I'm Elise. I run a Forest School in a Micro Woodland in North Bristol www.woodlandmakery.com. Here I run workshops for preschools, schools, groups and charities.
One of the main charities I work with is the fabulous Jigsaw www.jigsawthornbury.org.uk For this group I run many regular sessions, one being the Family Forest Fun on the first Saturday of every month. There are a regular group of children that attend and have done since I set up in 2020 and they are very keen woodworkers, over the years developing skills to work together as a team and complete projects such as bench building. This may seem easy but these young people have additional needs or disabilities and can face more barriers to accessing the outdoors and all the benefits that come with spending time in nature, getting active, connecting with others and being involved in something for the community. The unique thing about Jigsaw as a charity is that it supports the whole family, so parents/carers and siblings can join in activities and make a unique support network, which for many is a lifeline.. Many of these connections and time well spent is at the woodland, which is a magical space.
My proposed activity/project is to secure some funding to buy a small club house so that we have somewhere to go when in extreme weather conditions, which is currently a challenge for us. This will be built for everyone who come to the woodland, it would be a multi-use space. It would serve as a tearoom, classroom, small nature library, a greenhouse and plant drying room. I would buy a log cabin/summer house kit and the children alongside a project manager would help build it. The£2000, if successful I would still need to find a further £1500 to cover the cost of the cabin and the hardcore, safety equipment to build it.
I would like to buy the log cabin from a company called Dunster House who build quality flat pack cabins but for the size we would want/need to fit us in the price range starts around £3000. This funding would enable us to secure the funding towards buying it.
As soon as we have secured the funding we will order and start the project. The hope is this will be in either the summer holidays or October half term. It will take about a week. There will be an opening ceremony which will coincide with either TreeFest 3 or 4 (depending on when we receive money). During TreeFest 1 and 2 we planted 600 trees. The aim is to have planted 1000 trees by my 5th year of opening- next year. The planting will take place in either November or March.
More details on the Project
It would serve as a tearoom, classroom, small nature library, a greenhouse and plant drying room.
Tearoom: As a Forest School I run many nature/environment-based activities. Each session includes a hot drink I currently use a small pallet platform with a table on it to prepare these hot drinks we call it the ‘kitchen’. Over the years many of the children have developed the skills in order to take and make the hot drinks orders. Everything needed for the set up of this space is stored in a small shed. The clubhouse would enable us to have a permanent set up of drinks facilities so save me time in my own set up. Although there is no running water in the space, there is on the farm, so I will be able to provide a washing up area in order for the equipment to be washed and put away after use which again would half my work. Working with many groups most people gravitate towards the ‘kitchen’ and problems are shared/halved, barriers/worries/concerns all come out whilst making or drinking a soothing drink.
Classroom: The Forest School is open year around, it is only ever closed in high winds and torrential rain, which means there is a danger of debris falling and my insurance does not cover winds over 35mph. I have planted 600 trees but the site can have a strong side wind and until the trees are further grown this will continue to be the case. I have several sails which I use for protection against the rain but when there is a side wind they are not very affective. The clubhouse would be a space for us to continue Forest School on days when it is raining on and off or when it is a little windy/rainy but not enough to not open.
Small Nature Library: Overt the years I have a collection of informative books on nature studies ranging from woodworking/nature crafting to foraging foods for a range of used including cooking/dying/natural remedies etc. In the clubhouse would be a space for everyone to access these books to both inspire and educate.
Greenhouse: An area of the clubhouse would be dedicated to bringing on the many seedlings we have, plant and grow in the space at the woodland in borders that some of the groups have created.
Plant drying room: I use many plant for various purposes including willow for willow sculpture and basketry, flowers and plants dried for teas/natural remedies and foliage used in wild basketry. The proposed space has a pocket of sunshine and is a perfect spot to dry these materials by hanging them from the ceiling.
Enough from me let's see the woodland and hear from the children that will help to build it in this video...