New Year

I know, we've been in 2022 for over a week, which in education means any New Year Celebrations are already fading in the mists of time...! But for me, it means Forest School hits the ground running as of Monday.

This week switched from a ridiculously mild December to a frost January and Winter flexed its claws. I have to admit I like Winter! The frosted grass looking sage green, the opaque air hung above it, watery skies and pale sun. Ice on the spider webs, sparkly evergreens, bare tree branches scratching the sky, long shadows and even the drumming of rain, crisp air with a promise of snow, even wet eyelashes, and foggy breath!

I know going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark is for many a depressing routine, but my inner troglodyte bursts forth, and warm baths, not showers, and snuggly blankets on the sofa with a good book are the reward! 

Naked trees make the birds easier to spot - which is definitely a good thing as the RSPB Garden BirdWatch and Big Schools' BirdWatch are imminent events! They also sing loudly for their supper in these cold months, so hanging out food is not only kind to nature but a useful way to draw the wildlife into Forest School for the children to discover. It's also a great excuse to get classes outdoors for counting, sorting, and data collection as well as becoming part of a Citizen Science Project!

We still have some trees to plant, a whole Spring and Summer to plan for, and new tarpaulins on order so we can focus on den building to create snug places to enjoy. Our classes have swapped and the other year group class will be heading outside, having missed out last term. So plenty of reminders of how to stay safe, and discoveries of what has changed will be up for discussion.

There are plenty of excuses for classes to go outside when it's not Forest School. The more the merrier for the RSPB Bird Watch, plus on the 18th it's Winnie The Pooh Day which is the perfect excuse to look for signs of local wildlife in '100 Acre Wood' (which may be shy of 100 Acres by quite a lot!), especially Owls and Rabbits!

National Story Telling Week slides into this term at the beginning of February, the most perfect excuse to go outside and tell stories! In Forest School, there will be the opportunity to make stick figures to use as puppets and to build a space for the children to perform stories they know and create.

February 1st is a Spring Festival, heralding both the Chinese New Year of the Tiger, and the ancient Celtic Imbolc. Dancing a Chinese Lion Dance is a great way to stay warm, and if the cold allows small fingers to weave then making straw dolls and straw crosses are a nice way to welcome new growth. Looking for signs of the lengthening days and warming earth may be a difficult hunt. Some years the snowdrops and early crocus are there as a reminder of Spring to come, other years the ground is too hard and warmer days seem very far off!

February 2nd is World Wetlands Day and is a great excuse to talk about habitats even if you don't have access to a pond or river, let alone marshes, it can be something brought up at basecamp, but is perfect for any year group looking at habitats! 

What is Half Term here in Kent, AND the following week, is time for the Dark Skies Festival. Not every National Park has Dark Sky Status, but anyone who has an after school Forest School, or whose sessions extend into those inky evenings, the websites often carry info to help with a little star gazing...

And then we'll be on the run-up to Easter. Days will be longer, the Equinox is in March, I'd like to say it'll be warmer and the weather will be kinder, but this is the UK, we've had snow in May in hail in August! But hopefully, the trees will be popping out blossom, leaves will start to unfurl, flowers will push their way up through the grass and we can drop one or two of our layers...

I have to admit - I like Spring too!

I love that smell that drifts in, the new life breaking through, and the promise of Summer. I like all the seasons, all for different reasons. I see the annoying in each, but I enjoy the good in them all also.
As each rolls around I think it's my favourite.
Perhaps it's because I'm outside all year, all weathers..?

Meanwhile, here we go - Winter 2022 - frost, mud, icy puddles, mud, wet socks, mud, inappropriate clothing, mud, campfires, hot chocolate, snuggly blankets, dens, birds, and fun!

Oh, and did I mention mud???

NB: All images taken straight from google with Shutterstock references still left on!