"Chipping away at it..." July 2021 [Wilder Flashmob]

Over the last three weeks our flashmobs have been working on repairing the pathways in our copse and new willow tunnel. the flashmobs from Owl and Puffin Classes used buckets, spades and rakes to move and spread bark chippings along the pathways and the group from Penguin Class laid new weed matting and covered it with chippings to renew the main entrance into the copse.

The bark chippings came from four trees on site, that had to be removed. We were really upset at losing them, but as it was not in our control we were determined that we would reuse as much of them as possible. We kept the trunks as short logs for log piles and seating and the branches were chipped for use as mulch and surfacing for the outdoor learning areas and pathways.

These were the first of our “Wilder Flashmobs”, where the Wilder Leader picks one of the classes from which six children are picked from volunteers to be the flashmob. Activities are chosen randomly from a list of tasks, from outdoor learning area maintenance, habitat creation, litter picking etc, but all are based around making our school a greener environment and giving children ownership of the outdoor learning experience. The tasks are usually carried out during the children’s free time, lunchtimes, Golden Time, etc hence it being a voluntary process.

These were great sessions, encouraging teamwork, sharing of roles and creating a feeling of accomplishment when they had finished. It was really great to see some of the quieter, less confident children come out of themselves when taking part in the group effort.