Mining Bees

Apr. 25, 2016 by

We were noticing lots of mining bees in the sunshine last week so I thought I would find out a bit more about them. They are solitary bees and the females burrow nests under the ground which can be down

Wood Allotment Scheme

Mar. 8, 2015 by

I’ve been volunteering this morning for the Woodland Trust, Mersey Forest and the Friends of Spud Wood this morning in their wood allotments.  They have had a contractor in to fell some of the trees to thin the plantation out a bit, allowing

Trophic Cascades

Trophic Cascades

Oct. 15, 2014 by

Eh?  What?  Trophic cascades?  What’s that then? Forest school has helped me to understand, and even to notice, the natural world around us.  It is great to see children with their enthusiasm start to take an interest in the wildlife

Forest School and sustainability

Forest School and sustainability

Jul. 29, 2014 by

Woodlands provide a rich and stimulating environment for learning.  There are a wide variety of natural materials available for children to use.  The environment is constantly changing in obvious or subtle ways depending on the time of year, time of

A small snapshot of child lead learning at a Forest School

A small snapshot of child lead learning at a Forest School

Jan. 23, 2014 by

At first glance it looks like nothing, but this is something which provided the children with a lot of enjoyment and learning and cost nothing. Leah said to me she had made a dragons house and would I like to

All About British Woodlands

All About British Woodlands

Nov. 7, 2013 by

It is widely thought that the ‘native’ species of tree in Great Britain colonised our islands after the last ice age, before the formation of the English Channel around 8,000 years ago.  They gradually colonised from Europe as the climate

Spangle Galls

Spangle Galls

Oct. 30, 2013 by

Nature is amazing! Some of the children (and adults) were looking at these. – Spangle Galls – Some tiny wasps (cynipid wasp Neuroterus quercusbaccarum) lay their egg on the oak leaf, puncturing the leaf and activating it’s defences. The leaf