Playwalks on Thursdays meeting in Swainswick, Term 1 2011

Gentle guidance through the countryside by an experienced explorer, Thursdays 10 - 12. Written by Barney.  Scroll down for photos.




1st Dec:-
The last meeting in the lay-by and we were joined by Ellen who brought young Daniel and little Joseph. We headed for flat camp. Daniel was the oldest child and he helped me lead everyone up the lane and into the field of freedom while I chatted to his mum.

We set a lovely fire in camp and the children played freely around the area. Charlie helped everyone have a safe go on the rope swing. Three children found a nice view and just stood and looked for a while out onto the amazing valley.

Claire requested the “Walking in the woods song” which Milo had been getting her to sing all week. There was great delight as the children’s innocent eyes looked out from below the cover. William sang a lovely seasonal song with great confidence. We had delicious food and drinks as usual and finished our morning with toasted marsh mallows. 

24th Nov:-
Ben and Jack were so well behaved for our road crossing and we were soon at the kissing gate and enjoying the field of freedom. Luca was back with his brother, Milo, taking everything in from his sling carried by mum, Claire. Jack and Billy got to know each other a bit more. We came across a big muddy swamp and were delighted at throwing big stones in and making splatts.
We arrived at the top of a steep bank which would take us down to flat camp. I took out a climbing rope and everyone embraced the challenge of easing themselves down. We used a method of running the rope behind us and using our top arm to carry our weight. Jayne adjusted the rope at the bottom according to the climber’s height. Wonderful achievements...proper climbing.
We found an old fire-pit and quickly made ourselves at home. We all collected string, pencil and thumb sized sticks and soon had a warming fire. Milo tested the rope swing. Jack and the boys were more interested in pushing and catching it. To avoid it hitting their heads I moved it out of reach and they took turns at bashing the swing seat with long sticks. We had lovely food and refreshing tea while the children played.
Susie and Billy had to leave us to go swimming and they waved goodbye at the top of the bank. We soon had to leave ourselves and made easy work of climbing back up and out of camp. We threw one more massive rock into the swamp after a countdown 5,4,3,2,1 SPLATT.
Nov 17th:-
Ashia brought along William today and Steph came with Robyn. Also Poppy and Mum, Georgie joined us on this beautiful sunny winter day. We had planned to go to ‘flat camp’; but as we wandered through the sun-drenched valley we looked over at ‘that area’, in shade, and decided to stay in the light.

We felt warm and happy. We enjoyed a lovely picnic and jasmine tea. Everyone made magic string and tied it to short sticks of hazel. A gibbous moon was in the blue sky and we talked about knowing where the sun was by looking at the moon. Ladybirds visited our camp, we found mushrooms and watched a pair of hunting buzzards. We agreed to remember today’s weather in the coming weeks of more challenging conditions. Leo and Rosie led us home.

Nov 10th:-

After a smooth operation at the meeting place, we all arrived safely at the field of freedom. Twenty of us including FIVE men. WOW.

Climbing with great skill over a stile we made our way down some higgledy-piggledy steps into the valley. We arrived at a cross-roads; some of us went down the easy way, most of the men chose the steep slope. Adventure.

Jack enjoyed following the tracks made by cattle and other humans. The path-ways led us to a beautiful oak tree where we gathered acorns, some of which were sprouting after a mild start to winter.

The children had spotted some steps in the trees; up we went and made our camp by an ancient walled area, with a pretty ash tree. Charlie, Indra’s Dad, cut a pole of hazel to make a seat for the rope swing. Leo was the first on to test it, and was pulled up high. Some of the children enjoyed climbing the walls and were higher up than the adults.

The fire was going well and we had hot drinks with our picnic. The ground was strewn with stones and boulders, but gradually everyone became acclimatised to the environment. We soon had to pack up and stroll back. Everyone helped each other get home safely.

Nov 3rd:-

We were joined today by three generations of a lovely new family: Young Robyn and Billie with Mum, Susie and Grandad Alan..

It was trying to be sunny but was more grey. We were trying to meet at a beautiful place but weren’t quite. After safely crossing the road, with the roar of heavy vehicles on the by-pass, we walked beside a beautiful autumnal show from a bank of young beech trees with their gold and bronzes leading us up to the field of freedom. Once through the kissing gate Jack and Ben immediately set about exploration and play.

Jack traversed the edge of a steep hill and all the adults helped him everyone safely down the bridle way. An idyllic view opened up in front of us and we strolled into the lush, green valley. Cattle grazed over the way and stories were told about being invaded by cows. We climbed up a slippery bank and set our camp.

There were no low branches strong enough for the rope swing so some of us had a game of tug-o-war which was started Leo. Jack and his brother climbed a mu-slide leading up to an ancient field maple who’s roots made shapes for imaginative play. “Can I go in the boat?” With Ben half way up his brother roly-poly’d treacherously past. Then he went up and did it all again.

We made a small fire away from the mud slide. Everyone collected sticks the sizes of String Pencil and Thumb. Susie helped me start the fire with a flint and blade. All the children practiced identifying where the back of the fire was and carefully putting on fuel. We talked about being calm and safe.

I cut walking sticks for Robyn, Billy, and Josh, who’s hazel had a v-shape on the top... a proper walking stick.

There was a lovely birthday celebration for Jack and Ben. We even had the Stevie Wonder version which I enjoyed singing with Rosie.

The drizzle turned into a deluge ending our time at camp. We all helped each other up a short cut and came out on the lane. The rain made streams down the hill. I joined Jayne and Jack in some puddle-splashing and then everyone was in puddles and experiencing the extremes of the weather and the PLAY. We all enjoyed shouting encouragement to Sarah and Josh; to which Sarah playfully said she couldn’t hear. 1,2,3 SARAH! JOSH. As a team, we stuck together for a safe road crossing. Ben let me give him a shoulder ride back to the cars. Thoroughly drenched but happy.