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 It's been a long time since I have posted here! 

Now at the beginning of September we look forward to another year of Forest School, learning in the outdoors with all nature has to offer.

Next week we welcome the first class in year 3 to our site to explore and adventure.

'Playful, meaningful connection with the wild world outdoors needs to be a fundemental ingredient of every childhood. we cannot let it invisably slip away. We must consciously choose it for our children, our communities and ourselves'  (Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature Young, Haas, McGown p7)

Already our site is alive with change. The dry summer has given way to a damp start to autumn. Beech nut shells cover the floor and the grass is trying to rediscover its greeness.

Onsite a group of foxes have made this their safe place in the abscence of children, sitting in the long grass enjoying the sun.

Over the first 3 weeks each class will be introduced to the site, developing map skills to become more aware of the location, learning how the site is connected to the past and gamefully exploring connections to nature.

We look forward to welcoming the children.

Ice Post

It seems a long time since we have had a prolonged period of cold weather in Forest School.

You can read about the last time here. 2012 really!

While the snow may have gone there are still plenty of things to do while the cold lasts.

Year 6 have been outside in Forest School making some ice towers.

So why not see what you can do?

Can you make an ice tower?

Can you make an ice decoration? You need a small plastic pot, cold water, string, something bright to put in the water. Leave over night to freeze then hang up in your outdoor space.

Can you skim ice pieces over frozen water?

Can you make ice cups for candles? Secure a weighted container in a larger container full of water. Leave overnight to freeze. Remover the next day to reveal your ice cup. Use as a candle holder to light up a dark evening.

Hope you can have some fun before it gets warm again.

Big Garden Birdwatch 2021

In case you missed it you can watch the assembly here.

Link to RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch page

Here you can sign up to take part in the Birdwatch.

Link to How to take part in the Birdwatch

Here you can find all the instructions you need to help you take part. You can also print id/counting sheets here.

Link to How to attract birds to your patch

What do birds need, like to eat. Find out here.

Link to What to look out for

What type of birds might you find on your patch.

Link to Take a quiz to find out what garden bird you are

Mr Crees is a Blackbird!

Follow on social media Twitter  Instagram

Link to printable school survey sheets

Includes bird feeder recipes, activity sheets and creative resources.

Link to remote learning support from RSPB and BBC

Also watch out for live streaming events so even if you can't take part you can watch someone who can.

Whatever you do have fun. I will post about my birdwatch and anything that happens in school as soon as material is available.

ID and Counting sheet

                   

A Message from Father Christmas

 Father Christmas has sent a video call, here is his message:-

He was so pleased with the Elf houses made last week by 3S and said he will be round after Christmas to sprinkle so magic fairy dust so the elves can take up residence in the Spring.

Here are just a few of them.

Here is the letter from Father Christmas to Year 3.

Hope you can help Father Christmas. Send your photos via Twitter if you can, drawings of your ideas would be great too.

But most of all have a wonderful Christmas.

The 12 Wild Days of Christmas

 

Soon to be starting is the Wildlife Trusts 12DaysWild. Similar to the one in the summer just a bit colder.

Lots of good ideas for wilding yourself can be found on their site along with a sign up form to show your interest.

So if you fancy getting out and about for a walk or getting creative with your camera pop over to their site for some inspiration.

Can you spot ?

Can you spot this amazing creature featured on the Woodland Trust site as one of ten strange creatures?

Known as a Water Bear or Moss Piglet this eight-legged creature can survive in outer space! They feed on small insects and can grow up to 1.5mm in length. Amazingly they always have the same number of cells in their bodies meaning that their cells just get bigger as they grow rather than dividing to increase in size.

Look for them in damp places, stone walls where there are mosses and lichens.

Happy hunting.

Day 29 Plant some wild seeds

Ensuring part of the garden has a wild feel to it has always been in my planning and with events this year I have now managed to fulfil my aims. Part of the front garden has a hedge and low wall with shallow soil as it is over a drain pipe. Any form of planting has been difficult so it seemed like the ideal place for some wild flowers.

After clearing the overgrown grass and edging the lawn I sowed a number of seeds.

Hopefully it will become a colourful place for wildlife. After just a few weeks progress is being made and it looks like this...

Lots of little seedlings already beginning to appear and hopefully by next year there will be a display like this one I walked past today.

So try and find a small patch of garden or a plant pot and sow some seeds to attract wildlife.

Day 26 Squirrel Day

After last years attempt to tempt a squirrel to use a feeder failed I'm ready for attempt two.

A handy Father's Day present means we are all ready to try again with a new feeder and after the squirrels have so successfully navigated ropes and so to get nuts from a basket I'm hoping this time will be a success. Not to take any chances though I've put in a prop to make access easier to start with. So now all we have to do is watch and wait.

The old feeder chewed away by the squirrels.

New feeder with prop.

