Welcome back to our monthly editorial blog post where we recap the exciting events of June and unveil the thrilling updates for July. Join us as we highlight the memorable moments, successful initiatives, and upcoming projects that define our community.
June Recap:
June kicked off with a heartwarming Forest School party for the delightful George, who turned three. It was a day filled with laughter, games, and the joy of being surrounded by nature. As we continued to spread happiness through the month of June, we celebrated the significant men in our lives with a special Father's Day session. Thanks to the generous support of the ASDA community fund, the event was a true testament to the importance of family and togetherness and exploring nature.
Our weekly 'Let's Talk in the Trees' sessions on Mondays and Tuesdays are highly popular events in the local community, with seats filling up rapidly. Participants have the opportunity to explore engaging topics such as exploring and describing textures and articulating the beauty of a leaf. Recently, we hosted a lively celebration for International Play Day on June 11th, where parents joined in the fun activities with their children. Remember, the enjoyable experiences shared with your children today may pave the way for their future successes, what you do at home with your children has far reaching impact on their later outcomes. The overwhelming enthusiasm for our sessions unequivocally underscores nature's role as a powerful catalyst for forming lasting bonds. Additionally, we couldn't contain our excitement and initiated the festivities for International Mud Day earlier this week. Indeed, we couldn't resist the urge to engage in mud-related activities before the official date of June 29th, as the joy of creating muddy memories knows no bounds!
Exciting news! Scientists have finally confirmed what children have always known deep down in their hearts: playing in mud is an absolute blast! The latest research reveals that dirt is packed with microscopic bacteria that work wonders for our bodies. These little bacteria supercharge our immune system and boost serotonin levels in the brain, bringing about a sense of calm and relaxation in children. In today's fast-paced world, kids are under more stress than ever, but fear not! Mud play is here to save the day. By regularly getting down and dirty, children can build up their defenses against depression. Let's all get muddy and happy together! Who knew that something so dirty could bring so much joy?!
Project Updates
June has been an incredibly busy month with another joint project starting with Growing Sudley C.I.C which has been funded by the Liverpool One Foundation. This project spans 2 years and will support children's mental health and well-being. I am currently working with 4 schools over 3 days. 2 schools are being supported to use their own grounds in a therapeutic way and 2 other schools join us on a Friday at the wonderful Sudley Walled Garden. These nurture group sessions are helping schools to develop ways to use small but useful part of their grounds. We are working with children for whom social, emotional or sensory processing can be challenging in the classroom environment, pupils show their resilience and creativity when provided with sensitive child centred activities.
The group supports children to understand how nature and spending time outside can help our minds and bodies to be healthy. The group practised grounding strategies with the help of Fiery Fox. Using mindfulness techniques they tuned into 3 things they could see, 2 things they could hear and 1 thing they could touch. They also practised controlled breathing called 'hot chocolate breathing' which linked nicely as the children were having hot chocolate at the end of the session.
The children explored all areas and activities, including clay play, den building, mud painting, a nature scavenger hunt.
July Updates:
As we enter the month of July, we are eagerly awaiting news on the outcome of the funding application for the Knowsley Youth Fund and Short Breaks. If successful, these funding opportunities will facilitate initiatives aimed at older children, such as essential outdoor after-school clubs within our community. These programs are designed to offer a reprieve from screen time and encourage a connection with nature. The potential approval of the Short Breaks fund represents a significant chance to deliver tailored sessions for the increasing population of home-educated children in the area. Additionally, it would enable the implementation of monthly Forest School sessions specifically catered to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, as well as their families.
I am currently engaged in furthering my qualifications to attain certification as an outdoor mental health practitioner. Additionally, I am preparing to commence my training to provide support for adult mental health, encompassing a license in woodwork for well-being. Despite the gradual pace due to my commitments at multiple locations throughout the week, I am deeply dedicated and enthusiastic about advancing my expertise in this field.
Conclusion:
As we reflect on the past month and look ahead to the upcoming adventures, we are filled with gratitude for the unwavering support of our community. Your enthusiasm, participation, and dedication inspire us to push boundaries and create meaningful experiences for all. Join us on this journey as we embrace the beauty of nature, celebrate life's special moments, and work together towards a brighter future.
In the spirit of growth, connection, and celebration, I would like you to join me in a warm welcome to Georga who has joined our Let's Talk in the Trees sessions every Monday as a volunteer. She is a wonderful asset to the group, a fantastic play partner and is currently studying for her own Forest School qualification. We love having Georga with us and wish her all the best with her ongoing studying.
I'd also like to say thank you to Bruno for the wonderful photographs he captured of our Father's Day special event. I have added some photos below so you can share in the wonder of our special day.
OUT OF OFFICE
It seems strange to say 'out of office' if you can call nature and outdoor spaces an 'office' but I am away for a week now and will return to our funded projects week commencing 8th July. This is the first full week I have taken as annual leave since I started working on my own business almost 2 years ago. I am really looking forward to some fun times spent with friends and family.
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