Spring
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Bug book hotel
I have spent an inspiring couple of days in Scotswood Natural Community Garden. It’s a stunning place on so many levels; just two to three acres in very urban part of Newcastle, thriving with trees, flowers, birds, insects, foxes, ponds and people. The garden is a…
Walking alongside
Sitting around the fire at a recent Forest School conference a fascinating discussion developed about the nature of the pedagogy we employ. My friend Annie, of Get Out More, remembered a conversation she and I had had a few years ago. We had been discussing the amount…
Char flowers
There is a really fascinating process you can do with fire that is basically making charcoal but without any wood… The process of making charcoal is to get something that is carbon based; so pretty much everything that was once alive, heat it up really hot without…
‘I climbed right up to here’ or Risk and Challenge in a Forest School
Risk taking is widely understood to be a natural part of a child’s development. Adults who work with children are moving on from thinking of risk only in the context of ‘the risk assessment’ which decides those things are too dangerous to allow. But are rather looking…
Oak Apple Ink
There is something about playing in the woods, exploring, experimenting that really stimulates discoveries. I remember when I was a teenager reading about oak gall ink in a book on art techniques but I hadn’t tried it until today. Oak galls are fascinating little…
Maslow’s hierarchy of need or why, in winter, we always have hot chocolate..
I was just repacking and checking through the safety bag that I take into the woods with me and I felt like something was missing. There had been a lot more space in the bag over the summer but as the weather changes so does the contents of my safety bag. So I added…
Child led learning or how it feels to not be in charge
Giving control over content and intent of play and learning to children. Child-led learning sounds like it should be easy, just see what the children are interested in and excited by and then follow it. Actually, when you put it like that it is easy and in the context…
Sweet little alder bee craft
I was asked to bring something to share at my recent visit to Wood School. I haven’t made these alder bees with a group for years despite having all the bits in a nice little cigar box ready to go. Normally when I’m working with groups of children who don’t spend much…
Coppice birds
Last year I learnt to make these little wooden birds from a local coppice worker. They are made from a single carved forked stick. These children made their own, apparently she was so pleased with hers she took it to bed with her! The birds start from a stick like…
Going Feral
This course has now past. If you are interested in something similar please email mail@kindlingplayandtraining.co.uk. Going Feral in the Lake District – A natural play intensive for grown ups Sat 17– Fri 23 August 2013 A week-long workshop to immerse yourself in…
The adventurer’s essentials
Every year we had make most of our Christmas gifts. My nieces and nephews are getting to an age where we can really really enjoy making stuff for them. I wanted to make a den building adventure kit for my oldest nephew. I had some ideas but I knew the Forest Education…
