Ep 54 - Conversation with Tom Bardon - Can curricula work in Forest School?

In this wide-ranging conversation, Lewis and Gemma welcome Tom Barden of Green Man Learning to unpack why he created the Wild Passport and how it offers another “arrow in the quiver” for outdoor educators. Together they explore the cultural roots of tool use, balancing learner-centred play with curriculum pressures, the ecological footprint of woodland sites, and the perennial question of what truly counts as Forest School. Along the way they swap stories about storm-felled trees, mindful knife-sharpening, leaving mainstream teaching, and the joys of subversive CPD that keeps curiosity alive. The result is a thoughtful look at progression without coercion—and at protecting the integrity of Forest School while giving schools realistic, flexible options.⏱ Chapter Timings00:00 – Oscar the cat, stormy context & introducing Tom Barden00:50 – Storm Ciara fallout and costly woodland maintenance02:19 – Knife-sharpening as mindful grind; factory-work musings04:47 – Woodland size, erosion, rotation and site impact management06:08 – Earthworms, environmental guilt and weighing learning vs ecology08:16 – Tom’s route from community health to Forest School practice11:32 – Drama teaching, play, and walking away from mainstream education17:16 – Future-proof skills: adaptability, innovation and Forest School’s role20:54 – Birth of the Wild Passport: practical progression without the labels32:29 – Curriculum demands, protecting the term “Forest School” and flexible progression🌲 Keywords: Wild Passport, Forest School integrity, outdoor curriculum, learner-centred progression, tool skills, woodland impact, knife safety, broad & balanced education, CPD for practitioners, child-led play🔖 Hashtags:#ForestSchool #WildPassport #OutdoorLearning #ChildLedPlay #CurriculumBalance #WoodlandManagement #CPD #NatureEducation #PlayBasedLearning #KnifeSkills🌐 More Episodes & Support:Listen to more and access resources at www.theforestschoolpodcast.comSupport the show and join the community at www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcastQuestions, feedback or collaboration: [email protected]