Forest Folk is a home education group for 5-7 and 7-10 year olds, meeting fortnightly in term time, all year round. We use the private woods at Arlington, a farm site in Wilmington, Abbots Wood in Arlington, together with a handful of downland sites. We look at all kinds of subjects from fossils and bones to twig identification, and we make good use of bushcraft skills.
We meet on fortnightly (ish) Wednesdays all year round during term time.
There are two groups running on alternate weeks - A and B week. From September, the A week will be for 5-7 year olds, and B week for 7-10 year olds.
It is a morning group (10.30 to 12.30)
Bookings are taken in blocks of three sessions. There are six blocks in a year.
A block is £27 per child, non-refundable if you can't make it.
We provide hot and cold drinks, but bring a snack if you like. We quite often light the campfire!
To book a place, contact Sarah on 07887 556336 or [email protected].
There are two groups running on alternate weeks - A and B week. From September, the A week will be for 5-7 year olds, and B week for 7-10 year olds.
It is a morning group (10.30 to 12.30)
Bookings are taken in blocks of three sessions. There are six blocks in a year.
A block is £27 per child, non-refundable if you can't make it.
We provide hot and cold drinks, but bring a snack if you like. We quite often light the campfire!
To book a place, contact Sarah on 07887 556336 or [email protected].
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Term 2
FIRE SKILLS The Nest, Wilmington
A: 6th November (5-7yr)
B: 13th November (7-10yr)
Learn different techniques to light a fire, learn which woods to use and make your own fire steel to take home.
WOODLOUSE HOUSE The Nest, Wilmington
A: 20th November (5-7yr)
B: 27th November (7-10yr)
Build a Lego house for woodlice! Can they find their way through a maze to the damp wood? Discover different species, investigate their legs and improve the habitat for woodlice in the field.
MIDWINTER MAGIC Bluebell Wood, Arlington
A: 4th December (5-7yr)
B: 11th December (7-10yr)
Learn about the Cutty Wren, Jack Frost, and other midwinter legends. Place a Yule log on the fire so we can cook some treats and make winter decorations.
Term 3
BIRDS IN THE NEST The Nest, Wilmington
A: 8th January (5-7yr)
B: 15th January (7-10yr)
Wrens, Robins, Rooks, Sparrows and Collared Doves all use The Nest. We will make some nest boxes and hidey places, and build a bird feeding station for them. Learn a little about each bird we see. Learn to tell your "black birds" apart, and discover which birds of prey live around here.
ANCIENT ANIMALS The Nest, Wilmington
A: 22nd Jan (5-7 yr)
B: 29th Jan (7-10yr)
If you look at the Downs from the Nest, you are looking at billions of ancient sea creatures... And dinosaurs roamed across Sussex, and later, mammoths. We will have a look at some of the fossil evidence, and create a cardboard mammoth to stomp around the field. Make a spear and try target practice!
FIRE AND ICE The Nest, Wilmington
A: 5th February (5-7yr)
B: 12th February (7-10yr)
Investigate ice crystals, build an ice tower, consider snowflakes, make icing snowflakes to eat, melt ice over your fire, make ice jewels to hang in a tree, celebrate the end of winter. This session may move to another date if we get suitably cold weather!
Term 4 dates
LONG MAN LEGENDS The Nest, Wilmington
A: 26th February (5-7yr)
B: 5th March (7-10yr)
Who is the Long Man? We will investigate his history, look at other chalk figures, have a go at carving our own. We will find other Sussex myths and legends, and write our own story to perform to the grown ups.
PLANT DYES, PAINT AND PRINT The Nest, Wilmington
A: 12th March (5-7yr)
B: 19th March (7-10yr)
We will dye some wool and fabric using natural materials, make paintbrushes from feathers, and have a go at various kinds of printing, using the landscape for inspiration.
