Exciting news, you might have noticed some new willow dens popping up next to the trim trail!

We learnt from Mrs Stott that there used to be willow teepees in this area, but they had become very overgrown. These have been cut back now, and the cuttings have been used all around school to build new tunnels, dens and the bird hide. What clever recycling!

Hugo had a lesson in how to build using willow this week. Check out the videos and photos below.

The fascinating thing about willow is that the cuttings start to grow again once they are planted back into the ground!

We have noticed this with the willow tunnel behind the Y2/3 building. Can you see on the photo below that all the buds are now growing straight up? This tells us that the cutting is alive and growing again. So keep a close eye on the willow structures around school, they may change shape as they start to grow!

We used the seek app to identify that this is called goat willow.

This week Ellie (Y2) and Hugo (Y3) quizzed our landscape gardener Jack on all of the amazing work he has been busy with around our school grounds. Check out the photos and videos below.

Thank you Y6 and Miss Whiteley for letting me accost you for photos while you explored all the new features of our school grounds. There have been so many changes!

On our nature walk this morning, Hugo found some tiny secret doorways!

We’ve heard that Y6 have been helping with this project. I wonder if they know who has moved in?

Keep your eyes peeled around school everyone, and let us know if you spot the doors, or who lives there!

Today our Y3 bubbles took up the whole school challenge and went on a search of the school grounds for the first signs of spring. We found new buds, daffodils, primroses, singing birds and a brand new pond! Jack our gardener patiently explained all the features of the new pond designed to help wildlife to thrive. We hope some frogs might find their way there before long!

Last week the children were asked to think about the wildlife living in their gardens and local woodland. They used their detective skills to investigate which animals had visited by looking for animal tracks. We identified birds, horses, dogs, foxes and even a deer! From looking at the pictures clues below, can you match the tracks to the animals?

This week in forest school we have been noticing the signs of Spring and looking at animal habitats as many animals prepare for their babies to arrive. Children have been spotting and making different animal habitats during their walks. Karrem (Y2) watched a swan building a nest and spotted lots of mole hills! Ellie (Y2) discovered a natural hedgehog home and then decided to make her own in her garden. Mr Magnall shared a video of the changes happening in his frog pond, where he counted 40 frogs busily preparing for Spring!  https://forest.aceprimary.uk/2021/02/28/monsters-in-the-swamp/

Saanvika (3S) has shared with us that while on a walk with her mum she noticed
flower buds, leaf buds and small plants growing suggesting spring is here!

Great job Saanvika, thank you for sharing your photos!

Debora (3S) has sent in this fabulous video of a bird box she spotted on a bike ride through the woods. How loud are those birds!? Great nature spotting Debora, thank you for sharing!

As the season is starting to change and the weather is warming up (a little), this week’s whole school challenge is to notice the signs of Spring. This is a very exciting time of year, when we notice so much more ‘life’ appearing around us! This spotter sheet will give you some good ideas of what to look out for. What else have you noticed?

Please leave a comment or send us an email at: forestschool@allertonceprimary.com