Happy New Year from the woods!

2021 REVIEW

What a busy year! 

The Branch Out team worked with several primary schools throughout the year, forming great connections with the children and staff, developing school grounds and getting to know some lovely woodland sites. We also ran a Year 7 lunchtime club at Ullswater Community College in the community garden- our first chance to work with secondary pupils.

Our popular Under 5s' group met weekly during term time on Wednesdays and Fridays through the spring, summer and autumn.

Our fabulous volunteer group made great changes and improvements to our sites, with two new shelters established, paths created, rubbish tidied, fruit trees pruned and conservation work started on the pond. They have now been going for over 12 months and we are so grateful for all their support and hard work behind the scenes.

Ray Mears came to Birkmere in October to run a Bushcraft course for Forest School Leaders. This was an amazing opportunity and participants had a wonderful time, leaving full of inspiration to share their knoweldge with the young people they work with.

In December we had the pleasure of working with some of the local NHS mental health team for a wellbeing session. They came for a morning of activities including making wreaths, whittling, making natural firelighters, boiling water with a Kelly kettle and chats around the campfire. It was a lovely relaxed morning, which we hope to repeat in the spring term.

WHAT'S ON IN 2022?

This January, we resume our Forest School sessions with local primary schools. We will be continuing to work with Penruddock, Calthwaite, Brunswick Road, Plumpton, Raughton Head, Wiggonby and Warcop and look forward to spending some wintry sessions building dens, playing games, cooking on the fire, fire-lighting and many other adventures...

Our Under 5s' parent and child sessions will return after the Easter holidays (w/c 18th April) and run during school term time through to November. More information can be found on our Facebook page and website nearer the time (see links below).

We hope to make some time for some family sessions in 2022, with potential for bushcraft workshops for children and adults. Watch this space! 

A BIG THANKS 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved with Branch Out this past 12 months. Without your interest, support and involvement we wouldn't be able to offer the life enhancing opportunities that being in the woods provides for us all.

Wishing you a playful and adventurous year ahead. 

Branch Out team x