Down in the woods...

Today we took part in another SureStart activity, this time it was "forest fun". Nearby to the children's centre is an area of woodland that the SureStart team have use of. the children donned waterproof clothing, and welly boots, and were given a paper bag each to collect "treasure" in, and we made the ten or so minute walk to the little "forest".

In the clearing there are logs set in a circle around a campfire area, a hole in the ground toilet, and that's it. The rest is Nature's playground.

There were the odd prop to help the imaginations flow, big tarpaulins and ropes for Den bulding, bug hunting equipment, and paint brushes and watering cans for mud painting.

So Mummy and Master Pink (baby Pink had some Grandma time) set about making tree spirits and doing mud painting. Well I say this very loosely, as it was I who was covered in mud to make the little muddy "tree spirit" but Master Pink loved helping to create the raw materials by pouring water into the "Muddy Puddle" and splashing in it lots.

We then moved on to a bit of bug hunting and exploring, but the trees were too irresistable and Master Pink set about climbing a few of them.

The whole experience was great fun, and the few hours spent in the outdoors went past in a flash. Master pink loved it, and I'm so glad he was able to experience the freedom of just playing in the wood and leading the play.