Summary

Weeks Environmental worked with teachers and an Education Consultant to carry out a pilot project to produce a programme of work with website based resources for teachers and pupils to study the timber cycle of a tree, literally from when it is planted as a seed, through to a tree growing in a forest and then onto it’s final stage as a timber product.

Background

The main focus of Seed to Saw, as the educational strand of the Great North Forest programme of work, was to bring the “world of wood” into the hearts and minds of young people through core curriculum activity and experiential learning. Seed to Saw looks at the economic and functional sides of the forest and timber industries. 

It takes a step beyond tree planting and ecological thinking to explore the “business” of trees. Seed to Saw is a Forest Education Initiative (FEI) project. FEI is a national initiative fronted by the Forestry Commission as part of its delivery programme for the ‘England Forestry Strategy’. Seed to Saw as an FEI project, aims to increase young people’s understanding of the local and global importance of trees, woodlands, forest environments, the forestry industry, the timber trade and the wood products industries.

The Project

A pilot project was devised and delivered by Weeks Environmental working with both Primary & Secondary schools. Resources of images and videos were produced of forests and timber industries which were used to introduce the programme of study to children, followed by a visit to a working forest, a sawmill, then a school based carousel of activities including wood art, ICT and design.  The final site visit is to a wood retailer. A celebration is then held for an invited audience in which pupils share their journey through the world of wood with their guests and other pupils.
   
What has been achieved?

A six session programme of study of the world of forestry and timber products was produced, along with resources for teachers and pupils which are freely available to teachers and pupils on the Northern Grid for Learning hosted Seed to Saw website, with detailed guidance as to how Seed to Saw links with the national curriculum.

References

The funding bodies for the production of the website and the integration of Seed to Saw into the schools curriculum were:- Forestry Commission, Forest Education Initiative, Great North Forest, North East Forestry Action Group, Northern Grid for Learning, ONE NorthEast and Tyne and Wear Education Business Link Organisation (TWEBLO).

  www.northerngrid.org/ngflwebsite/seedtosaw/index.htm