This week, our new Forest School group returned to the site, eager to see everyone. As they arrived, the children couldn't wait to explore and were excited to see the changes that had taken place around the site.
One of their first stops was the workshop, where they were eager to check in with Syd and see how the mud kitchen they had designed was coming along. Syd was delighted to show them the progress so far and proudly explained that all of the wood had now been cut and was ready for the next stage of the build. The children were thrilled to see their ideas beginning to come to life.
Once we reached the Forest School site, the children couldn't believe how much had changed since their last visit. They were so excited to explore every corner and quickly immersed themselves in a variety of activities.
Imaginative play was in full swing throughout the day. Some children became pirates, digging for hidden treasure, while others were magical fairies in our new small world area. They beautifully knitted fairies, kindly made and donated by one of our wonderful volunteers, inspired lots of creative and imaginative play.
A small group chose to spend some time at the allotment, where they worked alongside our older friends to dig up potatoes. There was great excitement as each potato was uncovered, and the children enjoyed being part of the harvest.
Back at the Forest School site, everyone worked together to improve our space. Some children helped to build a new shelving unit, while others worked together to organise the inside of the shed.
After such a busy morning, we decided to sit and have a more relaxed activity. The children carefully tied small bundles of sticks in preparation for our fire week. Learning to tie knots can be quite a challenge, but everyone persevered brilliantly and did an amazing job.
The afternoon was just as productive. We spent time watering our plants, including our beautiful apple tree, which is growing well. Our pumpkin plants have also had a fantastic growth spurt, and we can't wait to watch them continue to flourish over the coming weeks.
To make the day even more special, we were gifted a beautiful repurposed bench by our incredible volunteers. It has already found pride of place in our fire circle and will be enjoyed by the children and grown ups. We are so grateful for the time, care and creativity our volunteers continue to give to our outdoor space.
As we made our way back to the minibus, we stopped to say goodbye to everyone in the workshop. We were amazed by the progress that had already been made on our mud kitchen since the morning. It is really starting to take shape, and the children are eagerly looking forward to seeing what exciting developments await us next week!