A SUCCESSFUL Winchcombe-based business providing forest school sessions to youngsters has reached a milestone anniversary.

Forest School Learning Initiative (FSLI), founded by Christina Dee, was officially recognised as a Forest School training provider by NOCN (previously the National Open College Network) in 2007 and has expanded at a rapid rate ever since.

Chris said: “I can't believe FSLI is 10 years old.

"Our ethos has always been to ensure high quality forest school provision to as many children as possible, originally by providing sessions for children and subsequently providing Level 3 forest school leader training.

“At the very beginning we did a session a week in a local school, now we provide sessions for 600 children per week and we train in around 15 venues in the UK.

"We also train in Australia (Brisbane) and China, and we have plans in the pipeline to hold training sessions in New Zealand and Malaysia.

"The plans are at an advanced stage and we are hoping to make our first visit to New Zealand in October.”

Chris is also very proud of the fact that FSLI trains 300 adult students per year.

“This is only possible because we have the most amazing team at FSLI, some of whom have been with me almost from the very beginning," she said.

“It’s been a whirlwind first 10 years and as the business continues to grow I’m really excited about the next 10 years.

"My son, Rob qualified as a forest school leader two years ago and he is taking an ever increasing role in the company.”