September Newsletter

Welcome to Birchwood Learning’s E-Newsletter. Hope the start of autumn has been kind to you and you have been eating lots of apple and blackberry crumbles! There are many forthcoming events and projects which you may be interested in:

Introduction to Spoon Carving – Sunday 25th November
Whittle away a day in the woods, creating your own spoon! This 1 day workshop will take you through the whole process, from branch to spoon. Suitable for anyone aged 14 years plus (under 18s need to be accompanied by an adult). 10am – 4pm. Cost – £45.

Advanced Forest School – Tool Use (OCN Level 3)
The Forest School Training Company is pleased to announce the launch of the first accredited CPD training courses in the UK specifically designed for Forest School Leaders and Assistants. The first course of the series ‘Advanced Forest School – Tool Use’ is designed to build on the introduction to tool use during initial Forest School training. The 2 day accredited course will;

• Advance practitioners skills and confidence using hand tools.
• Increase knowledge about tool function, process, range and maintenance.
• Introduce new tools and techniques, including; augers and drills, knife sharpening, using wedges, safe bracing of work, finishing techniques.
• Develop understanding of wood as a craft material to work with.
• Consider how to effectively support tool users during Forest School, including trouble shooting.
• Provide a framework to support progression in learners’ tool skills at Forest School.
• Provide a multitude of ideas of items to make using natural materials.

In the true Forest School way – we believe that being flexible is important to support learning. Therefore, we are happy to also offer Day 1 of the course as a stand alone non-accredited workshop, for those practitioners who would like to practice and consolidate their skills without committing to the accreditation.

• Date: Thursday 15th & Friday 16th November
• Venue: Holt, Norfolk
• Cost: £280 (2 day accredited course) or £140 (Day 1 only – non-accredited workshop)

Autumn Term Forest School Training in Norfolk
All 3 levels of Forest School Training are available in Norfolk and open for booking:

• OCN Level 3 – starting on 25th October 2012 at Catton Park, Norwich
• OCN Level 1 – 26th & 27th November 2012 at Holt Hall
• OCN Level 2 module – 4th & 5th December 2012 at Catton Park, Norwich

Please view course details here.

‘Forest School Association’ – Development Officer Job Advert
The new Forest School association is looking to contract a Development Officer, please read the full job advert here.

NCC Forest School Norfolk Conference – Save the date! Tuesday 7th May 2013
Norfolk County Council will be hosting a local Forest School Conference at Holt Hall Environmental and Outdoor Learning Centre. A variety of workshops and seminars will be announced in the near future. The day aims to celebrate local Forest School practice, promote the Forest School ethos and provide networking and CPD opportunities for practitioners. More details coming soon!

Jon Cree comes to Norfolk this Autumn!
Jon Cree, training coordinator for the Bishops Wood Centre in Worcestershire is coming to Norfolk this autumn term to run 2 INSET days for Norfolk County Councils Environmental and Outdoor Learning Team.

• 12th Oct – Storytelling and Storymaking in the Outdoors.
  This day considers simple hand on ways of promoting oral storytelling and making skills, using the natural world as a focus.
• 13th Oct – Natural Wellbeing – using the natural world to develop children’s and young people’s emotional literacy.
  This day considers how the natural world can be used to develop people’s awareness of emotions in themselves and others and how being immersed in nature can promote wellbeing, reduce stress and facilitate healing.

Find out more on NCCs website here.

Wild About Norfolk – 13th October at Easton College
Wild About Norfolk is an annual free wildlife and environmental fair showcasing the local groups and national organisations who protect, enhance and restore Norfolk’s wildlife and landscape. They have a program of walks and talks and offer lots of activities such as badge making, pebble painting, puppet making, pond dipping, face painting, bird box making, quizzes and bat hat making.

Wild about the Woods – The Rookery, Plantation Wood, Kings Lynn
Norfolk Widllife Trust are hosting a free woodland family event on Sunday 28th October in Kings Lynn. Lots of activities for families to try!

The Big Tree Plant – Free trees (including to Schools!)
Thanks to funding from DEFRA’s “The Big Tree Plant” scheme, the BTCV are able to offer free trees, and all you need to plant them, to local communities across East Anglia. If you know of a site which would benefit from having some trees planted, they can supply everything else:

• The trees themselves – most native species available, or fruit trees in limited numbers.
• Canes and guards to protect them when they are young and vulnerable.
• Depending on your location and when you want to plant the trees, they may be able to offer to lend you spades and other hand tools, or even some volunteers to help you plant them!

If you think you might be interested, please contact Mark Webster at M.Webster@tcv.org.uk, first come first served!

We’re on Holiday!
Please note that our Birchwood Learning office will be shut for annual leave until 4th October 2012.

Don’t forget to check www.birchwoodlearning.com for forthcoming Forest School and nature based outdoor learning training.