The school year may be coming to a close, but our time in the woods most certainly is not! We have a busy and exciting summer ahead and we would love for you to be part of it.

To finish off the term, you can still join us the next couple of weeks:

Wednesdays you can find our home ed group in Ham Common Woods from 10:00am – 3:00pm (running 8th and 15th of July)

Tuesdays you can find our other home ed group in Crane Park from 10:30am – 2:30pm (running 7th and 14th of July )

And then the summer holiday sessions begin! We have a fantastic programme running from 21st July all the way through to 2nd September, with single days, 2-day and 3-day sessions available — so you can mix and match to build a week in the woods that works for your family. All sessions run 10am–2pm, in our site in Ham Common Woods and are open to mixed ages.

To see the full schedule and to book your place(s), head over to our booking page. We would love to see you in the woods this summer. A reminder that we are still using our temporary website so you will need to visit www.treehouselearning.co.uk rather than our previous booking page.

A childhood classic that is set entirely outdoors — in the woods, no less! Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and friends spend their days exploring the Hundred Acre Wood, having adventures, getting lost, finding honey and noticing the world around them. It is, at its heart, a love letter to unstructured time in nature. Whether you are reading it aloud together this summer or your child is discovering it for the first time, it is the perfect companion for long July evenings.

You can find a copy at your local library or buy it here.

Common Lime Blossom (Tilia x europaea)

July is one of the most fragrant months in the British countryside, and much of that scent comes from lime trees in full flower. The small, pale yellow blossom clusters of the common lime tree fill the air with a sweet, honey-like perfume — and they are not just beautiful to smell, they are edible too.

Lime blossom has been used for centuries across Europe to make a soothing herbal tea. The flowers (along with the small papery bract they grow from) are simply dried and infused in hot water. The resulting tea has a mild, floral sweetness and is traditionally thought to calm the nerves and support sleep — a particularly useful quality during long, exciting summer holidays!

The good news for families in Richmond is that lime trees are extremely common across London's parks and streets, including along the paths around Ham Common and through Crane Park. Look for the clusters of small pale flowers hanging below an unusual elongated papery leaf (the bract) — once you know it, you will spot lime trees everywhere.

A lovely activity for children: Gently smell the flowers before and after picking them. Can you describe the scent? Sweet? Honeyed? A little like vanilla? Let them help to lay the blossoms out to dry on a clean cloth in the sun.

When foraging, only pick from trees away from busy roads, take just a small amount from each tree, and leave plenty behind for the bees — lime blossom is a hugely important nectar source in midsummer.

Wild Food UK have some lovely information about lime blossom and its uses.

Elder Flower Cordial

Sun Tea

July sunshine and freshly foraged flowers are a perfect combination — so this month we are making sun tea, and it could not be simpler.

Sun tea is made by placing herbs, flowers or leaves in a jar of cold water and leaving it in a sunny spot for several hours. The gentle warmth of the sun slowly infuses the water, drawing out the flavour and colour without any heat needed. It is a wonderfully slow and satisfying activity for children, who love watching the water gradually change colour through the afternoon.

For a July version, try:

Simply pick a small handful of fresh leaves or flowers, pop them into a clean glass jar, fill with cold water, cover loosely with a lid or cloth, and place in a sunny spot for 3–5 hours. Strain, taste and enjoy — you can add a little honey if you like it sweeter.

Nature note: This is also a lovely way to talk to children about the sun's energy. The same warmth that is making their tea also powers photosynthesis in the very plants they have just foraged!

If you give this one a go, we would love to see the results!

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

I am one of Britain's most spectacular summer butterflies, and July is peak season for spotting me! I am large, fast-flying and unmistakable — my upper wings are a rich golden orange with black spots and dashes, and the underside of my hindwings is washed with a beautiful streaky silver sheen — which is exactly where I get my name.

You are most likely to find me gliding through sunny woodland glades and along woodland edges, where I love to feed on bramble blossom. Luckily, Ham Common Woods is exactly the kind of habitat I love, so keep your eyes open on warm sunny mornings!

Can you spot me?
☀️ Look on warm, sunny days — I am most active in the morning
🌿 Search along sunny woodland edges and glades, especially near brambles
🟠 Look for large, fast, orange butterflies — I am hard to miss!

Did you know? The females lay their eggs on tree bark near violet plants, because when the tiny caterpillars hatch in spring, they drop to the ground and search for violet leaves to eat.

For more information about me check out The Wildlife Trusts' page all about me!

As always, if you spot one we would love to see your pictures or hear all about where and when you found me. 🦋