ABSTRACT
In this opening chapter we share the values, ethos and principles that underpin Forest School and nature-based practice, showing the antecedents to the current practice in the UK and the similarities with many other outdoor environmental learning programmes in this country and across the planet. At the same time, we will provide a framework that will be repeated through the book and serve as a signpost to chapters that fill in the detail of what Forest School practice, in particular, looks like, what guides the practice and tools for practitioners. This will range from the specific dialogues that happen in Forest School in a variety of contexts and case studies to the types of experiences that are facilitated in a Forest School/nature education setting.
