nurturing power of nature
"I don't know how to explain it. I really enjoy being outside. I love everything about the club because it makes me feel happy."
Our Nurture Club has been going from strength to strength with everyone growing in confidence, building resilience and seeing the benefit of taking appropriate risks. As the seasons change so do the opportunities and ways of connecting with our natural environment. The dark nights were a challenge for some of the children who had not experienced playing out in the dark before. However, we built their confidence with lots of exciting activities like night walks across the meadow with torches, candle making, cooking on the fire, hide and seek and even ghost stories. Those that were nervous reported that it really helped them cure their fears and really loved our visits from the friendly fox.
A huge thank you to Voluntary Action South West Surrey for the Sparks grant to help fund the first half of the Spring Term. The local support we have received for this new club has been vital. This is such a lovely club for the children - they are forming a very supportive bond with each other outside of the club as well as their time in it so the ability to keep it running has been key. THANK YOU!
industrious teams!
Despite the wet and cloudy days over the last couple of months both thegarden team and the Men in Sheds groups have been incredibly industrious. The garden team have cleared, tidied, audited tools, weeded, moved hedge lines, put together new mowers, moved a mountain of wood chip as well as carrying out some planting for a new project - the greenhouse is getting very full, watch this 'green' space....
The Men in Sheds team completed some bird boxes for Potters Gate School as well as creating some vegetable planters for them. Lots of behind the scenes repairs got underway at the project with repairs to bridges and the installation of a new water heater in the Loo Shed! Much needed in the cold weather.
Teen wellbeing sessions expanded
The team at Weydon School were so impressed with the quality of the teen wellbeing sessions hosted in the garden, that they increased their requirement from once a week to twice a week. The teams from Farnham Heath End also continued their visits.
The children made wood chimes which involved them harvesting the bamboo which they then cut to length and stripped. they then use hooks and string to carefully assemble the chimes - they did a fantastic job. They also created wire star decorations by wrapping cardboard template shapes in wire and then burning them in the braziers to magically be left with just the wire. They looked magical.
countryside magazine!
We were delighted to be mentioned in the February edition of countryside magazine! There was a lovely five page article which focused on theFarnham Britain in bloom win with a lovely picture of the Farnham Town Council team. It also featured a picture of the Men in Sheds bug house made in collaboration with GreenUp Britain. We were so pleased that it featured a photo of our National Lottery Community Fund bunting celebrating our lottery funding.
...fingers crossed for Farnham in Bloom this year.
Our Talking Teens course returns next week with a new course starting on Thursday 6th March. It is funded by the National Lottery and there are a few spaces still available.
Parents look at lots of different topics, including understanding of teenage development and the influence of brain development on behaviour.
To find out more or to book a space please email info@theparentingspace.space
reflections from the acre...
We hear a little more from the children themselves about 'nuture club'. Thesessions are child-centric, focusing on the needs of the children and their interests, whilst developing a strong sense of community and support.
Children can choose their own adventures. Some have developed their tree climbing skills or have enjoyed wading through the stream. Others like craft or the mud kitchen, whilst some have preferred to perfect their whittling skills with knives or lighting fires with flint and steel. Everyone enjoys the campfire food. There is time for noise, a time for peace and always a time for laughter.
" I love the connection we have with nature at the club. Being outside is great. It gets me away from my phone and the TV and is much more fun than being stuck at home."
" It's fun and I get to build things and be with my friends and learn new skills like whittling."
” I love being able to swing in the hammock and just chill. It makes me feel calm."
" I feel sad when it is the holidays and there is no club. I look forward to Friday all week."
