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& That's a Wrap: 2024 with Ways of the Wild
- Ways of The Wild
- Dec 18, 2024
- 8 min read
Midwinter is but an ear shot away from us now. The short days and long nights will soon shift and return us back to the light half of the year. Much of our wildlife has already found their place to bunker down until those most treasured days of early Spring warm the earth, the water and the skies again. Yule is a time that marks the darkest point in our solar cycle. Here, we look forward to what is to come, back at what has been, but most essentially we look at where we are now. It is not by mistake that gift-giving is so frequent during this time. Winter offers us a wonderful opportunity to be still, with plenty of time to love, to think and to create. Embrace this wholeheartedly: frozen fingers, rosy cheeks & all.
We've had the most amazing year with you wild and wonderful folk and can't wait to show you what we've got planned for the future. So, without further ado, let's look back at Ways of the Wild's 2024...
Community Picnics
We began the year with our first Community Picnic, the Re-Launch Lunch, to say hello after a long Winter break.
Our Community Picnics were born from our desire to marry some of our favourite things together: sharing food, learning new skills and bringing people together outside. Each Picnic focused on a different theme or skill. We learned about the history of wool, felting, lippan art, where clay comes from, small-world building, tying knots and storytelling. Our Community slowly grew and best of all, we got to meet more of you in an environment that felt so natural. Conversations floating over hands busy at craft, or busy at tucking into a feast. Children and families of different ages, all meeting because of a shared interest in being together. Beautiful. Really we have no words.
Thank you <3
Holiday Programs
As expected, our holiday programs are a huge highlight for us. We had the May Wild Creations Week, Summer Holiday Program and October Wild Week. That's 6 weeks of Forest School fun in Ravenscourt Park because you legends decided to book your children in with us. And thank goodness you did! We got to meet some absolutely amazing children this year, and welcomed back even more familiar faces (which is SO special for us!).
Thank you to everyone who put their trust in us this year, whether your child was with us for a day or a month. We hope to see you all again in 2025!
Foraging Walks
With the addition of Katie to the Ways of the Wild team, we created an event to enable this community to gain a deeper understanding of the natural world around them: Foraging Walks. These slow-paced adventures took Ways of the Wild out of Ravenscourt Park and into the unexplored territories of Burgess Park. Katie loved sharing knowledge of something that she is really passionate about, and was honoured to have been a part of your journey from "everything is just green/a weed" to "I never knew this was all here/what is this one called?".
Pop-Up Mud Kitchens
This year was also the start of our Pop-Up Mud Kitchens. We had been trying to come up with a free event that we could provide for the community, so that regardless of one's financial situation, children can access a space that encourages wildness and free play. Similarly, the Mud Kitchens are there to be used as a stepping stone to get to know us. We understand that signing your children up for a session with an independent business (especially an all-outdoor one) might not be the easiest thing to do without putting a face to a name. Many people that we met at our Mud Kitchens this year have now become dear friends of Ways of the Wild and we always look forward to seeing you!
Birthday Parties
We have had the absolute pleasure of celebrating birthdays with many of you this year. After lots of collaboration with parents, trialling different formats and jiggling bits and bobs around, we've finally arrived at a Forest School-Inspired format that we're proud of. We love that parents are looking for an alternative way to celebrate their child's special day, and as the year has gone on, we've been doubling down on bringing nature-centred play and fun to each party. Like why wouldn't you learn how to filtrate water with the natural materials around you at your child's seventh birthday party?!
Little Wild Ones: Stay & Play
Our Little Wild Ones: Stay & Play group has been such a joy for us to grow this year. We trialled it in Summer and officially began in September. Two hours a week of nature-based crafts, mud kitchens and movement has created such a lovely bond between our regular attendees, and it has given us so much encouragement to expand what we can offer in the future.
Our last session of 2024 is Thursday 19th, 10:00-12:00 in the Conservation Area of Ravenscourt Park, so if you've been thinking about attending please come along. We're going to be making wreaths and playing with some fake snow ~ see you there!
Forest School Association Conference
We had the amazing opportunity of meeting fellow practitioners at the Forest School Association Conference in September. Katie and Esme hosted a workshop about connection with the outdoors through song and movement. We accidentally made a mini choir and shared our voices and songs with everyone around the campfire, which is an experience that we'll never forget. We're already looking forward to the next Conference and would love to keep making connections with other Forest School practitioners (so if that's you, hello!).
Forest School Sessions
And last but not least, from this September we started working with Schools and Nurseries to provide Forest School sessions to their students!! This has been a wonderful challenge working with different ages, and getting to know different sites around London. If your child's school or nursery doesn't currently offer Forest School sessions and you would like them to, drop us a message or pass on our details and we can see if its something that we can facilitate.
What's happening at Ways of the Wild in 2025?
Our events page has been looking a little empty lately as we've switched back to our old booking system, Bookwhen, following your feedback this year about Wix's clunky booking process. We are in total agreement, it was a nightmare and we hope that it can be smooth sailing from now. So, we've waved our magic wands and cleaned things up a bit. You'll find all of the information about our events on our Events & Clubs page, but all of the bookings will be made on our Bookwhen site.
Community Picnics
For the second year in a row, we welcome you all back with a Community Picnic on Sunday 2nd February, 11:00-14:00.
Community Picnics will look a little bit different this year. To emphasise the Community part, they will now operate on a Pay-As-You-Feel basis. All we ask is that you bring some food or drink to share at the communal table, and then your ticket price is completely up to you. We want this event to be even more inclusive, and a regular gathering for all who want a deeper connection with nature and each other. We'll still be teaching crafts and skills, and welcome people to share their own (including musical talents, yes please and thank you). All ages are welcome, families, friends, grannies & maybe a dog or two if it's okay with everyone else...
There will be 8 Community Picnics in 2025, each influenced by the turning of the year and the different themes, stories and elements that are present and can be explored.
Little Wild Ones: Stay & Play
Our Stay & Play sessions will continue from Thursday 16th January, 10:00-12:00, as always. As the weather warms up a little more, we're looking to open up a 45 minute playgroup session, especially tailored to the under 2s (more news on that to come). We're still working on convincing the council to let us have a fire on site. Until then, we'll provide hot drinks and as always, you are welcome to bring whatever food, drinks, blankets etc. to make you and your little ones comfortable during the session. Expect more nature crafts, mud kitchens and the freedom to explore our little nook of Ravenscourt Park.
Holiday Programs
We've got all of your school holidays covered next year with our first February Wild Week coming up from Monday 17th - Friday 21st February, 9:30-15:30. Half days for the little ones (3-5 year olds) and full days for everyone else (5-11 year olds). Bookings are open, and you can get a 5% discount if you book before midnight on 31/12/2024 by using the code FOREWARDTHINKING. This discount will also apply to all of our other holiday programs, so if you want to be Super Organised, you can even book our April (7th-18th) and May (26th-30th) Wild Weeks too. We've got some beautiful crafts and activities already lined up, so add a waterproof suit and some super fluffy gloves to your Christmas list and let's get these kids outside!
Wild Women Circles
As three women working outdoors, we're big on empowering others to get outside and connect with their wild side. This doesn't look the same for everyone. But what it is vital, is creating a safe space for women to try something new, without fear of judgement and patience to support and allow the learner to lead the way.
For International Woman's Day, we will host our first Wild Women's Circle on Saturday 8th March!
There will be talks, meditations, movement, art, bushcraft, music and food.
We are super grateful to the amazing women who have already committed their time to this event and we're so excited to share more information with you.
This will be the first of hopefully many Wild Women Circles that we will organise throughout 2025 and beyond.
Foraging Walks
Foraging Walks will return in Spring as we set out on the very exciting mission of finding and harvesting wild garlic. Katie knows a spot in North West London but if you know of anywhere closer to you, please let us know as we're always looking for alternative parks to explore as part of this Nature Nerd Club.
Pop-Up Mud Kitchens
Look out for our monthly Pop-Up Mud Kitchens. The first is on Sunday 19th January, 11:00-13:00. We've been basing ourselves just outside of the North Playground so more of you lovely folk can see us, but we may try different locations in Ravenscourt Park in the new year, just to keep things a little interesting. So keep any eye out emails and our social media to see where we are.
Earth Day - Community Clean-Up
The last thing to put in your diary for now is our Earth Day event. To give a little love back to the Conservation Area, we're organising a Community Clean-Up. This will also be a space for you to voice and brainstorm ideas of what you'd like to see protected and transformed on the site. There will be refreshments, and we're always down for a communal food table if you are!
Saturday 26th April
11:00-14:00
The Conservation Area,
Ravenscourt Park
Come armed with a mug, your garden gloves and some secateurs.
That's all for now. Another HUGE thank you to everyone that has supported us this year, whether that be from afar via social media or by joining us in the woods. We cherish you all and can't wait to keep making magic together in 2025!
Have a wonderful Winter holiday and we'll see you in the New Year!!
Lots of Love,
Jay, Esme & Katie
The Ways of the Wild Team
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