WOODPECKERS AND BRILLIANT BEAKS Bluebell Wood, Arlington
A: 26th March (5-7yr)
B: 2 April (7-10yr)
A visit to the woods to find woodpecker holes, old and new. We will experiment with different beak types to show how birds have adapted different ways of getting food. Can you work out how to get the goodies out of the bottom of the tube without touching it?
Term 5 dates
SHEEP AND LAMBS, FELT AND WEAVE The Nest, Wilmington
A: 23rd April (5-7yr)
B: 30th April (7-10yr)
Using wool from the farm, we will have a go at felting an animal shape. Using wool that we dyed, we will create a woven panel in The Nest for everyone to enjoy. We'll learn about the sheep on the farm, and maybe get to meet some lambs.
EXPLORING SUSSEX The Nest, Wilmington
A: 7th May (5-7yr)
B: 14th May (7-10yr)
What do you need for your journey? A good stick for a start... can you tie on a bundle, for your drink, snack and mat? Where are we going? How do you use a map and compass? What would we expect to find on the way? Can you follow the clues to find the treasure?
WATER WORKS The Nest, Wilmington
A: 21st May
B: 28th May (this date falls in school half term)
Where does our water come from? Can you make a filter to clean water? What would you do in a survival situation? What is a Millbank bag? Can you collect water from inside the leaves? Can you get water from the "reservoir" to the tap without any leaks?
Term 6 dates
BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES High and Over, Alfriston
A: 4th June (5-7yr)
B: 11th June (7-10yr)
A trip to the Downs to spot and learn some of our butterflies. We can make mini kites to see how wings work and streamers to watch the wind.
NETTLES AND ROPE The Nest, Wilmington
A: 18th June (5-7yr)
B: 25th June (7-10yr)
Nettles are brilliant! We'll light the fire to make nettle tea and nettle crisps, and have a go at making string from the stems of nettles. Hailsham, just up the road, is well known as a rope-making centre, so we will have a go at making a long length of rope, using the Treehouse for help.
THE OAK TREE The Nest, Wilmington
A: 2nd July (5-7yr)
B: 9th July (7-10yr)
How old is our oak tree? How can you tell? Use a clinometer and other methods to measure the height, diameter and crown spread. What creatures use it? Explore the idea of a Witness Tree - what has this tree seen in its life? How do you look at growth rings? We will look at the history of Warren Farm and the countryside you can see from the Treehouse.
FOREST FOLK SUMMER GATHER The Nest, Wilmington
Wednesday 16th July, 10.30-12.30, £6 per child aged 4-10.
An extra session for both groups and anyone interested in joining our home-ed group. There will be cooking, crafting, swinging, browsing, games, and a chance to hang out with friends old and new.
FIRE SKILLS The Nest, Wilmington
A: 6th November (5-7yr)
B: 13th November (7-10yr)
Learn different techniques to light a fire, learn which woods to use and make your own fire steel to take home.
WOODLOUSE HOUSE The Nest, Wilmington
A: 20th November (5-7yr)
B: 27th November (7-10yr)
Build a Lego house for woodlice! Can they find their way through a maze to the damp wood? Discover different species, investigate their legs and improve the habitat for woodlice in the field.
MIDWINTER MAGIC Bluebell Wood, Arlington
A: 4th December (5-7yr)
B: 11th December (7-10yr)
Learn about the Cutty Wren, Jack Frost, and other midwinter legends. Place a Yule log on the fire so we can cook some treats and make winter decorations.
Term 3
BIRDS IN THE NEST The Nest, Wilmington
A: 8th January (5-7yr)
B: 15th January (7-10yr)
Wrens, Robins, Rooks, Sparrows and Collared Doves all use The Nest. We will make some nest boxes and hidey places, and build a bird feeding station for them. Learn a little about each bird we see. Learn to tell your "black birds" apart, and discover which birds of prey live around here.
