Beltane takes place in the 1st May, exactly halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice. The word comes from the Old Irish, meaning ‘bright fire’, and the day is now often known as May Day. Beltane marks the transition between spring and summer and celebrates the start of the light half of the year. It certainly was very light, warm and tranquil today!
To tune our senses into our surroundings, we started our session hunting for different textures in nature. From brittle, prickly and waxy to flexible, lacy and soggy, items were selected and shared with the adults. The gritty and lacy textures were the trickiest to find but skeleton leaves were great examples of lacy nature items. Cleavers were nice and sticky too.
We learnt some fabulous skills today. We already know how to ‘log’ off’ and stay out of the fire circle – a skill that was crucial for today as we made our first fire, but we also learnt the ‘respect’ position for when we are in front of the fire. One knee always has to be up so we can push back away from. Everyone listened really well and had a go.
The we started to light fires; it takes a lot of patience, determination and resilience to light a fire with flint and steels. Luckily, there was all three of these, in abundance. Not everyone had tried fire lighting before but there were squeals of excitement when sparks were created and then when flames danced over the cotton wool. Brilliant work Forest Schoolers.
We then managed some cooking – pumpkin and sunflower seeds were heated up on the fire, and then soy sauce was added when the seeds were hot. A healthy and tasty snack. Even the children who weren’t sure if they were going to like them, had a taste and were really pleasantly surprised! They were yummy. Our cooks also popped some corn as well! It really smelt like a cinema around the fire!
Next up was whittling and how to create our ‘blood bubble’; a space where we can work and where no one else will come in contact with us so we don’t accidently hurt them. Whittling is always carried out by pushing the blade away from the body – never towards. We learnt the two special seated positions and which hand to wear out P.P.E. on (Personal protective equipment). We learnt about the blade, the handle and the uses of loppers, peelers and a knife. We coppiced some hazel using the loppers and got ready to whittle.
The pond is alive with tadpoles and it was so easy to see hundreds of them. Other pond life was identified using various keys. It was so lovely to see some of the children completely enthralled and interested and pond dipping for an hour.
If that wasn’t enough, other activities were going on as well …
Out final whittled hazel lengths…
Next week, we will be learning about The Green Man – a guardian and keeper of the woods! Some more cooking as been requested and we will hopefully get to forage some wild garlic. There may even be a royal theme and some knots! So many ideas!