As the Summer has approached it has been wonderful to see the Forest School site changing, growing and adapting to the new season. The improved weather has also meant a lot less mud, which some of us are pleased about. 

We have seen a lot of growth on our site, this includes plants and trees which may cause us harm, such as Nettles, Brambles, Hawthorns, Lords and Ladies (Arum maculatum) etc. The children have spent time getting to know and recognise these plants and trees as it is important we not only learn to keep away from them but also value their individual importance on our site and within nature. Every plant, tree or animal plays an important part in the cycle of life. 

Site maintenance and site development were both important factors this half term, ensuring we are doing all we can to help increase and support wildlife, no matter their size.

World Art Day:

During the first week of the term we took part in World Art Day, with a focus on the artist Andy Goldsworthy.

The children looked at examples of his work, noticing and commenting on his use of natural materials to create images and sculptures. They learnt about his concept of a 'collaboration with nature'.

The children worked in groups to collect a range of natural materials from our site and then decided to focus on one or more of Andy Goldworthy's  'styles'. They could choose to create images using one or more of the following styles:

• Circles and spirals
• Balancing and stacking
• Lines
• Layers and filling

Monitoring our site:

During the second week of term we took the time to monitor our site. We took part in lots of bug hunting and general investigation to see what was living in our Forest School, both flora and fauna.

We had a list of items to find, as well as the chance to find other species we did not know were living there. The children thoroughly enjoyed this week, bug hunting was a firm favourite!

Habitat development:

Following on from the previous week, during week 3 we created habitats in the form of bug hotels, dead wood piles and dead hedges.

During the previous week the children had found bugs living on the site but not a diverse range of different species. So, to help attract more species we used dead wood to create safe areas for insects to live and breed in. We used the wheelbarrows to help us move the wood from the top of the field to the Forest School site, this added to part of the fun. 

Litter picking:

We took to the local lanes armed with litter pickers, bin bags and gloves this week. We discussed how important it is to maintain a healthy ecosystem for both plants and animals in our local area and ensuring there is no litter is an important part of that mission. We linked our lovely litter picking walk with Sir David Attenborough's 100 birthday, discussing the vital role he has played in helping reduce single use plastic and general waste around the planet.

Thinning trees and using mallets:

This was our first week using tools! Loppers were used to maintain and cut back the growth on the Forest School site, including low growing branches, thorny hedgerows and parts which had got a little out of control. We saw some fantastic perseverance and determination of children who really got into cutting back the parts which needed maintaining. The children were also excellent at listening to the 'tool talk' about how to use the tools safely.

The children also used mallets this week to create natural artwork, using the technique Hapa-zome (which means leaf dye). They collected leaves and other interesting plants, placed them on the cotton fabric and hit them with the mallets. This released the pigment and dyed the fabric square. Lots of trial and error was needed as some leaves/ plants worked better than others. 

Multicultural week:

The children took part in multicultural week in the last week of term. We focused on what it would feel like to move from another country and linked this to bird migration. We discussed why birds need to migrate and how this can link with human migration too; needing food, shelter and a safe place to bring up young. 

The children were split into groups and were asked to take on the role of a migratory bird. During the session they had to create a way of 'travelling' from one area (country) to another using the equipment given to them. They then had to create their own shelter and sit in it as a group, where they listened to music from the country they had migrated to and tried some food from that country. 

Summer 2

This Half Term has thrown the weather at us, but not the type we are so used to... HEAT! It started dry and mild so we were able to start some work around fire lighting, but as the term progressed it was not safe for us to continue lighting fires so we moved on to other activities within the local community and local wildlife. As always, we continue to run our loose part, child-led play each week as well as a different craft activity which the children can choose to take part in. 

Week 1 – Fires in containers

We started the summer term by learning about fire safety and building small fires safely in containers. The children learned how to light and manage a fire, discussed the importance of staying safe around flames, and practised following clear safety rules including the safe fire kneeling position. They enjoyed developing their confidence and independence while learning this valuable Forest School skill. This activity involved a lot of perseverance as using the strikers to light the fires was rather challenging.

Week 2 – Fires on the ground

This week, we built on our fire-lighting skills by learning how to safely make and manage fires directly on the ground. The children developed their understanding of fire safety, learned how to prepare the fire area, and practised lighting and tending the fire responsibly. They enjoyed gaining confidence in managing a fire and working together as a team. They also learned how to safely extinguish a fire.

Some classes cooked marshmallows on the main fire pit area this week too.

Week 3 – Group fire

During week 3, Class 1 (Nursery and Reception) were joined by Class 4 (Years 5 and 6) for a special multi-generational Forest School session. The children recapped how to behave safely within the fire circle before working together to cook marshmallows over the fire. It was lovely to see the older and younger children learning alongside each other, sharing experiences and building positive relationships. The children from Class 4 were such wonderful role models to our younger children, this is definitely something we will do again in the future. Unfortunately, as we were having so much fun we didn’t take any photos this week.

Week 4 – Whittling Willow

This week, the children were introduced to whittling willow using peelers. They learned how cut suitable willow, how to handle the tools safely and carefully while developing their fine motor skills, concentration and coordination. The children enjoyed exploring the natural material and taking their time to create their own pieces of whittled willow.

Week 5 – Whittling with knives

During week 5, the children progressed their whittling skills by learning how to safely use knives under close supervision. They used their creativity and imagination to transform pieces of wood into woodland creatures and gnomes. The activity encouraged patience, concentration and fine motor skills, while giving the children a real sense of achievement as they brought their creations to life.

Week 6 – Butterfly walk at the Gravel Hole

This week, we took a walk to the Gravel Hole to explore the area and look for butterflies. We talked about how to walk safely along the lanes and the importance of staying together as a group, all while listening carefully for other road users. The children used butterfly nets to carefully catch butterflies for a closer look before safely releasing them back into the wild, Miss Evans was excellent at this! The children used Field Study guides to help them identify the butterflies they saw. It was a lovely opportunity to develop their knowledge of local wildlife and the natural environment.

The children also enjoyed learning about the Gravel Hole, staff members shared their memories of the area and how it has changed over time, it is very important for the children to understand how their local area impacts on local communities and how we are all responsible for maintaining and caring for our local areas.

Week 7 – Exploring our local community

The weather started to get very hot this week, so we made the most of the opportunities to explore our local community. Class 2 enjoyed a lovely walk to Mrs Pitcher’s house, followed by a visit to the local allotments, where we looked at the different fruits, vegetables and plants that were growing. We also enjoyed a spontaneous trip to The Parish Pump, where we were lucky enough to visit the Ellesmere Model Railway Club and explore their wonderful model railway displays. Then members of the group were very accommodating and informative, again this trip expressed the importance of local community connections and how our school fits in with the local groups in our area.

Class 4 enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon at the Forest School site, taking part in games, chatting together, crafts and making the most of their time outdoors. It was also a particularly special afternoon as we said a sad farewell to our wonderful Year 6 children. We will miss them greatly and wish them every happiness and success as they begin their next adventure.