This summer, we're getting even more excited about our local landscape than usual.
This year's theme for activities is Woodland wonders, and with arts and crafts, outdoor fun and a focus on trees, animals and wildlife, there's something for children aged 4-10 every week at the Forest Centre. An excellent opportunity to learn through play and activities about the work carried out by the Thames Chase Trust and our partners throughout the Community Forest and beyond.
Suggested donation for the activities: £3 per child, to cover resources, made payable to volunteers coordinating the activities.
No need to pre-book in advance.
Dates for activities
All activities take place in the Essex Barn between 10:00-12:00 on the dates listed below. Some activities are subject to weather and resources.
Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 July - Hedgehogs
- Make a clay model of a hedgehog or design a tile
- Colour in and cut out a hedgehog mask to wear
- Sensory activities - guess what's inside the bag
- Collect and create a special crown using materials from the forest
- Collect pine cones to make a hedgehog family
- Painting activities
Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 August - Foxes
- Activity course/ping pong challenge
- Make a flying fox kite
- Test your precision like a fox's dexterity with a throwing game
- Make and colour in a fox mask to wear
- Design and paint your own tree, under which you might find a fox's den
Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 August - Squirrels
- Go on a scavenger hunt to forrage like a squirrel
- Make a collage from what you've collected from the forest
- Mould a squirrel from clay and find a feather for its bushy tail
- Butterfly painting - catepillars, butterflies and squirrels often share the same trees for their home
- Design and make a squirrel mask to wear
- Paper flower folding
Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 August - Badgers
Some badger-themed activities will take place within the forest at Broadfields, just to the south of the Ants Nest. Donations made payable with the activities volunteers or at the Forest Centre reception.
- Collect materials and make a natural sculpture for a badger to live in
- Build a den in the forest (above ground, rather than digging a sett for the badgers!)
- Collect and create a special crown using materials from the forest
- Design and make a badger mask to wear
- Leaf painting or leaf-pounding onto card
A wonderful arts competition
Alongside the summer holiday activities, we're running an arts competition for children (categories are aged 5-8, 9-12 and 13-16).
Competition entry closes at 17:00 on Friday 9 August.
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