About Us

Chris Wishart at Urban Outdoor Learning started working with young people in 1995 and has been working in the environmental sector since 2000. He has extensive experience of working with adults & children of all ages.

Chris has worked for the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham & the Black Country liaising with schools & community Groups across the West Midlands, delivering environmental management projects, outdoor learning & forest schools and training. He also provides advice on funding & grounds development.

Previously Chris has worked for local authorities as a Park Ranger & Youth Worker and as a consequence has worked in partnership with Sure Start, community and voluntary sector groups, schools, early years settings, adult education colleges and environmental contractors.

Chris Wishart - Urban Outdoor Learning

Chris first undertook Forest School training in 2004, and has completed the Forest School OCN Level 4 delivered by Forest School Education. He is now an accredited Forest School trainer. Chris holds a F.E. teaching qualification and is also a trained first aider. Chris is also qualified in Environmental Management, he has undertaken conservation activities and trained volunteers in country parks & nature reserves across the West Midlands. Chris is part of the Endorsed Trainer Scheme with the Forest School Association and delivers Forest School training and C.P.D courses at locations around the West Midlands. His courses are accredited by ITC First, an Ofqual registered awarding body.

Chris has delivered Forest School courses at all levels (Entry level to level 3) to PGCE students, young adults with learning difficulties, environmental professionals and teachers. He spent nearly 10 years delivering a full Forest School programme at a main stream primary school in Walsall before becoming an independent practitioner in 2023.

 

Instructor couldn’t be better! Made everyone feel comfortable, all of us made to feel worthy. Venue was awesome – never would have known I was so close to Birmingham. I had a remarkable time and been on a journey myself. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Nicola Eaton

Year 1 Teacher, Wednesbury Oak Academy, Tipton

Forest School Training - adults sawing wood
Forest School courses - wood and string
Forest School Training - children painting tree faces
Chris provided superb support in the planning and provision of a Lottery bid for Christ Church CE Primary. He understood the needs and aims of the project and was able to articulate them in such a way that the bid was successful. The after school ‘Forest Club’ he provided was superb. The children loved the opportunities to learn and play outdoors, the club was heavily oversubscribed. I would urge anybody who wants to develop an outdoor learning environment to contact Chris.
Sean Davies

Headteacher, Christ Church CE Primary

For further information, or to book training, please contact us: