BLOG

Search

The May Recap: Newsletter 03/06/24

Ways of The Wild
Jun 3, 2024
6 min read

Updated: Jul 1, 2024

It's been a rainy old May but we've still found plenty of reasons to be outside. It can be easy to fall into a grump that we don't have the sunshine that this time of year normally brings us, but all it takes is a moment of watching the bees, busy collecting nectar and dispersing pollen, to remember that the buzz of Spring moving into Summer that we are looking for exists, rain or shine.

Speaking of bees, Katie came across one that for whatever reason - lack of sun, too much rain or not enough flowers - had grown tiresome and was walking around instead of flying. Bees need warmth to do what they do best. We humans can help them on their journey; being warm-blooded animals and also absolute giants to them. So when they are cold, our skin can offer them heat, and when they are tired, we can offer them a helping hand, moving them to a flower that may otherwise take them a long time to reach. So that's exactly what Katie did! - extending out a friendly hand to a friendly little bee. The fuzzy fella remained still on her hand until it got closer to a cluster of elderflowers. Suddenly, the bee became like a dog with zoomies - clearly so excited to clamber onto such a banquet of sweet treats.

... So, whilst the sun may not be out, we can find light and warmth in the things that we see and do.

What we've been up to at Ways of the Wild this month:

>> Wild Parties are back and better than ever! Despite writing them off at the beginning of the year, we continued to receive requests for Forest School parties...

So... We gave in... And we're so glad of it!

We've tweaked our model and have loved seeing new people engage with elements of a Forest School setting under the umbrella of celebration. We're talking mud kitchens, scavenger hunts and plenty of wild play.

If you or someone you know would be interested in an outdoor celebration, check out our Parties page for more information and drop us a message or email to get the ball rolling.

>> Our third community picnic, Magic Is Moving In, brought together a sweet cohort for a higgledy-piggledy afternoon of scavenging for sticks, flowers and special stones, a wholesome lunch (complete with grape caterpillars and neon green sandwiches) and a short introduction into some wonderful knots that can assist us in creating miniature worlds or large-scale structures. There was sun, then there was rain, then there was sun again.

We wanted to say a huge thank you to those who came for not letting the showers dampen your mood, enabling us to see the workshop to the end, resulting in a wonderful knight's castle and turtle treetop house, and a gorgeous clay beach, fashioned with shells and drinking cups for fellow travellers.

Our community picnics were created to allow like-minded families to come together, to connect with each other, to connect with the Ways of the Wild team, and to learn skills and crafts that are often taught to children. There is as much for a child to learn out in the woods as there is for an adult. Furthermore, we wanted to create an event that allows you to learn together!

They happen once a month, so if you couldn't make the last one, there will always be another.

>> And, most exciting of all, our Wild Creations Week!!

We've had four days of fun, and we couldn't be more glad to have had them with some truly wonderful folk! It has been an absolute gift to meet you (again and again) and Katie would like to extend her gratitude to you all.

We started every day with adventure walks around the park, to allow the children to get to know each other naturally - through movement, through play, and by following the curiosities and encounters that happen when one goes on a walk. We met mallard ducks, moorhens, squirrels, goslings and coots. We found Secret Tunnel, Pride Rock, Tree Stump Classroom, Giant Tree and Fallen Tree. Our trusty wagon came with us every step of the way.

The afternoons were focused, delving into a different craft each day.

On the first day, we ground, chopped and soaked plants and minerals to see what colours we could extract. We spoke about pH and watched as red cabbage water turned pink with lime juice and blue with bicarbonate of soda. Plant by plant, we managed to create all of the primary and secondary colours. Paintbrushes mixed new colours together and cloth and yarn were steeped and stained.

On the second day, we sat in circles around the smallest of plants with the biggest of secrets: medicine! We met Yarrow, and through role play, a Volunteer Wounded Warrior was shot by an arrow, and rescued by our Young Medicine Keepers. Here we learned of Yarrow's ability to slow bleeding (and how much fun it is to learn through play!).

On the third day, we discussed where clay comes from - pondering why some earth is as hard as rocks and why some is as slimey as seaweed. We used plants from our morning scavenge to decorate and adorn our masterpieces - some children entirely enjoying the process of sculpting and re-sculpting, whilst others made item after item after item. There were crabby patties, frog incense holders and stones buried for future treasure hunts.

On the fourth and final day, we learned the timber hitch knot. Soon ropes were drawn high and sheets thrown and pegged to create tunnels and homes. The role play commenced almost immediately as two rival camps emerged, fashioning gardens, boundaries and electric wires with string and yarn. There was a Queen, two Princes and a Kingdom Guard (an ingenious role that allowed this certain someone to cross into both camps without raising any alarms)...

What a week!

& there's more being conjured up as we speak... So... Stay tuned!

What's happening at Ways of the Wild in June?

We have a few events happening this June that we'd love to see you at! Come have a look...

>> Sunday 2nd June - Foraging Walk with Katie <<

New to Ways of the Wild is a monthly Foraging Walk, led by our resident plant mama, Katie. The world of herbal medicine and wild food is slowly revealed as you are invited to take a closer look at the more-than-human beings that we walk, cycle and drive past every day... Totally unaware of the potent healing and nutritional properties that these plants offer...

Yesterday's Foraging Walk brought us to Burgess Park in South East London. We were blessed with sunshine and smiles. Our new foraging friends were introduced to the Honourable Harvest, plant energetics, to a slower, mindful way to move through the green, and many, many plants. We spoke of Achilles and Yarrow, Teasel and Wool, and Why Dock Leaves Are Kind Of An Antidote To Nettle Stings And Kind Of Not...

The Walk finished with some well-deserved cold drinks and food from the park's lovely cafe, a few hugs from some friendly dogs, and some Wes Anderson-inspired videography. It was a great start to what will hopefully be a well-loved addition to our Ways of the Wild Offerings.

The next Foraging Walk will be on Sunday 7th July - and will occur on the first Sunday of every month. We would love to offer this workshop to families and children too, so if this is something of interest, please drop us a message expressing that so we can work towards this!

>> 16th June - Father's Day Special <<

Not sure what to gift a fab dad this Father's Day?

Join Ways of the Wild's second Father's Day Workshop. This year we'll show you how to make a butter knife, getting to know a few tools and all the knowledge you'll need to keep you and your little one(s) safe throughout the session (and beyond!).

You'll be in the very capable hands of Jay, with either Katie or Esme also due to join! Pack a lunch and dress for any weather!

>> 23rd June - Nature's Palette - Community Picnic <<

Ever wanted to experiment with pigments and potions?

Start your journey alongside us and some new friends for June's Community Picnic, Nature's Palette. We had great success during the Wild Creations Week in creating vibrant and soft-coloured dyes and we want to share the fun with our wider community too!

Let's break bread under the trees and let loose our inner child to craft forest fabrics and paints.