No matter how good your risk assessments, children will always find a something that you have not thought of even in your wildest dreams. You do the best you can!

Once a session plan has been drawn up we compile a risk assessment for each activity.

Site ones will already be in place and checked regularly. In our case the rangers will check the site in-depth once a month.

As the leader you need to check the site daily taking into account prevailing weather conditions. Our handbook states that we will not run sessions when there is lightning or gale force winds (we use Beaufort Scale 6 - strong breeze, 25-31 mph, large branches in motion and umbrellas used with difficulty).

So the Risk Assessments that should ideally be in place are:

• Site - all the usual checks associated with the site should be checked regularly and acted on, e.g. dead branches that may fall, brambles overgrown. 
• Daily - checking site is acceptable for that day's activities. This includes the 4 levels of the woodland structure and any 'wild' features like special events that may increase the number of public nearby.
• Activity/Session - a break down of the risks associated with each of the activities planned for the session.