Social Media

You can find me on the following social media platforms...

Muddy Faces

The Outdoor Practitioner magazine

Our themed magazines feature articles, ideas & activities to support you to work, learn & play outdoors.

- Full of contributions from real-life Outdoor Practitioners
- Perfect for Early Years, primary schools, Forest School & outdoor settings old and new

Issue 5: Risky Play Focus: available in our shop.

Issues 1-4: access online for FREE below - download or read online with our fancy flipbook tool.

To contribute to the Outdoor Practitioner magazine or reproduce one of our articles in your newsletter or magazine, email editor@muddyfaces.co.uk

Outdoor Hub

OP Issue 5 cover

Issue 5

Risky Play Focus

Explore risky play outdoors from all sorts of perspectives, with reflective articles, practical guides, expert opinions and top tips from experienced outdoor practitioners including Kathryn Solly, Nikki Buchan, Dr Mel McCree, Tim Gill, Lou Ambrose and Matt Harder, trustee of FSA.

Full colour print + digital versions available HERE in our shop.

Download back issues for FREE below

Issue 4: Health & Wellbeing Focus

"As Outdoor Practitioners, we know the many and varied benefits of playing and learning outdoors. This issue we focus on the benefits to health and wellbeing - our articles address issues from climate anxiety to fire safety, snow days and gratitude to projects that build in inclusion and tackle disadvantage, and a brand new investigation into the depths of understanding we can bring to the simple act of outdoor snacks and the importance of comfort, from Dr Mel McCree."

Contents

Health & Wellbeing Focus
Reclaiming snack time - the importance of comfort: exclusive article from outdoor expert Dr Mel McCree • Building in Inclusion with WWT • Bringing Therapy outdoors - Forest School & mental health • snow day at Forest School • Talking about climate change with Learning through Landscapes • theory & practice of an outdoor programme for disadvantaged families • The healing power of gratitude • Forest bathing with Forestry England

Features
• A child’s eye view of Forest School • Nature Premium update

Activities
Campfire popcorn & make your own sieve popcorn cooker

Practitioners Voice
Working with different access needs • Fiery Fox fire safety book • Project postcards - outdoor opportunities at a Brighton Primary School & a loose parts project in London

Read issue 4 here

Download issue 4 here

Outdoor Practitioner: Health & Wellbeing Focus (issue 4)

pdf, 7.91 MB

Issue 3: Forest School Focus

The Outdoor Practitioner issue 3

"With Forest School Day on 8 October, we thought our Autumn issue would be a great way to join in and celebrate Forest School - you’ll find activities, case studies and more on this subject which is at the heart of all we do."

Contents

Forest School Focus
Forest School Day • Nature Connection or Nature Contact • 7 ways to deepen your connection to nature • Forest in the City - Forest School in an urban setting • Forest School Stories - overcoming an arson attack • 6 Forest School Principles

Activities
Whittle your own hazel knife • Square lashing • Autumn inspirations • Leaf needle felting • Autumn hanging mobile

Guides
Fascinating Fungi with the British Mycological Society • Storm Kettles

Practitioners Voice
Reflecting on access to nature programmes & Forest School • Letters from projects in Edinburgh & Croydon • Book review: Creating A Forest School – from the roots up! • Outdoor Ed Chat - join the online discussion

Read issue 3 here

Download issue 3 here

Outdoor Practitioner: Forest School Focus (issue 3)

pdf, 6.72 MB

Issue 2: Hand Washing Outdoors focus

"Our main feature this issue is all about hand washing in the outdoors - we're offering loads of tips and solutions to outside hygiene - always important and especially crucial at this time.
Other highlights include Professor Jan White introducing the Natural Play Principles, fun with sun prints, and spotlights on projects doing great work outdoors."

Contents

Features
The Natural Play Principles from Professor Jan White
Hand Washing focus

Activities
Sun prints - bunting & cyanotype prints • How to make a foot operated soap dispenser from Richard Irvine • Nature Chatterbox from the National Trust

Contributors
Learning Through Landscapes (LtL) - overcoming outdoor learning barriers at Grand-y-Care, Scotland
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) - 5 top tips for learning outside the classroom
Forest School Association (FSA) - the Forest School Provider programme
Glasgow Clyde College - embedding outdoor play training in Early Childhood courses
National Forest - creating a Forest for Learning
Thrive Outdoors - supporting Scotland’s children to grow, play & learn outdoors

Read issue 2 here

Download issue 2 here

Outdoor Practitioner: Hand Washing Focus (issue 2)

pdf, 7.05 MB

Issue 1: Outdoor Clothing Focus

"Appropriate clothes for play & learning outdoors are crucial for children in Early Years, nurseries, primary schools, Forest School and more – our guide helps you choose, use and maintain outdoor clothing for your setting."

Contents

Features
Outdoor Clothing focus
The Breeze Project, Newcastle - impacting young people’s wellbeing through Forest School
Outdoor case study: Milford Pre School, Hampshire

Activities
Fire - how to choose & use a fire steel • Campfire cooking - campfire bread on a stick • Bushcraft knots - clove hitch

Contributors
National Association for Environmental Education (NAEE)
National Trust - 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ & Ways to Have a Mini Adventure
Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust

Read issue 1 here

Download issue 1 here

Outdoor Practitioner: Outdoor Clothing Focus (issue 1)

pdf, 5.55 MB

Practitioners Voice

Outdoor practitioners share tips, ideas and reflections on their work outdoors.

Exclusive extra content that has not appeared in the Outdoor Practitioner magazine.

Read More about Practitioners Voice
Return to top

Newsletter

Keep in touch

Register to receive our free email newsletter, full of outdoor inspiration, dates, deals and competitions.