This term the children have been looking for the different autumn colours that can be seen on the woodland floor and high up in the trees. We talked about how the leaves change colour and why they fall off the trees. The classes also noticed that there are some trees with leaves that don’t change colour and fall off. They saw how the fallen leaves come in many different shapes and sizes. Gathering up as many different coloured leaves as they could find, the children used them to make themselves a leaf
crown.

As a group we have talked about how tricky it can be at this time of year for birds to find food. The children have been able to help them by making bird feeders to hang up around the woods. This was done by first filling the gaps of a pinecone with lard and then rolling it in birdseed. Using a piece of string, the feeder was hung from a branch ready for a hungry bird!

The bug hotel, which was built a long time ago, has sadly fallen apart. The children have worked together to remove the old pallets and put new ones in place. This was rather tricky as the pallets were a little heavy, but with some great teamwork they were soon stacked in their new home. The classes have started to fill the gaps in the pallets with sticks, grass, dry leaves and pine cones.

This term we have been joined by a selection of woodland teddies; a badger, a hedgehog and a squirrel. The teddies went off to explore the woods and the children made little homes for them. Badger’s was low down on the floor and Squirrel’s home
was high up in the trees. There has been a lot of fire lighting practice using a flint and steel. It was great to see those that found it easy helping and offering great advice to those that were struggling a little with their striking. Once the fire was hot the classes have been able to enjoy a hot chocolate and a s’more.

The Impact of Forest School for the children is the knowledge they have gained from the Forest School experience. This can be seen through learning new skills, tools used, art and craft activities, observations and knowledge of the fruit, plants and trees in relation to the seasons.

3 December 2025

10 December 2025

The children in Hedgehogs (East Hoathly Primary School) joined Willows for a sunny adventure to Eastbourne beach.

After arriving on the grass way up above the beach, the children made their way down the zig-zag paths carefully listening for the sound of the waves as we got closer.

Once on the beach the children listened really well as we talked about how to stay safe while at the beach. Their knowledge was great when they were asked why we have these rules.

As it was high tide the children made a ribbon kite which they could then hold up high and watch the ribbon wriggle about in the breeze above them. They did this by attaching different coloured ribbon to the top of a length of Willow and, with a little guidance, they were able to tie the ribbon on themselves. When the ribbon kites weren’t being used the sticks were stood upright in the stones, they looked wonderful blowing in the wind together.

In pairs, the children were given a scavenger hunt sheet to help them explore all the different things that can be found at the beach. They looked closely amongst the stones and discovered a selection of shells, a rather large pile of very dry crispy seaweed and lots of patterned and stripy stones. While looking through the stones one child came across the leg of a crab and a ball of whelk eggs.

After lunch, the tide had gone out enough to expose some sand so the children made their way down the beach with buckets and spades. They enjoyed digging holes and used the sand they had dug out to build a wall around the hole. Then they went back
and forth to the sea gathering buckets of water to try and fill their hole before the water all soaked away. Others enjoyed splashing in the water’s edge, running away back up the beach as the waves broke so that their feet did not get wet. However, the water is speedy and this didn’t always work so some children’s feet got rather soggy.

The two classes finished the day sat in the sunshine with a twister ice cream before making their way back up the slope from the beach and back to school.

Oaks were keen to start their session today with a game of Eagle Eye. One child is the ‘eagle’ in the nest ready and waiting to catch out any of the other children who don’t make it back to their hiding spot quickly enough.

A group of children helped to get the fire ready so we could cook a small feast. As there was a new pupil in the class who hadn’t been to Forest School before, the children were asked to talk through the process of laying and lighting the fire. They did really well. Using their striking skills it wasn’t long before the fire was going. The children then took it in turns to make pizza inside a flat bread, wrapping it in foil before placing it on the fire. It didn’t take long for the cheese to turn all gooey ready to be enjoyed. As it was their last session, the children also roasted a marshmallow which they placed between two chocolate biscuits ready to be eaten.

