Greenwood Growth CIC Forest School

09/09/2025

On 23 September from 10am at Dimmingsdale, near Alton, there is a session of Waymaking for families who home educate, or whose children access a reduced timetable.

Working alongside James Brunt Artist families will have an opportunity to create together, leaving behind the beginning of an outdoor gallery created from our interest, imagination and seasonal cues. Last month we made mud and sand cannonballs turning them into surprising sculptures bringing many smiles.

The session is free and booking is essential https://eequ.org/book/land-art-with-james-brunt-with-greenwood-growth-cic-17958

The group meets from outside The Ramblers Retreat cafe and we walk into the woods together following the Earl's Drive towards the top lake.

Forestry England

Our wellbeing programme continues this month 🍂

- Wednesday 10th September, 1.30-3.30pm, with Anthony Hammond at Stockton Brook Waterworks for willow weaving

- Wednesday 17th September, 1.30-3.30pm with Eleanor Hooper at Biddulph Grange Country Park for breathwork and wild singing

- Tuesday 23rd September, 1.30-3.30pm with James Brunt at Dimmingsdale for land art

Waymaking is a combined movement, arts and nature-based intervention that involves walking, artmaking and nature observation in wild public spaces.

You can find out more about the project and how to access the sessions here: https://outsidearts.org/events/waymaking-2025/

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Forestry England

08/09/2025

We are often approached by leaders working in Forest Schools for advice, volunteering opportunities, collaborations and a bit of a natter. Mostly freelancers, people working in schools or with community organisations. We know there are brilliant networks established but many require travel out of our rural area, which isn't always easy. We are creating a space for people working in, volunteering with, thinking and learning about Forest Schools in the rurality that is the Moorlands.

The first session is on 18 October, between 12 - 4pm during which we aim to share a little bit about our CIC, and to begin creating the sort of environment and learning place that works for you.

To get things started we will welcome you to the woods, share a bowl of soup and a brew and begin to build the type of learning exchange we want to see.

Booking a ticket is important and there are three types available:

🐝 If you are in paid work and can afford it, we ask for an £8 contribution
🦋 If you volunteer with a Forest School, places are free
🦇 If you are in Forest School training, places are free

We look forward to welcoming as many people as can make it.

Practitioner network for shared learning

07/09/2025

We are proud that Greenwood Growth CIC is part of the Local Community Fund, an initiative that gives back to local causes, and so grateful to Co-op Members for supporting our community project that provides nurturing, therapeutic interventions for children in need who attend schools local to Leek, and children struggling to access education.

Our work takes place once a week from Tittesworth Water, with support from the Rangers at Severen Trent and makes children feel able to be themselves. We couldn’t do that without funding from Co-op Members.

There are a few weeks remaining until the fund closes, so there is still time to join nearly 300 people who have chosen us as their nominated cause this year. When you shop at the Co-op, we receive a donation helping us to work with more children and best of all it costs you nothing. Co-op Members can do this via https://www.coop.co.uk/local-causes #:~:text=The%20Local%20Community%20Fund%20supports,to%20be%20in%20the%20fund

If you think you know a children who may benefit from time with us please get in touch via phone, email, or messenger to start a conversation.

02/09/2025

Autumn is magic. Join us as we play the Forest School way during September - October at Horton St. Michael's First School.

Refreshments are provided as are some simple snacks for children. We provide a welcoming, low demand environment for children to play, explore and immerse themselves in nature; and for parents and carers to find friendship and relax a while in the woods.

All are welcome and bookings are open via https://bookwhen.com/greenwoodgrowth/e/ev-sb8f-20250911100000

Keep an eye on our website as we build additional sessions to begin this Autumn, including a few pop ups here and there.

30/08/2025

Many months ago a local lady took a break from her shopping and told us she often walked on Westwood Recreation Ground, Leek, at twilight. When the playground is quiet, she said, the Bats come out from their roosts and circle and loop and spiral. I watch them, she said, as they fly around the climbing frame. They like the climbing frame, she said, I'm sure they play around it. This little story drew many towards our lovely orange gazebo to help us make Bats from clay. The creations have temporarily colonised trees flanking the park serving as a gentle reminder that Bats live here too. We are always happy to celebrate diverse communities, so welcoming snails, octopus and penguin-persons felt good.

Thanks to all who joined us, created and to Action West End for the fun day.

28/08/2025

Did you use our summer holiday club? If you did, we'd love to hear from you. We've had an incredible three weeks of crafting, exploring, playing, slacklining, cooking and story telling together.

Providing holiday club and is important to us and we hope you have valued our provision. Please can you tell us about your experience of holiday club via this short questionnaire. Responses are anonymous and your feedback will help us to work with funders in the future.

Thank you https://forms.gle/qgfaQSMRRAsoaC9W7

26/08/2025

This incredible piece of sculpture was built from clay on Ash at holiday club today. Made by a child, age 10, because that's what needed to happen today. We hope you are as astonished by how moving this work is, with the owl appearing to launch out of its roost at twilight searching for a vole or perhaps taking its first flight.

22/08/2025

photo-dump alert. Week two of holiday club has been and gone and we're next in the woods on 26 / 27 / 28 August.

The group has steadily grown in confidence and expression, resulting in a lot of creativity, games and tool use, circus antics, relaxing, cooking and opportunities to work alongside book builders and slackliners.

If you would like to join next week it's not too late. All you need to do is access the bookings system via https://eequ.org/book/greenwood-growth-forest-summer-camp-with-greenwood-growth-cic-11497 and register for your chosen session.

If there is a waiting list please add yourself on - we can often find you a place if we know you're there.

20/08/2025

Today we welcomed two groups of makers to The Clay Collective Foxlowe Arts Centre turning Bat stories gifted to us last December into clay tiles. This project has evolved over many months and today we welcomed our group of adults together to make; followed by a teen-social-making in the evening. Huge gratitude to Chris Thompson for agreeing to share his talent, expertise and humility and to Willow for taking our project and turning it into a happening for all ages - quite a feat for someone on work experience age 16.

Next step is firing, glazing and building our trail for others to discover in and around Leek.

This project is possible thanks to our willing community who continue to ask us to 'do' and through OUTSIDE's Creative Community Commission.

19/08/2025

Whittling and book building ruled the roost today at holiday club. Plus lots of games and an enormous stir-fry. Thanks everyone for joining us in the woods. More tomorrow.