Our October half term holiday workshops are now online and booking! We have a number of dates available so, hopefully, something for everyone.

Monday the 27th — a one day workshop lead by April

Tuesday the 28th — a one day workshop lead by Sam

Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th — a 2 day workshop lead by Sam

Thursday the 30th — a one day workshop lead by Amanda J

If any of those dates work for you please do head over to the booking page of our website and register. You can combine single day workshops or tack additional days on to the two day workshop to maximise your child’s Forest School experience. We would love to see you in the woods.

We still have a few spaces left on

Tuesdays (10-3) in Crane Park with Amanda J &…

Wednesdays (10-3) in Ham Common Woods with Sam

our Thursdays (10-3) in Crane Park with Amanda J have not got started yet — we just need a few more Forest School friends to get this one going.

Head over to the booking page of our website for all of our exciting sessions and to book your trial if you are curious but not 100% sure.

Because of an Acorn

Written by Lola M Schaefer and Adam Schaefer, Illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon

Because of an acorn, a tree grows, a bird nests, a seed becomes a flower. Enchanting die-cuts illustrate the vital connections between the layers of an ecosystem in this magical book. Wander down the forest path to learn how every tree, flower, plant and animal connect to one another in spiraling circles of life. An acorn is just the beginning.

You can buy it here.

We have been having loads of fun with Horse Chestnuts the past few weeks and although they are fun to play with they are actually poisonous so it is the Sweet Chestnuts that we will be foraging for to eat. Contrary to popular belief (and sharing a name) these two chestnuts are not related. Horse chestnuts are from the Aesculus genus in the soapberry family, while sweet chestnuts are from the Castanea genus in the beech family.

The sweet chestnuts have a prickly casing that looks a bit like a green hedgehog, while the horse chestnut has a rough spiky one.

Woodland Classroom have a great site all about sweet chestnuts, how to identify them and what to do with them once you have foraged for some.

Beeswax Candles 🐝

You can buy beeswax beads and either melt them over a fire (or in double boiler on your stove 😉) or simply warm them in your hand and squeeze them around a wick. You can also buy sheets of beeswax and roll them around a wick. They can be small and simple or larger and more complex — It is up to you. One thing is certain, with the days getting shorter you will be glad you made them when you are basking in their cozy glow.

Little Pine Learners have a lovely tutorial for the rolled version.

Simple Homeschool have a great tutorial for the dipped version.

For the hand moulded version you are just going to have to give it a go. 🙃

If you do, we would love to see the results!

Tawny Owl🦉

October is the perfect time to look out for (or more likely listen out for) Tawny Owls. You can hear them making their distinctive “too-wit too-woo” sound at dusk. They are only the size of a wood pigeon so keep that in mind if you are trying to spot one. They are also well camouflaged in the autumn with their mottled radish-brown plumage, making them harder to spot.

Find out more from the RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts.

If you manage to, hear one, spot one and especially if you get a photo we would love to know about it.