What clothing do I need?
Tyggwhistle operates Forest sessions all year round and it is important to think about clothing. When deciding on what to wear consider the three w’s:
- Warmth
- Wind
- Wet
Warmth
The best way to ensure you are warm is to wear several layers. If the weather changes, some materials can contribute to heat rash, but removable layers reduces the risk of this happening. Dress for the lowest expected temperature and remove layers if the weather improves.
Feet – we recommend thick walking socks and neoprene welly boots for the coldest weather. These can be expensive and Tyggwhistle is hoping to build up a selection of different sizes by buying pairs from participants as they grow. If thermal boots are out of the question, make sure you buy a welly boot with space for some thick socks. Restricted blood flow to the feet will accelerate a feeling of cold.
In the summer, trainers or walking boots are best. Flip flops and open toed sandals are never suitable.
Legs – We recommend fleece lined trousers for extreme cold weather. You can buy these in most outdoor equipment shops. There are branches of Millets and Mountain Warehouse in Fore Street, Hexham. In very cold weather, woollen tights under trousers may also work. In warmer weather, loose trousers with a bit of stretch are best. Leggings are not ideal because they are too thin and increase the risk of scratches. Even in warm weather, light weight long trousers should be worn to minimise stings and scratches.
Torso – a thermal vest/t-shirt with a long sleeved top and a thick fleece is a minimum requirement for cold weather. In extreme conditions it is important to keep the core warm so we would recommend a padded body warmer. However a wind-proof outer layer is also highly effective at trapping warm air and reducing wind chill.
Extremities – Gloves, scarves and snug fitting hats are essential kit. These get wet so we try to keep a selection available for long, damp sessions. A Peruvian style hat is the best to protect ears. We have a hat pattern for any one who fancies making one themselves! In summer, a sun hat is a good idea.
Wind and wet
Tyggwhistle wood is in a valley corridor which runs from the west coast to the east coast. It can therefore be windy, although there is some protection inside the wood. A waterproof jacket with a hood and waterproof trousers are a good investment. They trap warm air next to the body and prevent wind getting in between items of clothing.
Bag
We strongly advise you to bring a bag which can take a packed lunch, water bottle and discarded clothing. We have a large bag which we use to gather up unwanted kit but bringing your own reduces the risk of things getting muddled up and lost.
Cancellation procedure
Occasionally there will be reasons why a session has to be cancelled. These include:
- Temperatures below freezing – depending on wind chill, we may cancel the session or shorten the length of time spent outside.
- Strong winds or other extreme weather – if forecast wind speeds are 25mph or more it is not safe to go in to the woods and we will cancel or convert to an indoor session.
- Staff illness – if we can not maintain our staff to student ratio we will not be able to run a session.
In the event that a session has to be cancelled we will give as much notice as we can. Normally, we will inform participants by text message. It is therefore important that your contact details are kept up to date.
Insurance policy
The school is insured for Forest school activities and Farm visit activities under the policy detailed below.