A SOUTHSIDE forest school is among the first to be recognised by a national organisation.

W.I.L.D. Woodland Learning is a community interest company that mostly runs out of Linn Park.

Among other things, it runs a forest school which teaches children about nature and the environment in outdoor sessions.

For this programme, the organisation recently became a Recognised Forest School Provider, only the fifth one in Scotland.

The title, given by the Forest School Association (FSA), the UK’s professional body and voice for forest schools, acknowledges 'good practice' and recipients are added to a publicly accessible map on the FSA website.

They are the second in the Glasgow area to be recognised, after the Auchinarn Afterschool Care and Forest School in Briarcroft.

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Linda Brown and Gill Sission, co-founders of W.I.L.D., said: "Becoming an FSA-recognised provider has been an aspiration from the very conception of W.I.L.D. We use the six principles to guide our practice and direction, creating a stable and safe environment for everyone who joins us.

"We are beyond delighted with this achievement and want to thank everyone we work with, staff, parents, volunteers, Glasgow City Council, Friends of Linn Park and most of all the children, let the wonder and curiosity never stop."

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Gareth Wyn Davies, CEO of the Forest School Association, said: “Good Forest School practice is being followed by dedicated Forest School professionals all over the UK. 

"We believe that the FSA Recognised Forest School Provider scheme will provide these schools and organisations with the means of demonstrating the quality of their work to parents and those who fund their work. 

"It will also help promote their work as they will be found on the FSA publicly searchable map. Forest School is a distinct learning approach based on a set of six principles. 

"Our scheme helps people identify those providers who are following good Forest School practice and distinguishes them from other outdoor education that is not Forest School.

"We, therefore, congratulate W.I.L.D. on their success at becoming an approved ‘good practice’ provider.”