network Anna Richardson is a musician and artist. Coauthor of Learning with Nature, she has been working as a Forest School leader with Talking Trees and Cultivating Curiosity for many years. She is a Forest School trainer with Circle of Life Rediscovery and specialises in plant lore. She collaboratively runs adult Nature Connection courses. Dawn Casey is an author, mother and story lover. She is inspired by the power and magic of tales of old and the wonder of the natural world. Her collection of stories and activities, The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales, won the Gold Award from Nautilus for "books of exceptional merit that promote spiritual growth, conscious living and positive social change." Helen d’Ascoli is a founder of Talking Trees, a company dedicated to connecting people to nature. She has been practicing Forest School education with children, community groups, and schools for more than ten years. Her mission is to create the next generation of conservationists. She works as a Forest School teacher, tutor, and mentor. Jon Cree is Chair the chair and training coordinator of the Forest School.