For the second year running, our students have been lucky enough to take part in the annual Waymaking activities in celebration of the start of the summer and the rebirth of the natural world.
The students visited Stockton Brook Pumping House and worked with Lorna Stoddart (who runs our Forest School Enrichment programme with Nurture) and Anthony Hammond (a professional wood craftsman). In the morning, our Nurture students attended, and in the afternoon, a small group from our Post-16 class attended.
The focus of the learning was teaching the students how to weave willow. The students were taught how to willow weave structures, which are now going to be used to provide a clear path through the forest to allow members of the public to access the woodlands safely.
The students were taught how to dig the trenches needed in order to secure the willow trellis safely into the ground. They used their mathematical knowledge to decide on the depth and width of the trenches before digging. Secondly, the students were taught how to weave the willow branches together to make a rigid fence. Finally, the students learnt how to secure their fencing into the ground.
The students worked as a team; particular praise needs to be given to Tyler, who showed excellent leadership skills and the ability to work incredibly hard to support the rest of his team members.
