Playwalks on Tuesdays meeting at Paragon School, Term 2 2011

We meet at 10:15 by the outdoor theatre at The Paragon School for a two hour walk in the school grounds and beyond, experienced at the pace of pre-school children. Usually making a camp with a small fire, digging, exploring, picnic, green woodwork, rope swings, chat, craft activities and child-initated play. Blog written by Barney. Scroll down for diaries.


6th Dec:-
Annie came along with Steve today in her family group. He is a really nice chap with lots of experience outdoors from most continents of the world, but still with the ability to show an interest in our small, sweet section of the world. Our plan, with the arrival of colder weather was to walk more than camp. So, we decided to take an alternative route to beech camp. We set off through the challenging maze of laurel trees past the work shelter. Joshua seemed to grow in confidence as the oldest child. Reuben was happy to walk for short distances and spent some time on Steve’s shoulders as well as mine. We found ourselves on an old railway line before doubling back along the line of a fence and into beech camp. On our journey we cut two long whips of hazel, which Bethan and Joshua dragged to camp. It was wonderful to watch Joshua striding out in front; and superb that he instantly recognised our home ground. The whole area was carpeted by the crispy leaf fall of autumn and winter and we talked about this being the lightest time in a wood when everyone considers winter to be dark. With a strong, blustery breeze blowing through the area we decided to set a tarp as a wind break. The sun shone from behind it and Anna gave us an impromptu shadow puppet show. The children helped us collect “String, Pencil and Thumb” sized sticks and Steve started the fire with a single strike of the flint and steel. I had brought along a sleeping bag which all the young ones took turns at snuggling in to escape the fresh breeze. Joshua played at climbing and rope work with Steve and Reuben joined them. Bethan, Anna and Annie made bead necklaces by hollowing out pieces of elder. Joshua, Steve and Beth had hazel walking sticks made to measure. We had planned to have singing and there was a little burst of Silent Night, Holy Night. We shared lovely food and hot drinks accompanied by chat and play. Time to pack up. On the way down Bethan slid down a steep slope ploughing a course through a thick bed of leaves. Great walk, great term. We bid each other farewell and wished one another MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Nov 29th:-
Five families today, braving the forecast wind and rain. Our plan was to get up to beech camp and cook a full English breakfast.
Before crossing the brook we cut three long bamboos which Joshua, Thomas and Beth dragged up the hill. With the rain threatening we put up the basher for shelter before building a lovely fire. Everyone helped cook sausages, scrambled eggs, beans and muffins. Jenny heated up sausage rolls and Margaret handed out cheesy pizza.
The children made red flags with rip-stock and the bamboo canes. Thomas and Joshua again vied for position on the climbing tree and warned Will not to come up, (for safety reasons). The children finally found the treasure tree, which looked like a tuning fork. We dug up the treasure, excitedly, with Thomas pulling it out of the ground and Will opening the lid. Inside were ancient coins, which we shared out. There were also two candles which might help with our fires on another day. We sang a song for the little ones, which Bethan and Daisy seemed to enjoy.
The children helped put out the fire and the adults all helped to pack up camp. The young ones sped off in front and could hardly be stopped on the way back down. We gathered by the steps for team photos which would be so sweet to look at and remember in the future. It was Jenny and Thomas’s last week as he is off to the Antarctic before starting school next term.
Good luck Thomas and THANK YOU for coming on Playwalks.
Nov 22nd:-

Annie, Joshua and Reuben were back with us today, even though J had been a bit under the weather. We decided that a nice relaxed walk would be best so, after a quick play on the wooden train, we headed for ‘beech camp’.

At the start of the path we headed up Edward’s new steps. Thomas found a long stick and he kindly gave to me, which was useful to steady me as I had Reuben on my shoulders. Arriving at the top the ground was strewn with beech leaves and nuts like a golden carpet. Annie pointed out how the area seemed much larger with the arrival of Winter’s light. I had planned to show people some simple knots, but the activity turned into climbing. Joshua and Thomas vied for position on the climbing tree and I spoke to them about keeping three points of contact. Bethan and the boys broke a large, dry branch by wedging it between two trees and pushing...CRACk, HOORAY. Anna allowed Asha to sit on the forest floor; it was wonderful and she looked like “nature girl”.

There was some nice cooking on the camp fire and we made hot drinks, while the children enjoyed sharing Annie’s fruit smoothie. We all agreed that we should one day cook a full English Brunch. Jenny made cooking sticks from hazel whips and toasted muffins on them, served with butter... luxury. There was lovely chat as we had pudding of malt loaf and marshmallows. The children helped put out the fire and we strew the moistened embers in all directions. We hid our traces by sprinkling leaves on the area. 

We meandered back down to the brook and planned for next week, which was going to be Thomas and Jenny’s last session.

Nov 15th:-

What a journey lay in front of us, particularly for Ava who is only nineteen months old. We helped each other through a tangle of laurel branches. Over, under and out to a tunnel that echoed our voices as we passed under it. Thomas turned over stones and we watched a beetle scurrying off. We tried to move a massive boulder, all pushing, but it was “too heavy”.

Ava spent some time asking to be picked up by mum, Sue, who was trying to get her to walk more by herself. We all understood and supported them. Success, Ava made it right to the end of the old railway track. There was a sealed up tunnel and we imagined what might be the other side of the big metal door. “Maybe the train driver.”

Through a muddy stream and into a lovely area we made our camp. Bethan, Asha and mum Anna looked in their new tree book at limes and hazels. We called the area ‘Hazel Camp’.

William played a nice game with the rope swing, pushing it and trying to avoid it coming back to hit him. He was also prolific with his stick gathering. I noticed that there were large shaggy ink cap mushrooms in the camp. They had long gone past edibility and turned from lawyer’s wigs into black messes. (Cuprinus Comatus)

We set a nice cooking fire with a grill made from hazel whips. Anna and Jenny warmed up sausage rolls and toasted bread with delicious sausages. Asha relaxed in the hammock, looking up into the tree tops. So happy and content. We packed up and headed back along another path and Ava finally got a well-deserved shoulder ride. Back through the laurel and home. What a journey lay behind us.

Nov 8th:-

Anna’s friend, Niki brought along little Daisy and her brother, George; and we were also joined by Will’s nanny, Emma. The earth, trees and air were wet with winter dew. The children played delightfully on the equipment by the outdoor theatre and we prepared to set off. Thomas led us to the workshop and, having walked only seventy yards, we set up our camp. We sang the new song about the three thicknesses of wood we needed to prepare for our fire... “String, Pencil and Thumb, to make a Fire”. Will and Thomas were very curious about the shave horses and what tools I had in my bag. We put up a rope swing over a holly branch. Daisy had a happy smile as I helped her hang on and swing through the air. Bethan swung high; she seemed comfortable and safe. We enjoyed relaxing in the hammock. Anna had a cup of coffee in a posh cup. There was a lovely array of food enjoyed by the fire side. Will asked, politely, for a “proper stick” so we sawed a hazel pole into three to make sticks for him, Thomas and George.

The school children played noisily over the way and there was a contrasting , peaceful silence when the bell was rung for them to go back to lessons.

We collected small sticks in a ‘golden syrup tin’ and put it on the fire to make charcoal. Jenny and Thomas wrote their initials with it. Thomas found a natural seat half way up the side of a climbing tree.

We’d spent nearly three hours at camp. I asked Jenny how she felt about not going very far on the play’WALK’. She said she felt “a bit lazy”. With the promise of a nice long walk next week we wandered back.