Unit 1 - 3.1 - Explain the importance of flora and fauna identification for the Forest Schools leader

Why is the identification of flora and fauna vitally important for a forest school leader?

Health and Safety

The forest school leader has responsibility for the health and safety of all forest school participants. One area of health and safety that needs to be considered carefully is the avoidance of potentially poisonous plants and fungi. 

There are many poisonous plants and fungi that are native to our British woodlands. These plants can easily be picked and ingested, leading to serious health complications. Therefore, it is vitally important for a forest school leader to be able to identify these potentially harmful species and educate others about the potential risk from touching or ingesting them. 

Here is a list of some common poisonous woodland plants and the danger they pose if ingested.

 

According to the Woodland Trust, this is what you must do when you suspect that a child or adult has eaten a suspect plant.

'What to do in case of accidental poisoning in people

• If you think a child or adult has eaten part of a suspect plant, seek medical advice immediately from a hospital accident & emergency department.
• Take a sample of the plant with you (as many parts of the plant as you can for accurate identification eg. leaves, flowers, fruits, stem).
• Do not panic and do not try to make the person sick.'
  
  

It is absolutely imperative that there is no picking or tasting of any plants or berries without first checking with the forest school leader.

Even with what is considered a safe plant or berry to eat, the forest school leader has to consider the topographical location of the plant. The plant may be growing next to farmland and may have been accidentally sprayed by the farmer. It could be a popular dog walking area with animal feces nearby.  

Therefore, the safest policy to follow is, the 'no picking and no licking' policy. This ensures the safety of all adults and children. By following this simple rule it is possible to stop potential poisonings or harmful reactions caused by poisonous plants and fungi.

 

Conservation 

As a forest school leader, one needs to consider the welfare of the of the flora and fauna in the woodland being used, as well as the welfare of the forest school participants. Therefore, it is essential to consider the conservation of the woodland that forest school takes place in.

During forest school activities there will be the possibility vegetation destruction caused by wandering feet. There may be instances of leaf picking or perhaps the use of trees for climbing. All these activities will increase the possibility of damage to the surrounding flora and in turn, fauna. It is therefore the forest school leader's responsibility to preserve the woodland as much as possible and when required, to rotate areas used in the woodland. This ensures that the woodland is given time to recover from any damage caused by human use.

 

As forest school leaders, it is also our responsibility to consider the wildlife that lives in that area. It is important that we survey the area and make sure we are not near burrows, dens or nesting sites. This ensures we protect any wildlife and rare species of flora that may be in the area. As well protecting the species we find there, we are passing this knowledge and respect of our environment onto the children and adults that take part in the forest school activities.

The Law

As a forest school lit is also our responsibility to make sure our Forest School runs within the rule of the law. In order to do this we need to make sure we have a clear understanding of the 'The Wildlife and Countryside Act'. This is legislation that ensures the protection of animals, plants and habitats in the UK.

It covers the protection of birds, animals, plants and established species. This includes the picking of some native plants. In order to sit within these rules the forest school leader must know which plants are protected and therefore, not to be disturbed.

If you would like to find out more about our native trees please visit The Woodland Trust.