In September 2024, we started working with Bucklesham Primary School as a Wilder School. Ash Class (year 3 & 4’s) and their determined staff, took on the challenge. While learning about wildlife and how it needs our help, they also decided to create their own Forest School area, where their whole school could learn about wildlife and take part in Forest Schools. They worked so hard, used their imaginations, determination, patience and muscles - dug 2 stag beetle stumperies, created a minibeast mansion, bird boxes, hedgehog homes, willow arch, log circle, willow tee-pee, a long grass wild area, leaf piles and a potentially record breakingly long, dead hedge! All complete with signage! Not only did they do all this, but they persuaded parents and the PTFA to raise funds to buy equipment for Forest Schools and a shed to keep it in. With their teacher half way through her Forest School Leader qualifications, also with Suffolk Wildlife Trust, the school is now well on it’s way to becoming a real Forest School!
Yesterday we decided to celebrate all this hard work, we carried on creating – using our now expert skills of whittling, sawing and lopping, but we also had fun! We made den’s and we learnt how to make a fire spark with a fire steel and then made a fire (despite the wind) to make celebratory smores! These were enjoyed by all - young kids and big kids (staff and volunteers)!
Perhaps one of the most touching stories of the year has been working with a child who suffers with extreme anxiety, particularly around fires. Not only did she trust us enough to watch us start the fire, she even had a go with a fire steel to make a spark and stayed by the fire while a friend toasted her marshmallow – yesterday when we shared our final thoughts, she was brave enough to share how proud she was of herself by overcoming her intense fears. Everyone cheered. This is the power of Forest School and community.
What this school have achieved over the last few years is really inspiring. This is just the start and they have many more plans and dreams, but to spend the time with them creating their Forest School community, for generations to come has been a privilege. Thank you Bucklesham Primary!
