Lyle’s Local Fund 2025: Curious by Nature

Update on one of our 2025 Lyle’s Local Fund projects

Every year, the Lyle’s Local Fund invests up to £50,000 in small, local organisations that help make Newham a healthy, safe and prosperous place to live and work. In 2025, one of our grants was awarded to Curious by Nature, a grassroots organisation helping local children and families connect with nature through outdoor learning.

With our funding, Curious by Nature is holding weekly forest school sessions for children ages 6 to 12 years old at Beckton District Park through the summer and autumn terms. From foraging to planting, natural crafts to searching for bugs, children can learn about food chains and plants species, while building confidence, independence and team working skills.

“My daughter is enjoying exploring the woodland areas. She shares what bugs she found during the sessions and then researches them when she gets home!”

– Lisha, local parent

Curious by Nature was founded in 2021 by Beckton residents Ilona Saber and Monica Hartnell after they began spending more time with their children outside. In the quiet of lockdown, their children explored their local park, playing amongst the local insects and plants. Ilona and Monica saw how quickly their children learned about the natural world around them. Inspired by those experiences, they created Curious by Nature to help more families in Newham discover and enjoy the nature on their doorstep.

A key part of the project is the forest school approach, which encourages children to learn through hands-on exploration and play outdoors. Because the same children often attend week after week, the qualified Forest School leaders support their development over time and watch their confidence grow. Sessions run throughout the year, allowing children to gradually develop new skills, form friendships and build a lasting connection with nature. Come rain or shine, children experience the changing seasons first-hand – even attempting to build an igloo during last winter’s snowfall!

The inclusive nature of forest school learning can be particularly beneficial for children who thrive in hands-on, outdoor environments. Many of the children who attend are neurodiverse or have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and benefit from an active, multi-sensory approach to learning.

A Newham mother of two whose daughter has attended the Forest School said, “From day one my daughter fit right in and loved Forest School. It has become a significant part of her week. She has made some lifelong friends there who we regularly meet up with outside of forest school.

“But most importantly, Curious by Nature has really, really encouraged her love of nature and exploring the outdoors. Every Monday she comes home and has millions of stories to tell us about what she’s been up to.”

-Newham mother of two

She also noted the effect the forest school has had on her daughter’s confidence, “Curious by Nature has improved her independence and ability to make her own choices due to her interests. The staff who make this happen are amazing!”

As part of this year’s project, Curious by Nature will also host two campfire cooking events for children aged 3 to 8 and their families, helping even more local residents enjoy and learn about the natural spaces on their doorstep.

Since it was founded, Curious by Nature has helped more than 700 local children and their families discover the green spaces on their doorstep. Through projects like this, the Lyle’s Local Fund is helping ensure more young people in Newham have opportunities to learn, play and connect with nature.

For more information on Curious by Nature and how to get involved, please visit the Curious by Nature website.