ANCIENT ANIMALS The Nest, Wilmington
A: 22nd Jan (5-7 yr)
B: 29th Jan (7-10yr)
If you look at the Downs from the Nest, you are looking at billions of ancient sea creatures... And dinosaurs roamed across Sussex, and later, mammoths. We will have a look at some of the fossil evidence, and create a cardboard mammoth to stomp around the field. Make a spear and try target practice!
FIRE AND ICE The Nest, Wilmington
A: 5th February (5-7yr)
B: 12th February (7-10yr)
Investigate ice crystals, build an ice tower, consider snowflakes, make icing snowflakes to eat, melt ice over your fire, make ice jewels to hang in a tree, celebrate the end of winter. This session may move to another date if we get suitably cold weather!
Term 4 dates
LONG MAN LEGENDS The Nest, Wilmington
A: 26th February (5-7yr)
B: 5th March (7-10yr)
Who is the Long Man? We will investigate his history, look at other chalk figures, have a go at carving our own. We will find other Sussex myths and legends, and write our own story to perform to the grown ups.
PLANT DYES, PAINT AND PRINT The Nest, Wilmington
A: 12th March (5-7yr)
B: 19th March (7-10yr)
We will dye some wool and fabric using natural materials, make paintbrushes from feathers, and have a go at various kinds of printing, using the landscape for inspiration.
WOODPECKERS AND BRILLIANT BEAKS Bluebell Wood, Arlington
A: 26th March (5-7yr)
B: 2 April (7-10yr)
A visit to the woods to find woodpecker holes, old and new. We will experiment with different beak types to show how birds have adapted different ways of getting food. Can you work out how to get the goodies out of the bottom of the tube without touching it?
Term 5 dates
SHEEP AND LAMBS, FELT AND WEAVE The Nest, Wilmington
A: 23rd April (5-7yr)
B: 30th April (7-10yr)
Using wool from the farm, we will have a go at felting an animal shape. Using wool that we dyed, we will create a woven panel in The Nest for everyone to enjoy. We'll learn about the sheep on the farm, and maybe get to meet some lambs.
EXPLORING SUSSEX The Nest, Wilmington
A: 7th May (5-7yr)
B: 14th May (7-10yr)
What do you need for your journey? A good stick for a start... can you tie on a bundle, for your drink, snack and mat? Where are we going? How do you use a map and compass? What would we expect to find on the way? Can you follow the clues to find the treasure?
WATER WORKS The Nest, Wilmington
A: 21st May
B: 28th May (this date falls in school half term)
Where does our water come from? Can you make a filter to clean water? What would you do in a survival situation? What is a Millbank bag? Can you collect water from inside the leaves? Can you get water from the "reservoir" to the tap without any leaks?
Term 6 dates
BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES High and Over, Alfriston
A: 4th June (5-7yr)
B: 11th June (7-10yr)
A trip to the Downs to spot and learn some of our butterflies. We can make mini kites to see how wings work and streamers to watch the wind.
NETTLES AND ROPE The Nest, Wilmington
A: 18th June (5-7yr)
B: 25th June (7-10yr)
Nettles are brilliant! We'll light the fire to make nettle tea and nettle crisps, and have a go at making string from the stems of nettles. Hailsham, just up the road, is well known as a rope-making centre, so we will have a go at making a long length of rope, using the Treehouse for help.
THE OAK TREE The Nest, Wilmington
A: 2nd July (5-7yr)
B: 9th July (7-10yr)
How old is our oak tree? How can you tell? Use a clinometer and other methods to measure the height, diameter and crown spread. What creatures use it? Explore the idea of a Witness Tree - what has this tree seen in its life? How do you look at growth rings? We will look at the history of Warren Farm and the countryside you can see from the Treehouse.
FOREST FOLK SUMMER GATHER The Nest, Wilmington
Wednesday 16th July, 10.30-12.30, £6 per child aged 4-10.
An extra session for both groups and anyone interested in joining our home-ed group. There will be cooking, crafting, swinging, browsing, games, and a chance to hang out with friends old and new.
[email protected] 07887 556336