Summer gifts Favourite flowers I've been often asked, "What is your favourite flower?" and it does vary from roses to irises to daisies, but today it's elderflowers. The intoxicating scent that grabs you as you walk past, makes you lift your head and breathe deeply... delicious in itself but it invites the promise of elderflower cordial, ice cream, apricot and elderflower jam. This year I've even made Elderflower Turkish Delight . It's so easy in our busy lives to let these seasonal treats come and go, despite our best intentions. I always try to make something from each season, for the joy of tasting elderflower ice cream on a grey February day takes me right to the sunshine and scents of today. Get the tribe together, search out rose petals and elderflowers, and rowan berries soon, leave enough for the wildlife, but make something to bottle the sunshine and summer days. COMING EVENTS Finding the words Tuesday 7 June 1-3.30pm Taking inspiration from The Lost Words books and songs, we will build a treasure chest of words, images and natural objects. Play with words, focus on a particular plant or animal from the Bluebell Wood, and create your personal response. Browse the library of wildlife, folklore and landscape books to pick out imaginative ideas. If you have a favourite piece of writing to share, do bring it. Write on leaves and wood - write with leaves and wood! Immerse and inspire. Includes a hot or cold drink by the campfire. £9 per child, 9-15, accompanying adult free; Interested adults without children - £9 Bluebell Wood, Arlington Wood wildlife Tuesday 5 July 1-3 Home ed special Discover who lives in the Bluebell Wood! Exploration, clue hunting and games, focusing on squirrels, foxes and mice - but who knows who else we might find! Take home a little wildlife booklet to which you can add your own findings. Drinks for all. £9 per child, 4-9, accompanying adult free Bluebell Wood, Arlington Brilliant bugs Tuesday 12 July 1-3 Home ed special The invertebrate life of the Bluebell Wood is fascinatingly rich - come and rummage under logs, on leaves, in the pond, in the meadow to find as many different kinds as we can. Investigate and research and make a model bug to take home. £9 per child, 4-15, accompanying adult free. Bluebell Wood, Arlington Dino day Friday 5 August 10.30-12 Back by popular demand! Follow the footprints to find the dinosaurs hiding in the woods! Examine fossils and learn where to find them on the Downs. Make a dinosaur swamp for the creatures and create your own fossil to take home. £9 per child aged 2-9 Bluebell Wood Dragons and dragonflies Friday 5 August 1-2.30 Follow the clues to find the dragon of the woods! She is guarding some special treasure - can you be a brave knight and conquer the dragon and win the prize? We might be able to cook the treasure! We will investigate the small dragons of the wood - the dragonflies - and make a dragonfly to take home. £9 per child, 2-10, accompanying adult free. Bluebell Wood, Arlington Camp and cook Tuesday 16 August 10.30-12 Build a cool camp from branches and leaves with a lookout tower, secret entrance, table and flagpole. Help to light the fire to toast buns, cook popcorn and other treats, and enjoy them in your den. £9 per child, 3-10, accompanying adult free. Bluebell Wood, Arlington Bugtastic Tuesday 16 August 1-2.30 Investigate under logs, in the fields and in the pond to find all kinds of creatures. Make a model bug from clay and woodland materials to take home. £9 per child, 4-10, accompanying adult free. Bluebell Wood, Arlington Wands and potions Friday 19 August 10.30-12 Find the magic wand tree in the woods and create your own very own wand. Discover the potion patch and make a delicious drink to enjoy, whilst playing with the fairy houses. Cast a spell to keep the woodland fairies safe. £9 per child, 2-10, accompanying adult free. Bluebell Wood, Arlington Blackberry baking Friday 19 August 1-3 Help gather some blackberries from the woods and hedges, and learn different ways of lighting the fire. We will make blackberry crumbles and squash, and make toast to enjoy with blackberry jam. £10 per child, 5-14, accompanying adult free. Bluebell Wood, Arlington Autumn events will include family fungus hunts, Room on the Broom, and more camps and cookouts... To book, email
[email protected] Adults must accompany children - free unless otherwise stated WOODLAND PLAYGROUPS Looking ahead to September, there will be spaces at the woodland pre-school groups, if you would like to join us for year-round adventures! Bluebell Club runs Fridays, 10.30-12 and 12.45-2.15; Acorn Folk runs on Tuesdays, 10.30-12 For 2-4 year olds and their grown-ups, we explore the wildlife, tell stories, create crafts and relax under the trees with drinks and books. It's lovely! For more information see www.cherrywoodadventures.co.uk/learning AFTER SCHOOL GROUPS From September, there will be a handful of spaces at the after school club at Motcombe school, for Y1 and Y2, on the Wednesdays or Thursdays. For more information, please email
[email protected] Flourish and grow. See you in the woods. Sarah www.cherrywoodadventures.co.uk 07887 556336 www.facebook.com/cherrywoodadventures
