Forest School is new to GreenFest 2022. Join our qualified Forest School leaders, bushcrafters and nature experts, as they deliver a wide range of educational sessions that will teach us new skills, arm us with knowledge and have us seeing the world around us in a different way.
All of the sessions at our Forest School are free, but some have a maximum capacity. These sessions will be bookable on the day, so make it the first thing you do to head over to the Forest School meeting point, located at the top of the Shop Orchard, to sign up to the sessions you want to join.
Please note: These are not drop off sessions. All children under the age of 12 must be accompanied to sessions by an adult.
All of the sessions at our Forest School are free, but some have a maximum capacity. These sessions will be bookable on the day, so make it the first thing you do to head over to the Forest School meeting point, located at the top of the Shop Orchard, to sign up to the sessions you want to join.
Please note: These are not drop off sessions. All children under the age of 12 must be accompanied to sessions by an adult.
TO BOOK A SPOT ON A FOREST SCHOOL WORKSHOP:
Head over to the Forest School meet up point on GreenFest day.
Head over to the Forest School meet up point on GreenFest day.
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Build your own Birdbox
Put together a birdbox for tits made from re-purposed wood, to take home for your garden wildlife to enjoy. The bird box components will be pre-cut and drilled so that they are easy to screw and glue together. You'll be given information on where best to site the birdbox along with what birds you should expect to see using it. There will be hammering so parent/carer supervision will be required! |
Whittle your own spoon
Leader: Robin Killingsworth, Hampstead Norreys Number of sessions: Drop in Session times: 10am-1pm, 2pm-5.30pm Capacity: 8 at any one time 
This local bushcraft expert will be on site all day, showing visitors how to whittle their own spoons. What a great souvenir to take home from your day at GreenFest. This workshop is recommended for ages 8+ though with parent help and supervision, Robin is happy for younger children to participate. Robin |
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Dissect an Owl Pellet
Owls are an indicator and umbrella species and their presence and population size is an indication of the health and balance of their ecosystem and its biodiversity. Our owl expert Lu will share fascinating facts about the local owl population, how to protect them and field your trickiest questions, while you dissect and analyse your owl pellet to uncover what the owls have been munching on in this neck of the woods and what this reveals about the local food chain. You'll also have the opportunity to meet 4 different breeds of owls: a barn owl, a tawny owl, a little owl and a long-eared owl. |
Moth Mania
Butterfly and moth expert Dr Marc Botham, will answer all your questions, as together you investigate the haul of moths caught in the moth traps we'll have set up on GreenFest eve in three different habitat locations around Hampstead Norreys. He'll also talk us through the different moth traps used and how we can become citizen scientists and collect valuable data in our own gardens. |
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Clay Faces
Juliet, a qualified early years teacher and forest school leader, will kick off her workshop with a story telling of Mama Africa to to inspire our nature artists. You'll then set to work on your nearest tree, creating a character or face from clay and collecting nature's finest ingredients to bring your artwork to life. |
Nature Walk
Join our naturalists for a wander through Hampstead Norreys wood. They will share their vast knowledge about the plants, trees and fungi that inhabit it and you'll soon find out there is more to them than meets the eye. |
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Compost Secrets (For pots and happiness!)
Learn about making your own garden compost and how to create the best growing environment for your seeds, by adding special ingredients to potting compost. You will have the opportunity to create your own mix and take home a collection of newly potted seeds. You'll also learn about the benefits of working with soil and how it holds a key to feeling happy. Lara runs Botanic Shed School of Nature. Botanic Shed offers courses and retreats which focus on the benefits human contact with nature, be it in your garden or your local woods. The courses are combined with holistic healing and mindfulness practices. |
Badger Antics!
Learn all about badgers and how these fascinating creatures behave! They only come out at night – and when they do they have some funny antics! This fun session will begin with a child-friendly video that shows badgers and cubs playing, grooming, foraging, making up their bedding and “talking” to each other (yes they do talk!). Then, it's your turn to be a badger and re-enact all that you've learned. |
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Damper Bread (with a serving of bats!)
Charlotte, a Forest School leader at Braziers Park, will have her fire pit in tow. She'll be showing workshop participants how to mix up and cook damper bread on an open fire - great skills to pick up for the next camp out. But how do the bats fit in? While the damper bread is cooking, Charlotte will give a short talk on bats including what to do if you find one grounded or injured. |
Power of Play (For adults and children)
Play builds imagination and creativity. It fosters cognitive growth, encourages independent behaviour and delivers emotional and behavioural benefits. And its not just for toddlers. Charlotte will give advice, tips and tricks on how to make sure you're incorporating plenty of play time into your week and the benefits it will deliver both you and your child(ren). |
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Apple Juicing
At this hands-on, drinks stall, you'll have the chance to get your hands dirty scratting and pressing the apples yourself to make a tasty juice from locally grown apples. Apple juice is available to buy throughout the day. |
Bug Safari with a Pro
Join insect conservation lecturer Chris Foster and some of his students, for a bug hunt like no other. Exploring the woodland, meadow and waters by which the GreenFest Forest School site is located, you're sure to find out more about what lives there, what's missing and how to build environments to support these vital creatures. |
We'll be posting more activities and confirming timings so keep checking back!
