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Tales and Trails
Local Forest School offering nature games, craft and bushcraft activities raising children's self-es
🐞This week, our preschoolers dived into the world of ladybirds, inspired by the story What the Ladybird Heard. With paints in hand, they created beautiful ladybird handprints and some even sprinkled in tiny thumbprint friends! We also spotted larvae and watched them transform on the willow trees, a magical live experience.![]()
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In a time when insects are disappearing at alarming rates, the UK has seen around a 60% decline in flying insects since 2004, our little artists learned the power of creativity and conservation. These keepsake crafts are more than art, they’re a reminder to cherish and protect the amazing mini-beasts sharing our world.![]()
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Takeaway: We can all make a difference. Let’s foster wonder, plant insect-friendly habitats, and keep celebrating creatures big and small 🐞![]()
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🌿 If these values are close to your heart and you’d love to help your child build a special bond with nature, message me to be the first to know when spots open for our preschoolers this September! Let’s grow curious, caring little explorers together 🌱✨
This afternoon, the forest became both studio and sanctuary.![]()
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There was no rush. No “finish by” time. Just space, spaciousness for Year 4 to explore creativity on their own terms.![]()
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Inspired by famous artworks, they gathered petals, leaves, soil, and fallen blossoms to build their own nature-based masterpieces. Some jumped in straight away. Others wandered, played, built dens or collected quietly before beginning. And that’s the beauty of forest school; children lead the way.![]()
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There’s mindfulness in this slow creation. A grounding. A calm. The freedom to pause or begin again. To make something… or not.![]()
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Forest school offers a breath of fresh air from the busy curriculum. Out here, the pressure lifts. There’s time to slow down, to breathe deeply, to just be. To be children: curious, imaginative and connected.![]()
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No pressure. Just imagination, presence, and the gentle invitation of the forest floor.![]()
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And in between it all: conversations, birdsong, and the quiet joy of being outdoors.![]()
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This is art. This is learning. This is forest school 🦊
Last week, we explored the beautiful and mindful art of Hapa Zome, the Japanese technique of “leaf dye pounding.”![]()
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Our preschoolers created vibrant butterflies, carefully arranging leaves and petals onto paper before gently hammering them to release their natural dyes. The older children took it further, crafting nature flags using the same process.![]()
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It’s a wonderfully therapeutic and sensory activity, rhythmic, calming, and full of creative surprises. Hapa Zome teaches careful attention, encourages mindfulness, and even offers opportunities to take calculated risks as children learn how to use real tools like hammers with care and focus.![]()
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The results were stunning, but more importantly, the process helped the children connect deeply with nature and their own creativity.![]()
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Have you tried Hapa Zome before? It’s such a joy to share this process in the woods with curious little hands 🦊
