Mama Beech

I hate being ill. I know that no one actually likes it, but for those of us who provide Forest School, being ill usually means an extra little bit of chaos, as there may not be anyone to step into our role, so the organisational fallout of being off sick is something we try hard to avoid! Being outside keeps most of the viruses that circulate School at bay. It strengthens the immune system of the Forest School Leader as well as the children, so luckily for me getting sick is fairly rare. Yep, I get headaches, and everything-else-aches, and the odd cold, but fresh air and over-the-counter painkillers seem to mean 'soldiering on' is easily possible.  This week was a disastrous week for germs to finally catch up with me. It's the last week of term, Celebration Week, a week of campfires and treats, and I did head in ready to do 3 marshmallow toasting sessions, but only survived the morning before I had to retreat home to the duvet... and a sick bowl. When Covid-19 was at its h...

The children and I have been trying to put together a 'podcast'. This will inevitably end up more of a soundtrack to accompany photos of Forest School, but the chatting part of it has been recorded in the school radio room and I've aimed to step back and let different children voice their opinions. This isn't easy. Children can be shy, can struggle to explain themselves, and love to go off at a tangent when talking! Often I have had to ask a question to encourage the end of a long pause or interpret a facial expression or a shrug! The one thing I haven't had to do is prompt, maneuver, or insist they talk about Forest School. Each child has been enthusiastic, some stammering in desperation to get their point across, some quiet and considered, but all those involved have had valid observations and thoughts on what sessions mean to them.  I make it clear they can tell the recording what they like or dislike, they can include any small groups we have branched off into ...

One of the things I love about going to other Forest Schools is having a look around their site.  Isle of Scilly Forest School For those of you with an education background you'll know how enticing it is, it's like getting to sneak a peek at another school or classroom! For those who have visited friends in a new house, it's like getting to look around the whole thing! Yes, it probably does mean those of us who understand this are a little bit nosy, but it also means we're great at squirreling away ideas! There is no judgement of good or bad involved. Just a mental acknowledgement of how each has managed to incorporate a basecamp, or dealt with storage issues, or provided a shelter, or gets equipment onto site. It's a way of gathering information and ideas to use ourselves! Forest School takes place outside, but that may well be the only thing two settings have in common. Yes, the more nature that is involved the better. Established grass, trees, bushes, mud, plants...

I have no idea why we British are surprised when it snows!  Let's be honest, unless it's Christmas Day when you can actually put money on the Met Office saying it's NOT a 'White Christmas', wintery weather can hit at any time. Not only is March snow fairy common, but sleet in August isn't unheard of! However, we never seem prepared for it. Nationally, the infrastructure isn't there. Some counties rely on farmers clearing the smaller roads, many councils wait till the last minute to grit the main routes, and no one knows whose responsibility the pavements are! It countries used to snow there are standard understandings - clear your own path and the pavement in front of your building, grit the same area for safety. Councils own snow ploughs and many other vehicles have then fitted when needed. Even in Scotland there is a fleet of snow ploughs waiting to make routes passable. South of the border it slowly dwindles until even a small amount of snowfall brings li...