The class decided to move an existing den. Working together they transported all the materials to a new corner location. They added boundary lines using long branches that stretched out in two different directions from the main den. Great team work!

Some children chose to create some beautiful leaf printed pictures. First they choose a leaf, then using a sponge they covered the back of the leaf in different coloured paints. The leaf was then placed onto a piece of paper and rubbed all over. When it was peeled away, the shape of the leaf, showing all the veins and markings, was left on the paper.

Today session was finished with another game of Eagle Eye.

The Impact of Forest School for the children is the knowledge the children have gained from the Forest School experience, this can be seen through the skills gained, tools used, art and craft activities, observations and knowledge of the fruit, plants and trees in relation to the seasons.

Once down at Forest School a group of children helped to get the fire ready. They went through all the stages together and gathered the equipment needed. After they had laid the fire, it was time for them to practice their lighting skills using a flint and steel. It didn’t take long for some of the children to light their piece of cotton wool, before helping the children that found it a little harder. When the fire was nice and warm, the children took it in turns to roast a marshmallow, which was placed between two chocolate biscuits ready to enjoy!

The slack line was put up today, however the top line that the children normally have to help them balance was not put up. Today they had to make their way along the slackline with only two sticks for support. This is a lot trickier than it looks but the children managed really well.

Using any natural materials they could find, the children were challenged to work in teams to construct a den that was as watertight as they could make it. Once they had finished building, the children got inside and water was thrown over the dens to see  how watertight they were. I feel that a few more materials may have been needed as there were quite a few soggy children!

A black and yellow stripped chrysalis was found on the metal cupboard down at Forest School. After having a good look at it, the children told everyone what they thought it could be. It has been put in a safe place and we will wait and see what it is when it finally hatches.

Chestnuts finished their session today with a game of Eagle Eye.

The Impact of Forest School for the children is the knowledge the children have gained from the Forest School experience, this can be seen through the skills gained, tools used, art and craft activities, observations and knowledge of the fruit, plants and trees in relation to the seasons.

The group today started by gathering all the materials needed to make some additions to the mud kitchen. Their aim was to build a new storage rack for all the pots and pans.In pairs, they used a post rammer to bang in two posts, which were set a pallet width apart. Then they placed two slabs between the posts to help keep the pallet off the ground. The pallet was wedged in between the posts with screws added to help hold itin place. Working together they painted the new storage rack, which looks amazing!

The group had fun moving branches and a selection of fence posts from one side of Forest School to the other to create a couple of new dens. Some of the wood was rather long so the children had to work together to transport it.

Remembering how to lay and light a fire safely some of the group helped to get a fire going. The older children, who had done this many times before, lit their cotton wool quickly before offering help and advice to the younger ones that were finding it a little trickier. Once the fire was going, the class were able to come in a few at a time to roast a marshmallow. This was then placed between two chocolate biscuits ready to be enjoyed.

The Impact of Forest School for the children is the knowledge the children have gained from the Forest School experience, this can be seen through the skills gained, tools used, art and craft activities, observations and knowledge of the fruit, plants and trees in relation to the seasons.

Oaks started their session today with a game of Eagle Eye, with one ‘eagle’ child in the nest ready to catch out any child that didn’t make it back to their hiding spot quickly enough.

After the game, the class were given a container of cream to shake as hard and fast as they could with the hope of turning it into butter. They took it in turns to shake the cream and it wasn’t long before they had achieved this. They all tried some of the butter on a cracker, which was really enjoyed by as many of the children came back for seconds and thirds!

Some of the class chose to practice their whittling skills to make a pencil from a length of Willow. They did this by using a knife to remove all the bark from their stick and then added a point to one end. Using wool, they learnt how to tie a whipping knot which added a soft handle decoration to their pencil. Next the children crushed up some charcoal and coloured chalk and added a little bit of water to make a paste. The paste was great for drawing. The children were very creative and used the paste with their pencils to face paint each other.

There was plenty of free play on the slack line, practicing their balancing skills and bouncing their friends. They were also creative in the mud kitchen cooking up all sorts of muddy dishes.