Lymley Tribe Nature Club

This is an opportunity for your child to have the time to play and explore the natural world and make new friends.

Set the beautiful ancient woodland of Lymley woods which also has exciting rope bridges, cargo nets, swings, a treehouse, a nature observation look out, a mud kitchen, camp kitchen, a meadow, a picnic area and a shelter with a fire pit.

Your child will observe, experience and learn about the seasonal changes of these spectacular woods while having fun.

Through the physical movement opportunities of the woodland and the adventure play areas, your child’s physical strength, balance and coordination will develop.

There will be optional craft and bushcraft activities such as whittling, fire building and making seasonal creatures with wool and clay to participate in.

There will be time to relax and appreciate nature, whilst also experiencing the joy, beauty, wonder and magic that our natural environment provides. As an experienced Steiner teacher, I promote this wholeheartedly!

What we’ll do:

On arrival the children will have free time to play at our base. Once all have arrived, we will play a few games and go into the woods to balance, climb and play on the adventure ropes, nets and swings.

We will stop for a short rest and drink and snack.

This is a time to engage in a craft or forest school activity if your child wants to. Otherwise they are free to play in the treehouse, mud kitchen, make dens, fairy homes, play games, or just to “be children in the woods”.

We will end with a seasonal story or puppet play and finish with our goodbye song.

PLEASE READ THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

* From my experience children leave school starving hungry, so please ensure your child has a good sized snack before arriving or brings an extra snack with them.

* Please provide your child with a water bottle (we can refill in the woods) and a snack to have at snack time.

* Please notify us of an allergies, dietary or health requirements before attending the session.

* We will occasionally have camp fire greats such as crumpets, popcorn and marshmallows!

* Please ensure your child has appropriate clothing and footwear. Bringing with them an extra layer and waterproofs.

* There are toilets and running water on site.

* Please notify us of any additional needs or anything that would be helpful in your child settling with us.

NB:
From my experience children leave school starving so please ensure your child has a good sized snack before arriving or has a snack box with them.

It is undecided whether we can incorporate a meal in the woods; this is something we could aim towards if it was something all wanted.

Please ensure the children are dressed appropriately and warmly and in waterproofs if raining or at least have them to change into.

Directions to Lymley Wood:

From Mayfield turn right/ from Five Ashes turn left onto Horleigh Green Road for 1 mile. Look out for an arrow steep road on the right on a left-hand bend, and a farmhouse on the corner. This is Argos Hill Road.

From Crowborough/ Rotherfield go through Rotherfield village passing the Kings Arms pub on the left. Take the fourth left down the hill onto Five Ashes Road. After 1 mile, look out for Argos Hill left on the bend however you cannot turn here left here as it is too sharp. Taking care, turn around in the next left... Fir Toll Road and then Argos Hill Road will be on your right.

It has an 'access only' sign at the top. Watch out for tractors as it is a narrow road. 300 yards down Argos Hill Road, passing a big barn and farmyard on the right then there is a little parking spot on the left opposite Brook Farm House. This is Lymley Wood car park.

From Mark Cross, you can turn onto Argos Hill Road, from Argos Hill Lane however it is rather bumpy in places and narrow. You drive all the way down the hill and the car park is on the right opposite Broom Farm House.

Parking:

Please park in the car park and not on the lane anywhere.

The car park has one entry/exit and we all have to park close together to fit in, please don’t leave space for other cars to get out, we have to block each other in.

Therefore if you have to leave early or promptly after the session, please be one of the last to arrive.

COVID 19 Risk Assessment for Woodland Magic:

Benefits of being outside in the woods
• Connecting with nature is paramount for any human; especially beneficial for a child’s cognitive, emotional and physical well-being.
• There is endless magic, wonder and reverence that is created from being outside in nature.
• Social wellbeing and creativity from playing with other children.

Potential risk:
Contracting the virus from attending the group.
Passing the virus onto other members in the group.

Measures in place by the Forest School Practitioner (FSP):
* Parents will be asked to read this risk assessment before attending the session.

* The parents are informed not to attend the group session if they or their child are displaying any symptoms of Covid.

* Parents are told not to attend the group if they have been into contact with anyone with the virus and must notify the FSP.

* Parents will bring their own snacks and water bottles for themselves and their children.

* The FSP will carry water wipes and antibacterial hand gel, parents will take responsibility to clean their child’s hands before snack.

* During ring time, parents hold their own child’s hands or if more comfortable an ‘invisible’ hand if standing next to another member of a different household.

* Craft items made will be taken home.

* Parents are asked to respect social distancing with other households.

Response to any infection
1. To engage with the NHS Test and Trace process.
2. To manage confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) amongst the out-of-school settings community.
3. To contain any outbreak by following local health protection team advice.

Date reviewed May 2021