About / Contact us

Inspiring leadership… A Touch of the Wild was established in 2005 by Hannah Standen – a qualified Teacher and Forest School leader with vast experience in outdoor learning. A Touch of the Wild aims to inspire a life long love of nature using Forest School principles and offers a unique opportunity to experience the natural world through a variety of activities for kids and adults alike.
 A wealth of Forest School experience… The staff members who help Hannah run the various A Touch of the Wild activities are qualified Forest School Leaders (or equivalent) and each have a vast knowledge of the local flora and fauna that inhabit the forest, as well as Greenwood work, Bushcraft, wild food and environmental arts and crafts. Their knowledge and enthusiasm feeds into all our work with children, young people and adults.
We are always looking for volunteers with childcare experience as well as qualified Forest School staff. If you are interested in working with us send a CV and covering letter to info@atouchofthewild.co.uk.

Get in touch!

Email:  We are often out in the woods so the best way to contact us is by via the form below:






    Phone: Call the office on 07929 613284 but please note that we are often out in the woods so may not answer immediately.  If you’re running late for your event, or have an urgent query outside of office hours please call your event leader directly.

    Account Login: If you have booked an event, please log in to your account and read the important documents as they may contain the answer to your query. Trouble logging in to your account/can’t find your username or password? Our confirmation email with your username and password may have gone into your junk or trash folder – please check these and then get in touch if you are still having problems.

    Find Us

    Our secret camp is at Grammarcombe Woods, a beautiful woodland - easy to find, just off the A380, on the Ashcombe Estate Near Exeter. Our camp is just a short level walk from the parking area and offers plenty of free car parking too.

    Our address is Grammarcombe Woods, Ashcombe Estate, Ashcombe, Exeter, Devon EX7 0QE (nearest postcode). Directions can be found below and we are signposted from Ashcombe roundabout. *Please note that this is not our postal address, if you would like to send post to us, please contact info@atouchofthewild.co.uk for our office address.*

    From Exeter, follow the M5 west and stay on the road as it becomes the A38. At Telegraph Hill, take the left fork road A380 signed to Torquay. Follow the road for about 3 miles and take the left exit signed Teignmouth (B3192). At roundabout turn left signed Ashcombe, follow the road around the bend, in about 500 yards you will see A Touch of the Wild signs at the double gateway on your left. Your Forest School leader will meet you in the car park.

    From Newton Abbot/Torquay, on the A380 towards Exeter, take signs for Ashcombe, Chudleigh. Down slip road take signs for B3192. Go over bridge across dual carriageway. At roundabout go straight over, towards Ashcombe. Follow the road around the bend and in about 500 yards you will see A Touch of the Wild signs at the double gateway on your left. Your Forest School leader will meet you in the car park.

    Health & Safety

    A Touch of the Wild prides itself on the high quality and safety of all the services it offers. All sites used by A Touch of the Wild are fully risk assessed, as are all activities. A Touch of the Wild leaders are Outdoor First Aid qualified and always carry a First Aid kit. All staff are DBS checked, and qualified in managing groups and activities in the outdoors.

    Forest School Leaders

    Hannah (Owner)
    Owner of A Touch of the Wild and qualified teacher Hannah has been inspiring groups in the outdoors since 2005. As a Level 3 Forest School leader Hannah works with all groups from toddler groups to Team building events.

    Dan (Kindergarten Manager)
    With over 25 years experience working in the childcare and education field Dan is a qualified Early Years, Playwork, and Forest School Practitioner, with a background in nature connection and SEN. He uses his love of the natural world to empower and foster individuals to be the best they can be whether that’s adults, children or young people. Dan is looking forward to joining Kindergarten full time.

    Annie (Kindergarten Senior Assistant)
    Annie is a qualified teacher, Forest School Leader and extremely experienced trainer. She has 15years experience in Education and is a mum of 3 of her own Wildlings too. Annie loves facilitating learning of all sorts for all ages in the woodland. Annie has been working alongside A Touch of The Wild in a variety of roles for almost 8 years now. You can currently find her at our kindergarten on a Wednesday and Thursday.

    Hazel (Kindergarten Senior Assistant)
    Hazel has been working in childcare since 2011 and is qualified Level 3 in childcare and she is currently completing her Level 3 Forest School Leaders Qualification. With a degree in Textiles and a passion for making and creating Hazel loves to explore crafts and sensory play using all materials that the woodland has to offer.

    Brandon (Kindergarten Assistant)
    Brandon has recently gained his Early Years level 3 course with us, as an apprentice. He now joins us as a Kindergarten assistant. He has worked with children since a teenager on a voluntary basis, and later at a variety of Forest Schools in London, Somerset, and Devon as a Level 3 Forest School leader. He enjoys art, music, and storytelling in his spare time, and has a passion for encouraging learning through play, and deepening connections between people and nature.

    Clare (Freelance Instructor)
    Clare has worked in environmental education for over 8 years. As well as working with ATOTW she also works as a Forest School Leader with a local primary school. She is a qualified level 3 Forest School Leader with a background in environmental science and sustainability. She loves working with our Wild Tots, education groups, Woodland Adventure Club, birthday parties, and Woodland Explorer Club.

    Katy (Freelance Instructor)
    Katy worked as an outdoor instructor for 10 years before training as a teacher. Now a qualified Level 3 Forest School Leader she combines working at ATOTW with her job as Advisory Teacher of the Deaf. You’ll meet Katy at our Wild Tots sessions.