Our week in the forest
What an adventure-filled week we have had in the forest. The children’s imaginations carried us on journeys far and wide, filled with exploration, teamwork and plenty of outdoor fun.
We began the week with imaginative role play that took us all the way to South Africa on safari. The children pretended to be rangers, carefully watching herds of buffalo that were anything but friendly, chasing our imaginary vehicle and causing lots of excitement. When the buffalo were not nearby, the children stalked lions from a safe distance, talking together about how to protect animals and care for wildlife in their natural habitats.
Later in the week, our adventures turned nautical as the children became pirates on a treasure hunt. Instead of searching for gold, they worked together to find specific plants from our Putney Heath plant list. This activity encouraged teamwork, observation, and problem-solving. Once the treasure hunt was complete, the children celebrated with a lively dance party and a game of freeze dance.
Several days were spent exploring the Heath, including a long trek to the old fishing pond. Along the way, the children investigated nooks and crannies along the paths, rested in shady clearings, rolled in small meadows, and squeezed through gaps in climbing trees. At the pond, they enjoyed watching a lone duck bathing and sang songs to keep it company. We were also lucky enough to meet a ranger on horseback and the children were fascinated by the sight of his beautiful brown horse.
Back at camp, the children took part in fire cooking, baking flatbreads and enjoying them with honey or butter, alongside warm milk. These calm moments around the fire gave everyone a chance to rest, warm up and reflect on the day’s adventures as the sun slowly set. Another highlight of the week was our visit to Rollie-Pollie Hill. Our Little Forest Folk-ers created their own mudslide and spent time running, sliding, and carefully navigating their way up and down the hill. This challenged their balance and coordination, and even the youngest children worked out how to move slowly and steadily. With plenty of rain throughout the week, muddy puddles became a firm favourite, with lots of splashing, stomping, and slipping around camp - affectionately known as “the bog.”
The children also worked together to build bug hotels. They collected sticks, leaves, and other natural materials before choosing the perfect spot at the edge of camp. We all discussed which creatures might visit, predicting robins, slugs, worms, beetles and woodlice. Then, our little adventurers enjoyed digging in the mud and discovering insects up close.
It has been a fantastic week full of adventure, creativity, and learning, with the children fully embracing the forest in all weather!
Little Forest Folk
Putney Heath