Woodland Nurture

24/12/2024

Seasons greetings!

Thank you to all the wonderful people who have supported Woodland Nurture this year.

The woods will open once more on 21st January 2025!

Good health and happiness until then!

04/12/2024

Wednesdays used to be called "Wild Wednesdays" but that moniker really doesn't suit this super bunch! The calm and contentment was palpable in the woods today.

Deep concentration in the tool area sharpening sticks and cutting silver birch to make photo holders.

Christmas crafts on the craft table.

Pizza and rock cake making at the Pizza Oven.

Deep Mine Craft themed fantasy play amongst the trees.

Tree climbing, circus skills and dressing up were amongst other activities.

What a super day!

03/12/2024

We fired the pizza oven up today!

Yummy pizzas were created, cooked and devoured.

We learnt about winter celebrations such as Hanukkah and Christmas.

We had fun crafting, playing games and building dens.

We set up a woodland cafe in the mud kitchen.

We role played as packs of wolves and dogs.

We wrote down wishes which we fed into the fire at the end of the day.

20/11/2024

Getting through the first gate was toooooo easy so we raised the bar with the challenge of getting through the second gate.

20/11/2024

Sorry, not sorry, for the abundance of snow videos!

20/11/2024

Perseverance pays off!

19/11/2024

I hope that you've all stayed safe today.

We have had an ENORMOUS amount of fun playing in the snow!
The children have shown real grit and resilience, a sense of humour and fabulous camaraderie today.

I wonder if there will still be enough snow to play with tomorrow?

18/11/2024

With the weather this week testing our winter clothes for the coming months, it seems a good opportunity to share a discount code for Warm Wellies!

Using the code WNFS10 gets you 10% off!

18/11/2024

Perspective taking - seeing things from someone else's point of view - is such an important life skill.

It is something we work hard to develop with our children in the woods.

Here's a great example of how to frame a conversation to encourage perspective taking in a relational, supportive way...

17/11/2024

Wouldn't it make sense if learning about food, farming and sustainability was part of the national curriculum?
So many people have such a disconnect from nature. We can't expect children to have that connection unless we give them the opportunities to learn.

Please consider signing this petition...

We are calling on the government to integrate comprehensive food, farming, and sustainability education into the national curriculum, making these subjects core to students’ learning from early years through secondary school.

13/11/2024

Thanks Danielle!

🌲✨ Why Forest School Beats the Classroom ✨🌲
Almost 3 years in 🌳💚

In a world of screens and structured schedules, forest school offers something unique—a chance for kids to learn with nature rather than just about it. 🌱 Here’s why more parents and educators are choosing forest school over traditional education:

1️⃣ Hands-On Learning: Nature is the ultimate classroom! Kids develop real-world skills, from problem-solving and creativity to resilience, by experiencing things firsthand.

2️⃣ Freedom to Explore: With less structure, kids are encouraged to follow their curiosity. This freedom helps them develop a love for learning that’s self-driven, not just imposed by a curriculum.

3️⃣ Improved Wellbeing: Studies show that time in nature boosts both mental and physical health. 🌿 Kids build confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of calm—qualities often harder to foster in a standard classroom.

4️⃣ Resilience & Teamwork: Forest school encourages kids to take safe risks and work together. They learn that failing is part of growth and how to navigate challenges, making them more adaptable and strong. 💪

5️⃣ Connection with Nature: By spending time outdoors, kids develop a deep respect for the environment—a value that sticks with them for life. 🌍❤️

In a forest school, learning is everywhere, from the trees to the trails. It’s a beautiful reminder that education doesn’t always need walls. 🧡

Woodland Nurture

12/11/2024

Looking forward to downloading and reading this!

Share Play and creativity are integral to child development and learning. Our free to download pamphlet series and resources explore themes and activities closely associated with Froebelian practice today. Froebel Trust pamphlet series Our pamphlets are created with the modern educator in mind. They...

11/11/2024

A few from last Wednesday and Thursday...

06/11/2024

I'm on a course in the morning so Stay and Play will be lead by the fabulous Poppy.

And guess what Poppy will be theming the session on...
Poppy Day!

05/11/2024

Great to be back in the woods!

We experienced a huge amount of fun and learning loosely themed around Bonfire Night, having fun with left over Halloween props and making use of the beautiful autumnal leaves.

Lots of kindness, compassion and collaboration observed today. Lucky us to work with such super youngsters.

Quote of the day..."Bonfire night is about some guy who tried to blow up a town."
Yeah, kinda! 😂

01/11/2024

Small family farms producing the food you eat are under huge threat unless action is taken to reverse the government's decisions.
Please consider signing the petition...

The family farm tax must be overturned.

Add your name and show your support for stopping the family farm tax 👉https://ow.ly/9QmO50TYivE

29/10/2024

Day one of the autumn Holiday Clubs...
* body parts were discovered all over the woods
* powerful potions were created in the mud kitchen
* creepy spiders were made by gorging holes in conkers
* pumpkins were obliterated with the help of hammers and tees.
* pyromania ensued as the children created art with pyrography pens

Oh, and the children were all amazingly well behaved and wonderful!