So, last Monday was the start of the Holiday Club which has never been more popular in the history of Grass Roots and Treetops Forest School. Working parents have been really glad of 9-3pm outdoor provision and it appears to have been seen as a bit of a life saver for many. It must have been really challenging for many families who have been home schooling as well as trying to work during 'lockdown'. So I am delighted this club has been purposeful for parents as well as children. We have a few places left at our Knaresborough site but have a waiting list at Cawood, near Selby. I have been preparing with Siobhan for the last two months; re-writing policies and procedures, advertising, deciding on the themes for the day and which resources we need. Siobhan has cut about 200 pieces of willow for bows and arrows and I have coppiced a hazel tree at Eastmoor Community garden in Wakefield in order to get enough hazel to make primitive weapons. I managed to rope my partner, Nick into helping with the coppicing which he did enjoy but was actually quite hard work even for two!
Wherever I can in life I like to do good things. By this I mean getting involved in a process that makes a difference. This may sound a bit corny but it genuinely makes me feel good to do good and not always for a tangible reward. The Eastmoor Community Garden project is a really good example of this 'cycle of good'. The garden is made up of lots of small allotments and a gated garden, grassed area, pagoda, wild flower area and beautifully kept individual gardens growing a variety of veg and other plants. The project aims to create a nurturing green space for local schools and the wider community to enjoy. It really is a lovely environment and with a small budget has transformed an over grown inner city area, where fly tipping was commonplace, into a thriving sustainable growing space. The hazel woodland that has been grown there is now really well established and in need of coppicing. This will increase the amount of light coming through on to the woodland floor and increase biodiversity of flora and fauna in the wood. Hazel is a really fantastic wood to use at Forest School because it is usually long and straight and is easy for young children to split with a traditional tool, such as a froe, or some use a billhook (although this is traditionally used for cutting hedgerows.)
Children will be using this hazel to make primitive weapons, namely a spear, at Forest School this week so it will be put to a really good use.The process of coppicing the hazel tree has meant that I have a really good source of hazel for the children to use whilst improving the health of the woodland which will help the project and the families that use the garden and children will have something to remember and keep forever that they made at Forest School. Hazel grows really quickly so it is a good species of tree to coppice.
Coppicing is a form of woodland management, I learnt a bit about the theory of this technique during my Forest School training but had to do some fast reading in order to get it right for when I went to Eastmoor Community garden. Coppicing should be done every seven or so years and the process involves cutting the tree down to a 'stump' measuring about 20 cm. The tree had been coppiced before as it had the tell tale multiple trunks growing up from one 'stump'. I made sure that I cut the wood on an angle so that the rain water will drain off. The wood that was harvested will make about 60 spears! It was really surprising how much wood there was from one tree and how much light it brought in onto the woodland floor. I chose a tree that was in the centre of a circle of others in order to benefit as many surrounding trees as possible. My plan is to get in contact with our local Forestry England officer and put a rotational plan together for the rest of the wood. So all good sustainable stuff! Nick loved it because it was chopping wood and he was able to indulge his primitive need to chop wood... think it might be a man thing? I will be sure to put some pictures on Instagram and Facebook of the creations that children have made from the hazel. I just hope mums and dads are prepared for spears to be kept inside, possibly in bedrooms for the next few years at least! I hope you will say yes, especially now you know the process of where the wood has come from? The hazel will start to sprout shoots from the 'stump' which will re-grow into multiple trunks and branches over the next seven years.
I will leave you with a few photos of my first coppice and also the news that I may possibly be starting some family Forest School sessions at Eastmoor Community Garden project in Wakefield. I am currently working with Incredible Edibles in Wakefield to get funding to put some sessions on for families who have children with additional needs, such as ASD (Autistic spectrum disorder) and their siblings. So if you think this is a great idea, or you have a child or know a child/family who would enjoy some sessions in the woods to free play in this lovely green space in Wakefield, then let me know by commenting below or text/ring me, whatever you prefer. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you found it interesting. Please let me know if you have any questions or topics that you would like more information on. Happy to help if I can, Sally x
