Our Week in the Forest

What a wonderfully full and adventurous week we’ve had in the forest! The children have been busy exploring, discovering, creating and collaborating in so many meaningful ways.

We began one of our mornings with a very exciting walk along the troll bridge path to introduce our new educator, Francine. There was much anticipation (and a few nervous giggles!) as we wondered if the troll might appear at any moment! Thankfully, we made it safely and continued our adventures with great enthusiasm.

Our curiosity about nature has really shone this week, especially with our continued interest in caterpillars and butterflies. The children carefully searched the trees, spotting caterpillars dangling delicately on silky threads. They showed such kindness and respect, gently observing them before returning them safely to their homes. We also noticed tiny holes in leaves, discussing how much (or how little!) the caterpillars had been eating. Alongside this, the children enjoyed drawing their own caterpillars and butterflies and talking about the fascinating transformation into butterflies.

At the imagination tree, we added splashes of colour by decorating it with fabrics, bringing our creative ideas to life. This was followed by some very focused tennis games, where the children practised brilliant turn-taking using a one-minute sand timer. Their patience and encouragement of one another was lovely to see. We also explored early science concepts through our floating and sinking investigations. Using sticks and stones, the children made predictions and observations, discussing size, weight, and whether being bigger always means being heavier. These hands-on experiences sparked lots of thoughtful conversations.

Our role play this week was full of excitement and imagination! Princes set off on daring missions to win the hearts of princesses - collecting sticks, chasing mischievous foxes, cooking macaroni cheese, riding horses, even slaying dragons! There was plenty of laughter and storytelling as the adventures unfolded.

Another highlight was our exploration of movement and inertia. The children gathered a variety of round objects - tyres, bobbins and logs - and rolled them down the hill to see what would happen. There were cheers as the tyres sped down quickly, while the slower logs caused lots of giggles! The children made thoughtful predictions and explored cause and effect in a very hands-on way. With the sunshine making an appearance, we enjoyed time on the meadow where the children created their own obstacle course using logs, tyres and planks. They climbed, balanced, and challenged themselves physically, showing great determination. Others practised plaiting with fabric tied to trees, later testing their creations by swinging and checking their strength.

Despite some windy weather, we made the most of our time at the scout hut - staying outdoors all day and embracing the elements! The wind itself became part of our play, as we watched objects move across the tarmac. The tricycles were a big hit here too, with children taking turns, sharing beautifully, even turning them into imaginative “buses” that needed to be flagged down!

Our exploration extended beyond the site with a trip to Morley Park, where we searched for bramble stems. After a careful hunt the children used peelers and tools (with support) to whittle and shape them into beautiful bracelets and necklaces - combining creativity with practical skills.

Back at base we worked together to fix the mud kitchen gate using wire cutters and zip ties - demonstrating teamwork, problem-solving and perseverance. We also built a wonderful tarp den, threading rope through eyelets and securing it between trees to create a shady space. This became a cosy spot for dancing and even welcoming a friendly bear into our play, who enjoyed being read stories.

To finish off the week, we made a delicious apple and pear crumble. The children carefully chopped fruit using child-safe knives, practised turn-taking and followed the cooking process step-by-step. From melting butter to mixing the crumble topping and baking it to golden perfection - everyone played a part. Best of all, we got to enjoy it together at snack time!