Trees

Trees are the amazing giants that surround us.

They existed on this plant before the times of the dinosaurs and have merged into human folklore and mysticism over time.

Science now tells us that trees are sociable, live in families and have ways to communicate and protect each other.

They can be ancient living for over a thousand years. They change with the seasons, provide food, are homes for many creatures and are one of our most valuable industrial resources.

They are critical to the planet, they take carbon dioxide and give out oxygen keeping the planet healthy.

The Forest School and wider grounds have many trees connecting us with past uses of the site. The oldest trees are about 200 years old and remind us of the time they stood in the grounds of Gilbertstone House which stretched all the way down to where Birmingham International Airport currently can be found. Others tell of when the school was opened or the school eco days and more recently planting of saplings from the Woodland Trust.

So why not begin to find out about the history of the trees in your garden or local street or park.
To find out how old a tree is you can count the rings but this has the problem of having to cut the tree down.

There is an easier way fortunately. All you need is a long piece of string and a tape measure or if you have one a flexible tape measure.

Measure around the tree trunk about 1.4m above the ground. Next decide where your tree is. If in a wooded area divide your number by 1.25. If it is in open space divide by 2.5. the answer gives you an approximate age for the tree.

So if you find a tree in open space and the measurement round the trunk is 350 cm 350÷2.5=140 years old.

See here for help sheet

Why not make a timeline for your tree can you find key historical events that have happened during the life of your tree. Was it in your garden when your house was built? Did it see the first person walk on the moon? Was it alive in the time of Queen Victoria?

If you want help to identify what type of tree you are looking at see this sheet or this poster.

Please note this activity is for deciduous trees - those that lose their leaves in winter.


Acknowledgements: The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, Tree from seed to mighty forest David Burnie, Photos from Walking in Paradise Photography.

Wild Days

Following on from yesterday another organisation that can get you engaged with the outdoors is
The Wildlife Trusts.

Link to main site here

They also cover the country area by area and our two local trusts are:-

Warwickshire Link                                                              Birmingham Link 

The Trusts have a variety of sites to visit and explore the outdoors, perhaps nearest is Elmdom Manor next to Elmdom Park which has woodland, a meadow, ponds and an old walled garden. 

(please note at time of writing many Trust sites and carparks are not open. Where a site is open they would ask you to only visit if you are able to walk to the site from your home. Please follow government guidance to Stay Safe and Stay at Home.)

Their websites have a wide range of information about habitats and the plants and animals that live on their reserves. So how can you get involved?

Each year they run an initiative 30 Days Wild during June. Forest School is usually involved with this and activities are based around the challenges they have. See pictures below.

Individuals and families can also sign up and keep a diary of their random acts of wildness.

To take part sign up here.

I've usually taken part too and perhaps most successful has been the wildlife pond and trail camera installed in the garden.

The pond was simple just a plastic box sunk into the ground with some soil in the bottom with gravel over the top and some pond weed and a stick so anything that falls in usable to get out. In Forest School we've done a very similar thing with buckets. It's amazing what comes to live there, tiny creatures, hoverfly larvae, newts, frogs and more. The children always love going to see what is in the pond. But if you can't go to this why not try just a jar of water outside. After a few weeks you'll find something living in it.

The trail cam has been amazing. I'm really surprised at what manages to find its way to our garden.

Here are just a few of our highlights.

Hopefully this will inspire you to have some random acts of wildness and don't worry too much about the whole 30 days just have fun😀

WildTime

Spending time outdoors is fun. We all appreciate a little bit of sunshine, a warm breeze, hearing birdsong or a refreshing summer rain. But learning a little about nature also helps to connect us to our surroundings and to feel a part of our wider world.

Research is also revealing to us the health benefits of being out in nature through things like a simple walk, forest bathing or quiet moments of mindfulness.

Whatever your motivation for spending time outdoors there are plenty of places to find encouragement and ideas.

Here is the first organisation and links to their materials to help you along your way.

The Wild Network website has many ideas including a weekly set of challenges which can be done either in or outdoors. I particularly like their animal clothes challenge. What animal can you make your clothes into? Here's an idea:-

Click here to see some more.

They also have walking bingo cards, a different one each week and a free film which introduces how the wild network was started.

The challenge I've taken is to build an obstacle course for a wild animal.

Over time quite a few creatures have visited our garden, i'll share them in future posts, but a the moment we have a couple of squirrels that come each morning.

Now these squirrels aren't very bright. To stop them taking the bird food I put up a nut feeder just for them with a lid. 

What did they do? They ate it! Don't believe me? Here's the evidence or what's left of it.

So without any high hopes I decided to build a squirrel run. The plan was for them to run along the top of the fence, along a rope to the first tray of nuts. Then along the rope and onto the arch to a basket with more nuts suspended from the arch.

Needless to say it didn't work out like this so the run was adapted and here is a short video to show you how it all went.

An adaptation of the run is under construction. The magpie ate all the nuts in the tray and then the squirrel discovered running up the stick. 

If you feel inspired it would be great to hear how you got on. Have fun😃

Mud Pies

Here's a new challenge for the week.

When Year 3 take part in their Scrumdiddlyumptious topic Forest School has a massive Mud Pie Bake Off.

A bake off always makes me think of chocolate cake, my favourite!
This poem must be the one most often requested over the years.

This year we saw some amazing creations which you can see in the pictures below.

Remember Gnorman and now his friends are always hiding in Forest School. Look out for a troll, a fairy and a doorway to the Fairy World. (Click on the picture to make it large)

So can you design and make the most spectacular showstopper of a mud pie ever? No time limits now, be creative. If you are very lucky and have a sand pit in your garden why not make one out of sand. whatever you choose all you need is a bucket, flower pots or just your hands for moulding, things you can find in the garden (don't go and pick all the flowers that have just started to grow - you might make someone annoyed!) and of course a good dose of imagination.
Have fun😀