SUN BEAMS AND SLOW WORMS: a week of wonders at the heartwood project

​What a spectacular day it’s been! The woods have truly come alive under the lovely warm sunshine, and the energy around the campfire has been just as bright. Here’s a little look at what our team has been up to:

​A Scaly Surprise

​The highlight for many of us was a rare encounter with one of the woodland's most misunderstood residents: a slow worm! While it looks like a small snake, it’s actually a non-venomous legless lizard. It was a wonderful opportunity to practice our gentle observation skills, watching it glide through the undergrowth before letting it get back to its busy lizard life.

​Crafting and Creating

​The woodworking area has been humming with activity. One of our makers has officially started work on a handmade rounders bat, carefully selecting the wood and beginning the process of shaping it. We can already smell the victory (and the sawdust) for our future games!

​Over at the "Yoda Hut," our master weavers have been hard at work. We’ve been threading new willow and bamboo branches into the structure, strengthening the walls of our favorite quirky shelter. It’s starting to look more like a Jedi retreat every day.

​Tadpoles and Tall Trees

​Our resident tadpoles are growing by the day! To give them a little treat and some extra nutrients, we fed them some thinly sliced cucumber. It’s fascinating to watch them swarm around their snack - they certainly seem to have a healthy appetite!

​To wrap up our adventures, we took a long, peaceful walk through the dappled light to visit the huge pollarded beech tree. Standing under its massive, ancient canopy always puts things into perspective. It’s a magnificent living piece of history, and the perfect spot to stop, breathe, and enjoy the breeze.

​Another day of hard work and nature's magic in the books. We can't wait to see what next week brings.