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].
Term 6
GRASSES AND GRASSHOPPERS Warren Farm, Wilmington
A: 5th June
B: 12th June
Collect the seed heads of as many grasses as we can find. Learn techniques for grasshopper finding, tell them apart from crickets.
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES High and Over, Alfriston
A: 19th June
B: 26th June
Up on the Downs, looking for our amazing butterflies, and examining the moths from the moth trap. Make some butterfly art.
ROBIN HOOD Abbots Wood, Arlington
A: 3rd July
B: 10th July
Tell the story while discovering what Robin would have used from the woods for feasting, camouflaging, tying up enemies... make a bow and arrow.
SUMMER GATHER For both groups, 17th July, 10.30-12, £5 per child, a picnic campfire and chance to chat and play. Warren Farm.
Term 1
LOVELY LEAVES The Nest, Wilmington
A: 18th Sep (5-7yr)
B: 25th Sep (7-10yr)
Learn your leaves - make a book of the trees at The Nest, make leaf baskets to hold a fire-cooked snack, look at colour change, use the microscopes to see the leaf cells, make a leaf pendant.
ACORN ADVENTURES The Nest, Wilmington
A: 2nd Oct (5-7yr)
B: 9th Oct (7-10yr)
Collect acorn cups and melt beeswax to make miniature candles, try cooking with acorn flour, find the jay oaks and plant some oak trees.
FANTASTIC FUNGI Abbots Wood, Arlington
A: 16th Oct (5-7yr)
B: 23rd Oct (7-10yr)
Our annual visit to an ancient woodland - this time we will start the process of making paper from bracket fungus!
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: 3rd 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.
GRASSES AND GRASSHOPPERS Warren Farm, Wilmington
A: 5th June
B: 12th June
Collect the seed heads of as many grasses as we can find. Learn techniques for grasshopper finding, tell them apart from crickets.
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES High and Over, Alfriston
A: 19th June
B: 26th June
Up on the Downs, looking for our amazing butterflies, and examining the moths from the moth trap. Make some butterfly art.
ROBIN HOOD Abbots Wood, Arlington
A: 3rd July
B: 10th July
Tell the story while discovering what Robin would have used from the woods for feasting, camouflaging, tying up enemies... make a bow and arrow.
SUMMER GATHER For both groups, 17th July, 10.30-12, £5 per child, a picnic campfire and chance to chat and play. Warren Farm.
Term 1
LOVELY LEAVES The Nest, Wilmington
A: 18th Sep (5-7yr)
B: 25th Sep (7-10yr)
Learn your leaves - make a book of the trees at The Nest, make leaf baskets to hold a fire-cooked snack, look at colour change, use the microscopes to see the leaf cells, make a leaf pendant.
ACORN ADVENTURES The Nest, Wilmington
A: 2nd Oct (5-7yr)
B: 9th Oct (7-10yr)
Collect acorn cups and melt beeswax to make miniature candles, try cooking with acorn flour, find the jay oaks and plant some oak trees.
FANTASTIC FUNGI Abbots Wood, Arlington
A: 16th Oct (5-7yr)
B: 23rd Oct (7-10yr)
Our annual visit to an ancient woodland - this time we will start the process of making paper from bracket fungus!
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: 3rd 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.
[email protected] 07887 556336