Birdwings Forest School

WildFlow ended today.

For six weeks, we have walked together in peace, creativity, gratitude and companionship in nature, alongside adults who were looking to revitalise their connection with the natural world, and with themselves.

There have been quiet moments, conversations, shared discoveries, creativity, laughter and plenty of time simply being outdoors together. Watching people become more attentive to the place around them, and more connected to their own experience within it, has been a very moving part of this program.

WildFlow was made possible through grant funding, and while that funding has now come to an end, we are not quite ready to let this work go.

We are thinking about what might come next. Perhaps monthly gatherings for adults who want to spend time in nature, slow down, create, notice and reconnect. Perhaps something that grows into something else.

For now, we are simply grateful for these six weeks and for the people who shared them with us.

Thank you for walking with us.

Thankyou to Silkwood Silkwood for inviting us to spend the morning with your fun preps. We explored notions of belonging in nature, investigating who are our nature neighbours and - of course - we ended with a story.

While we were there, at least 4 or 5 other groups passed us on the bush track, coming and going from the creek. We are so pleased to see nature connection a priority for the children here.

We were talking this week about what we actually mean when we talk about nature connection. It is something we come back to often at Birdwings, because it can be easy to make it sound like another thing we are trying to "teach" children.

But really, we are interested in what happens when children have enough time in a place to get to know it. To notice the same tree each week, where the creek gets deeper, recognising a bird call. To remember what was growing there last season and understand why places look different over time.

These things seem small, but over time they build familiarity, relationship and a sense of belonging - a true sense of being a living part of our local ecology.

That is just one part of what we are trying to create through our work. Not just opportunities to be outside, but opportunities for children to become genuinely connected to the places they spend time in.

The full crew are in here somewhere. Love the dynamic playspaces nature provides.

See you at the Botanical Bazaar Festival
Today!!

How exciting we are listed as finalists in The Inspire Awards in THREE categories!! Environmental Advocate, Educational Excellence and Community Champion 😍 the three aspects of our work with children and nature that mean the most to us. Our interviews with other semi-finalists proved that our fellow applicants are SO inspiring in their work, so we feel incredibly proud to be acknowledged this far in the process.

We thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with Leeza Browne - Platinum Education Group . If you are in early childhood and havent found Leeza's podcast yet, its worth putting on your list for thought-provoking conversations, reflections and action for quality early childhood practice. Thanks for the fun afternoon of conversation Leeza!

What if the greatest classroom was never a classroom at all?

What happens when we slow down, step outside, and begin learning with children instead of simply teaching them?

In this inspiring conversation with Jennifer and Narell from Birdwings Forest School, we explore the power of nature-based learning, connection to the land, ecological storytelling, dynamic risk assessment, and the incredible learning that unfolds when we trust children's curiosity.

This episode is a reminder that some of the richest learning experiences don't require four walls or expensive resources, sometimes nature already provides everything we need.

It will leave you inspired to see learning, and the natural world, through a whole new lens.

🎧 The wonderings of Nature-Learning from the land with: Birdswings Forest School is out now. Link in the comments below 👇

We'd love to hear from you: What story is the land telling where you are?