Funded by BIG LOCAL RADSTOCK
NATURE CONNECTION
through the ARTS
Woodland Exploration, Movement, Circus, Visual Art, Dance.
Improving mental health, motivation, social skills and aiding recovery from trauma and the impact of Covid.
ST MARY'S PRIMARY SCHOOL
WRITHLINGTON
May, June, July 2021
St Mary's were the first school to take part in this pilot project. Year 6 were lucky enough to have weekly outdoor workshops exploring self-awareness through art, discussion and movement sessions set the woodland of the school grounds. They are 'buzzing' reports their teacher.
Year 6 transition is a challenge, but the Year 6 of 2021 have been deprived of many of the 'rights of passage' that they have looked forward to and seen all the other Year 6s grow into as they become the top year in the school. This project is for them a new 'right of passage' where they listen and are heard, experiment with new ideas and activities, try things on for size.
It is a privilege to work with a class not under the usual pressure of curriculum goals, targets and judgements, that characterise much of school life today. Here there are different criteria: respect and curiosity, and non judgement.
The aim is to build on their sense of acceptance of who they are, to give them a resilient state of mind and tools to support themselves and each other as they go forward into secondary school.
CHILDREN'S CENTRE
RADSTOCK
May, June, July 2021
The Children's Centre needed more outdoor Forest School for toddlers so this was perfect for them, I ran 8 sessions behind the Swallow Cafe. The weather was glorious and we enjoyed the long grass, mowen by the rector into pathways for the children to follow, and played amongst the flowers - truly idyllic.
Here are a few photos.
Details of the WILD WOODLAND WORKSHOPS
WWW for mental wellbeing
This BIG LOCAL project is now finished
Project Detail:
Outdoor all-year-round encounters with nature, facilitated by ex-circus performer and English / Drama teacher Angela Hill.
Using science, movement, art and nature itself, children experience themselves as part of nature rather than separate from it. Mud and bluebells, insects and sunshine will co-exist in their woodland classroom. Learning to be resilient and open to embracing their feelings, to support each other and explore their own physical bodies as part of nature.
Children are invited to explore the environment through their senses and physicality, to explore the what is means to be safe in the woodland, among the trees, learning to balance assessing risk with being brave. Through activities like building den, using tools, painting, sculpture, movement or circus the children will encounter themselves, their bodies, their creativity and their questions.
This project is kindly funded by the Big Local charity, meaning we can offer this pilot to school at no cost!
Flexibility offered to schools:
- One-to-one sessions, small groups or classes (1-15 pupils)
- Nurture groups, SEBD, ASD, ADHD and all SEND welcomed.
- Within walking distance of school
- For whole days.
- One day per week or ad hoc specified weekly dates.
- Term by term or for a whole school year.
Separate sessions are now available through the GP or Health Worker for whole-families who would benefit. Schools can also contact GPs to suggest families who would benefit.
Wild Woodland Workshops Research Project
This aims to evaluate and specify ways in which children's mental health, behaviour and attitudes are affected by this nature connection opportunity.
Why are we doing this?
There is increasing concern over the ever-diminishing freedom of children to experience nature and simply play outside, which has diminished further over lockdown. Schools are the main source of what is considered safe outdoor play space. The opportunity to learn to measure risk and experience physical challenge is limited at school for many understandable reasons. Woodlands and outdoor wild spaces are places where children can exercise and develop their ability to assess risk and feel free, but the opportunity to be safely in such places is rare.
The freedom to be in outdoor place exploring and playing after school or at weekends has been integral to childhood until recent years. Part of the aim of this project is to introduce local children and their parents to their local outdoor wild spaces.
What has replaced outdoor play?
Screen use was at worrying levels and has surged by 50-60% since lockdown, many primary age children are spending 5 hours plus on screens (www.forbes.com/sitesellenwartella /2020). The recent Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study found that those spending more that 2 hours on screens scored lower on all language and cognitive tests.(www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml)
The aim of this project is to interrupt the normalcy of sedentary behaviours by introducing an experience of the outdoors which is supported and safe, but is dynamic and exciting. Although there are sports, scouts or other outdoor activities for children, often they are either not available or not affordable for children. This project aims to build confidence created through self-expression and exploratory opportunities by introducing adventures in nature to a tranche of children and young people who would otherwise remain indoors.
Creating community as well as opportunities for growth, is key to this project especially by introducing children and young people to their local natural places. Angela Hill is a philosophy graduate and has observed through years of Forest School that children like to explore complex ideas through conversation when in the outdoors. The more democratic relationships between teacher and pupil when out of the classroom encourages children's confidence to share ideas and opinions. Opportunities for young people to practice listening to the opinions of others and express their own, is an invaluable element of education and building community.
If your school, community or health centre would like to take this opportunity please use the link below or call 0790 6330697.
