Mama Beech

So far, I've had one of those good weeks when everywhere I look there seems to be more evidence that Outdoor Learning is not just important but essential. It's something I believe - hence the job - but often it's not a pedagogy shared by all. This week started with a weekend that celebrated both the Spring Equinox and International Forest Day, both of which were barely acknowledged on social media let alone any other kind of media! Both are days that ought to be celebrated in schools. The Vernal Equinox especially is a definitive acknowledgement of time that for millennia humans looked upon to follow seasons and define the passage of time. It pre-dates religions as we know them, it's universal, and it's all-inclusive. Understanding it means basic geography and science, includes maths and links to representation in art and writing and PSE links to how it makes you feel.  The same can be said of Autumn Equinox, Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice. Each marks a season...

I love a Snow Day. By that I don't mean a day off work because the commute has become epic, I mean a day outside in, or after, a decent snowfall!  It's not something that happens too often in South East England, and when it does it rarely lasts, so when the temperature dropped at the weekend it was exciting! Sunday is not a Forest School day - or a School day for that matter, but it was a busy day for children as they ventured out into the snow that had fallen overnight, and was still falling! There was a lot of fun had by all. Children and their families were out with a sled, or a tray, or anything they could find that would slide down a slope!  People finally saw their wider communities, socially distanced, but in the same parks, on the same commons, doing the same things, side by side in shared celebration of snow!  Children who have spent much of this term stuck in front of a screen were outside from 9am until the sun went down. Outside in the fresh air. Outside ...

Everyone's life is still upside down! School's have to react daily to ongoing changes, many Forest Schools are closed, parents & carers are both working from home and supporting remote learning, and it looks like nothing will change until March 8th... It can be stressful, and despite the fact that we are over 10 months into this fluctuating situation , it's definitely unknown territory to navigate! Throw in a bit of understandable fear about jobs and income, childcare and health, and school life and home life can feel unsettled, even for the children. The only thing that remains constant is their want - and need - to play. As adults we see play as down time. Play is our hobby, it's our leisure, but for children it's their main source of learning, and as necessary as breathing! Grown ups see play as unproductive, even though we may expect colleagues to 'play with that idea' and come back with something productive, it is what we do when NOT working.  For a...

Lockdown has been devastating for a lot of Outdoor Learning providers, forest schools are just a small section of sports and activity clubs/events that are on hold right now. The regulations make it either logistically impossible or financially difficult for many of them to open. Schools that are signed up to providers, or employ staff to facilitate outdoor learning on school grounds are in a very lucky position. Their sites remain open and outdoor learning is easier to run within their own risk assessments while catering for Vulnerable/Key Worker children.  Can you spot the free range children in this picture? But normal service has not been resumed ! In January 2020 we had three 2hr long full sessions of Forest School running per week. We also had a gardening club, and assorted outside interventions that meant various small groups were working on the Royal Forestry Society Junior Forester Award , the RSPB Wild Challenges , the RHS Campaign for School Gardens , and the Woodland...

  Is it me or does this year not feel particularly new?!  So far 2021 is a hangover of 2020. Not much 'out with the old and in with the new' to celebrate! Where as January is usually filled with the determination (and struggle!) to make changes for the better, this year it's overwhelmed by a want and a need to get back to the norm. I know for a lot of Forest Schools Lockdown means shut down - and I am so sorry that small businesses offering such a amazing opportunities to children are having to take a step back. I'm also heartbroken at how many children will be missing out on those opportunities. There are pros and cons to running a Forest School within a Primary School. Working around other peoples timetables and, for some, working with other people's themes and plans can be difficult and frustrating. But many have at least managed to continue to provide sessions because they are based on a school site. In Lockdown March 2020 we kept minimal staff on site and the r...

Dear Santa, for Christmas please may I have a mini JCB digger because my back, hands, and for some reason my elbows, hurt from digging holes to plant Fruit Trees in!  And if Santa can throw in some new trowels and garden forks it would be much appreciated as our rocky ground has literally broken 5 tools this month! Our site is more flint than soil it seems, so even with the help of the children it's a nigh on impossible task!  Having spent most of this term planting 400 Woodland Trust Trees you'd imagine we were at least used to forging these holes in our challenging site! However the fruit trees are a lot bigger 'baby trees' and need substantial space to bed in. As it is we're running out of Term and they need to be settled into their spaces before school closes till January. In between digging for England there was the small matter of Forest School Celebration Week. We always end the term with a week of campfires and treats. This Term it celebrates the previous ex...