Kids Bushcraft at Tigh Mor

Brilliant bushcraft session today. Young Alice, Sophie, Neil, Thomas and Emily all enjoyed the activity (especially the pig nut digging, wood sorrel lemonade and marsh mallows). Mum's and Dad's had Douglas Fir tea as their refreshment. Despite the wind we managed a group shelter/tarp too.

Wood Sorrel with heart shaped leaves and droopy white flower in the Spring. Don't eat/drink too much due to the oxalic acid in it and always check further if you have any medical conditions.

Sorrel Lemonade

• Gather about a handful of sorrel, add it to about 2 pints of boiling water and let it infuse.
• Leave to cool
• 'Sodastream it' optional!

Forest Hills Activities

Magick Wands

Great wands made in Merlin's cave/corridor at Forest Hills this bank holiday Monday.

From Left: Annabel's Hazel, Camille's Oak, Harry's Rowan, Joseph's Oak, Samuel's Oak (and mini wand!), Caiden's Rowan, Tierney's Silver Birch and Jacob's Hazel - big brother got a wand for his birthday too.  You guys went before I gave out your spell making scrolls, if you didn't get them at Reception visit www.nixinnature.co.uk for a copy. (Website launch later this week).

Bat Walk

The first bat walk of the season here went well too, loads of bats hunting above the pond.  We met a lovely family who we are later taking out for Bushcraft as it was rained off (although after we cancelled it, there was not a drop of rain - typical)! Dave made a great bat although he hugged his victims rather than eating them :-).

Magick Wands at Tigh Mor

Luckily we were making wands indoors today at Tigh Mor as it was hoofing down!  The new magic makers were keen to get going with the spells so these lovely magical tools should help them with their wishes.

From left: Thomas & Elsa chose Hawthorn, Sophie & Neil chose Hazel.

Alice chose Hawthorn too, which was quite ironic her Mum said as this wand can help teach the importance of patience!

Wacky Forth Races

Despite a bit of rain overnight the river was still low enough to race the rafts - just as well as there were ten rafts this week which meant I had to get in the river too. Thanks to everyone who entered, really creative rafts :-).



From Bottom;

•  Darah - Ninkinpoop III
• Jasmine - Elizabeth
• Leah & Angus - Daz
• Isla - Titanic II (1st Place - no icebergs to negotiate just rocks)!
• James & Cara - Tank
• James & Cara - Flower Power (here's one I made earlier)
• Adam, Marcus & Katie - Sweet Relief
• Lucy - Milk Float (3rd Place)
• Zara & Lois - G56
• Erin, Finn & Katie - KFE Bottle Craft
• Calum, Lois & Matthew - HMS Rubber Ducky (2nd Place)

A much slower race compared to last week with some needing a little nudge out of the roots and rocks.

Cara & James made 'Flower Power' - very pretty and designed to attract the faeries!

Cobleland Activities

Well, it's tipping down right now but the sun did come out for a lot of the weekend, just to prove it here's another nice picture of the bluebells near the Douglas Fir trees.

The weekend started off with the Chocolate Quest, Jasmine and Darah (aka Chaos & Mayhem) are getting a dab hand at this.  This week's quest involved answering questions about bats.  If you get a question wrong after hunting for the chocolate ticket in Teapot Wood you have to do a forfeit - they are not all bad though!

Teapot Lodge is nearly finished, just the roof to thatch and a door.

Jasmine's forfeit was to hug a tree, not really a forfeit as it's always a good thing to do :-). This Willow tree will be more than happy to get a hug!

 



Bushcraft & Survival

Here's Will explaining the edibility test for plants to the group - just for survival situations and never for mushrooms! Also, as a young lad, I think James, stood on a young Rowan tree Will had to explain about the dangers of uprooting or cutting down this superstitious, magical tree.

 

 

 

We managed to avoid the rain on the Dusk Walk and saw lots of bats amongst the trees.  We had to go out quite late though, it wasn't even dark at 10:30 when we finished, so well done kids for staying awake!

Magick Wands

Lovely wands made in the tent this week, we need to work on a spell to keep the midges out of the tent though!

 

Wands from left: Abby's Hawthorn, Andi's Rowan, Isla's Hawthorn, Angus's Hazel and Leah's Hazel.

Wacky Forth Races

'Wacky' was pushed to the limits this weekend after all the rain in the Wacky Forth Races.  Four lovely rafts were made, but despite Will's efforts in saving them at the finish line, two escaped, one was later captured but Jasmine's raft was off to Edinburgh - there was no stopping it!!

From Bottom; Zoe's winning raft 'Zoe The Cheeky Monkey, Josh's Devil Warrior got caught up not crossing the finish line (may have been something to do with the 'evil plan tactics' of spearing the other rafts :-)), Darah's Ninkinpoop Version II came second with Jasmine's 'Jasmine Elizabeth coming a close third.

Here's Darah and Jasmine just before the traumatic race, but there were prizes for all to help cope with the stress of it all!

Cobleland Activities

Despite the rain, we still managed to have fun in nature - in fact it made the bluebells smell even more amazing!

Will keeping himself busy making 'Teapot Lodge' in Teapot wood - I can fit in it haha!

I wish I caught Will's face when he first pulled this out of the ground on the Bushcraft session! It's the biggest pignut we've ever found and tasted yummy :-).

Fraser's lovely Hazel wand, complete with gems and a spiralling snake.

 

 

We got some bats on the Dusk Walk, unfortunately the midges too but the bats love 'em. This means we will be starting the bat walks next week.