From the beginning we were scientists, and how impressive we were. From witnessing the first spring of the pond, to the minimal growth of specialist trees in this drought year, to all sorts of surprises, like the mining bees beside the pond.
Here’s our last day movie:
This is what you said on our last day:
- I am so grateful for the woods! I always feel good here and now I know why
- I’m grateful for the space given to us to spend time within nature, one of my favourite things to do is to look at the wildlife around me and this terms exploration into kaliwoods field and pond life during elders sessions has given me such precious moments of nature connection together. One of these days we found what seemed like small ants and then we discovered they were yellow legged minor bees, then learnt more about their life cycle and how they made a larder.
- I grew up by a forest, and now when I come here my feeling is like being home, the wind is like a big hug.
- To sit in the wood! I love trees, and have been upset by all the trees cut down at sizewell. So I focus on this place which is like an oasis. I feel totally refreshed when I come here. Like an escape with friends, my favourite thing to do, hoping to see everyone again in the autumn.
- I feel at home in the trees, sort of primeval, an escape from all the pressures of modern life, some aspects good some not so, pleasure to be with you all.
- How many eyes looking, we always seem to see something we haven’t seen before. It is playful.
- Grateful to have found it, to be here and to come back and for the forest, thank you.
- The eccentrics of some kind, a chance to be in the green, here’s to next term.
- Trees, a way in, its steadying to do interesting and quite challenging things, we’re either nowhere or somewhere.
- Its great to be back after a long while.
- When I walk into the wood all the stress of the day goes away.
- I love being here, nice, clean, different from rest of my week.
- Relaxing, de stress, I look forward to come back.
- Everybody’s been very kind, lovely to see you, I feel relaxed, and for that I am extremely grateful.
- I’m grateful for you, Rachel, for being community, every cell of you, all the joy, groups, love, learning and space it gives people to reconnect.
- When you volunteer somewhere, you get so much back, the joy, community , thank you, it’s amazing.
- Thank you for making me feel welcome, always a magic moment when I look around, it’s given me that time to connect to nature more, which is a real gift
- Forest school has given G time to be able to be him…. Kind, greenery, relaxing and much more than my school life.
- Grateful for being here, I was ill for a long while, but I’m back.
I was invited to join the Elders group by Rachel. I went a long and was so glad that I did. It felt quite magical to be sitting in the woods around the fire with the other people knowing that I was welcome there. I love trees and if felt good to be among them, allowing me to be calm and to think about things.
I enjoyed the feeling of acceptance in the group and also the interaction between us. The staff were very welcoming and friendly and very good at making us feel part of things.
We took part in lots of activities and people were able to find ways to express themselves. I particularly enjoyed the pond activities,I had never seen so many tadpoles at any one time. I loved the wild flowers that grew everywhere,it reminded me of when my father took my sister and I put in the countryside where we found lots of wildflowers.
Talking in the circle was a valuable experience as we could say what we felt or was thinking.
All in all I found the experience very helpful and valuable to myself and I am looking forward to the next session.
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Kinda Elders in the woods 