                                         

Day 23 Make an insect home

This week is National Insect Week so perhaps we should get outside and start looking for some insects.

There is absolutely loads of information at THIS site including videos, discovery pages, free booklet/magazine and so much more so why not take a look?

How about seeing how many ladybirds you can find? This sheet will help.

And finally why not make an insect home? 

These are a few in my garden but THIS * site has some great instructions on how you can make your own.

*Please note this site does carry advertising.

Day 22 Feel the wild under your feet

Managed to catch something of the sunset last night, though the houses across the road tend to obscure the view a little.

Today's random act of wildness is to feel the wild under your feet. So go outside, take off those shoes and socks and feel the ground.

Day 21 Put nature in a frame

No sunset last night just clouds. Hope to see one tonight.

Today's challenge is to create a picture fame, use nature as the picture and take a photo of your composition.

A few times while out walking I've seen these put up along walks but all you need is some card and to cut out your own design.

Here are a few ideas.

How creative can you be?

Day 20 Watch the sun set

It's the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year so why not watch the sun set at about 9.33pm?

Day 19 Read a Wild Book

Who knew ladybirds can stay so still a predator will think they are dead, oh and they are carnivores too! Loads more amazing facts can be found here.

Today's challenge is to read a wild book. I love books with lots of pictures, diagrams and labels so any books like this one are great from my point of view.

But it is stories I like best so here are two of my top recommendations.

Firstly I love books with wildlife and dragons. So this one combines both together.

David Rain is a student looking for accommodation while at university. He meets Mrs Pennykettle and her daughter Lucy at 42 Wayward Crescent. Around the house are a number of mysterious clay dragons made by Mrs Pennykettle and in the garden Conker the squirrel and for David Gadzooks.

'What?" gasped Lucy, too excited to be shushed.

David let his imagination flow. To his amazement, he watched Gadzooks take a pencil from his jaws and hurriedly scribble down a name on his pad.

Snigger

David's eyebrows twitched in surprise. Liz prodded a sausage or two with a fork. Lucy bit a fingernail. Bonnington (the cat) yawned. The whole Pennykettle household waited for an answer.

"Snigger," David whispered.

From somewhere came a gentle hrring noise.

David's dark blue eyes blinked open. "Yes," he said, "his name is Snigger."

To find out just what is going on you'll have to read the book.

Oh some of my dragons just wanted to say hi!

Secondly I love books that have a map at the start. And this one does just that.

What would it be like to live in a world where animals no longer exist or if they do there are very few and when you meet them they talk to you?

Kester lives in such a world and goes on a quest but how can a young boy save the last wild animals?

The wardens haul me back to my room and lock the door behind them as if nothing happened.

Seven days. Stuck in here. Because I thought an insect was talking to me.

Sat up against the wall, clutching my pillow to my chest, I try to focus on the world beyond the window. A solid black sky, but no rain.

I try to think of happy things - like being back at home. I'm helping Mum unpack the shopping. I've said something to make her laugh. Then Dad comes in holding his favourite mug, full of tea, and joins in. And we're laughing and cooking dinner and we're happy. 

Everything is normal again.

If you like these stories The Last Wild is part of a trilogy and The Fire Within is one of seven books in the series.

Whatever you read Have fun 😀📚📚

Day 17 & 18 Inspired by Forest School

Yesterday we were back in Forest School and as the topic for the week revolved around the Rainforest we decided to use this for our inspiration.

We all collected together bits and pieces to make an imaginary rainforest creature. There was lots of discussion about what they could do from shape shifting, which eventually became colour changing, to poisonous spider eyes.

Here are each of our creatures.

After this we returned indoors. Some of the children wanted to draw their creatures so we did this and agreed a layout of facts Top Trumps style to write for each creature. Here is our work.

Later in the afternoon we were sharing some poetry from The Poetry Store compiled by Paul Cookson.

We found a poem called Ten One-line Poems about Sport by Ian McMillan. We decided to use this format to create our own version of the poem using our rainforest creatures. Each of us wrote a line for our creature and here is the compiled result.

So on to today and another random act of wildness. It looks like it's going to rain all day so you could look back at the Develop a Wild Memory post which has an ideal activity for a wet day or why not Google some wild facts and discover some secrets about your favourite animal or something that is just really weirdly wild.

Have fun😀🌧🌧

Day 16 Make a Rainforest Creature

Today for your random act of wildness put away all those pencils, paper and glue and get outside to make a rainforest creature. 

This is the schools focus for the week. So why not have a go outside?

Collect together materials from your garden or on a walk and make your own creature. Why not photo it and make a poem or fact file to go with it.your creature could be real or imaginary.

Here are some creatures made earlier in the year in Forest School.

Have fun 😀

Down by the pond: Our little amphibious friend is back cooling down on a warm evening. First time for a week or so. Thankfully the local cats haven't found him yet.