In this deep and meandering episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis, Wem, and storyteller Danny English explore the layered meanings behind the phrase “Leave No Trace.” What begins as a discussion on outdoor ethics soon becomes a rich meditation on ecological grief, language, pedagogy, woodland relationships, and what it means to belong to a place. Together, they question the cultural norms of tidying up, consider the impact of den-building, and reflect on how story can shift behaviour more meaningfully than rules. Danny shares his roots in experiential education, the story behind his book Tales of the Timeless Forest, and how he works through conflict using narrative. From philosophical musings on deadwood and dominance, to practical provocations for forest school practice, this conversation offers no easy answers—but plenty of fertile ground for reflection.
⏱ Chapter Timings:
04:00 – Danny’s story: from Ramsbottom to experiential education in the US
08:10 – Bridging the gap between outdoor and mainstream education
10:42 – “Using nature” vs “being with nature” – why language matters
15:48 – The origins of Leave No Trace and its cultural framing
19:31 – Dens, deadwood, and how much trace is too much?
25:25 – Woodland management dilemmas and practitioner responsibility
32:16 – Story as a tool for navigating complex moments with children
38:22 – Emotional reactions to monolith beech trees – trace, grief, and care
47:33 – Is ‘permissive ecology’ a useful metaphor for outdoor practice?
53:04 – Post-humanism, story-sharing, and the joy of seasonal tales
🌲 Keywords:
Forest School ethics, leave no trace, outdoor education dilemmas, woodland management, ecological grief, forest school culture, language in practice, experiential education, deadwood ecology, storytelling for behaviour, deep ecology, gentle pedagogy, posthumanism, tree monoliths, forest school reflection
🔖 Hashtags:
#ForestSchool #OutdoorEducation #LeaveNoTrace #DeepEcology #NatureConnection #ForestSchoolPodcast #WoodlandManagement #ChildLedLearning #StorytellingInNature #ReflectivePractice #EcologicalGrief #ForestSchoolCommunity #NaturePedagogy #PostHumanism
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