Tree Climbing and Fire Lighting

This week we started by revisiting the boundaries of the woods and getting the children to help do some risk assessments.  We have a lovely old Ash tree in the woods, but in the recent high winds, it has become damaged, so we invited the children to look for the damage and decide what the best course of action could be.  They decided we should probably avoid it as if it broke and landed on any of us it would be very painful.  

The Ash tree is on the route to the spring, so it became obvious that the Derbyshire Dragon had knocked the tree when flying in for a drink... This rather worried one of our younger members, so one of my favourite books, Herb The Vegetarian Dragon was introduced as a reassurance.  

Assessing a tree for climbing.

Taking on the firelighting challenge - Success!

We also practised how to move around the fire circle so that we could safely have a go at the fire lighting challenge, using a striker to get a spark and start their own small fire.  Nearly everyone who had a go persevered until the succeeded, it's not an easy way to start a fire so I was impressed with how they all stuck at it (and waited patiently for their turn)

The children have started to mark out their territories within the woods, each finding a group they want to be with.  They are starting to settle into the woods and find their way around within comfort.