As we come to the end of another wonderful year at Tree House Learning, I want to extend my deepest thanks to each and every one of you for your trust, support, and presence in our Forest School community. It has been a joy for our team to learn, explore, and grow alongside your children, and we are all truly grateful for the connections we share.

Wishing you all a restful, magical, and nourishing festive season. Thank you for being such an important part of our community — we wouldn’t be the same without you.

This is the only school holiday period that we are not in the woods. Our hard working and dedicated team will be taking time to get out in nature with our loved ones towards the end of this month and we will look forward to seeing you again in the new year.

Head over to the booking page of our website to register for our next exciting half term of sessions. We head back into the woods the beginning of January.

Tuesdays (10-3) for ages 3 and up in Crane Park with Amanda J

Wednesdays (10-3) for ages 7 and up in Ham Common Woods with Sam

What a joy to gather together, indoors in the warmth, and spend time eating delicious food, and laughing together. We were short many important people that make up the rest of our THL family but what a lovely bunch of humans we had on the night. And not a pair of wellies in sight. 😉

A Field Guide to Winter: Play and learn in nature by Gabby Downey and Dorien Brouwers

A Field Guide to Winter is a pocket-sized introduction to winter, inspired by the Forest School movement. Building on children’s natural curiosity about the world around them, this book aims to establish a connection with nature at an early age that will go on to last a lifetime!

This book features lyrical poems, hands-on crafts and activities, scientific facts and identifier pages to help children spot different animals and plants. Whether a child’s access to nature is in the form of an urban park, a private garden, a field or a forest, there is so much to discover and experience.

You can buy it here.

Natural Christmas Decorations

This is a beautiful time of year to head outdoors and gather natural treasures for festive creations. Foraging for materials like pine cones, holly, evergreen sprigs, seed heads, and fallen branches not only connects us with the changing season, but also invites us to slow down and notice the small wonders all around us. Crafting Christmas decorations from these foraged finds encourages sustainability, creativity, and a deeper appreciation for nature’s gifts. Whether you’re making wreaths, garlands, or simple table decorations, gathering materials together can be a mindful, memorable activity for both children and adults — and a lovely way to bring the outside in during the winter months.

The Woodland Trust has some great suggestions of what to collect and what to create with them, including a handful of useful video tutorials.

Campfire popcorn

One of my favourite things to do with the children at Forest School is to make popcorn. It is so magical to be able to see it pop in real time. There is no need to season campfire popped popcorn — it is delicious on its own as the fire leaves a slightly smokey flavour on the popped kernels. However, if you fancy adding additional flavours the sky is the limit. Some of our favourites include:

Muddy Faces have a step by step explanation of how to make popcorn over an open fire.

If you give this one a go we would love to see the results! And do keep us updated on your favourite flavour combinations. 🤤

Robin

Robins are one of the UK’s most beloved winter birds, and December is a wonderful time to spot them. With their striking red breasts and bright, inquisitive eyes, robins are easy to recognise and often seem especially bold during the colder months. Unlike many birds, they sing throughout winter, using their clear, melodic song to defend territory. You’ll often find them perched on low branches, garden tools, or fence posts, watching for movement as they search for insects, seeds, and berries. Robins are also famously associated with Christmas — a symbol of warmth and cheer in the darker days of winter. Encouraging children to look and listen for robins can spark curiosity and deepen their connection with nature throughout the festive season.

The Natural History Museum have a lovely informative post about robins and other winter birds.

If you manage to capture a photo of a robin near where you live we would love to see your photos.