Oakwood Bushcraft Forest School & Wilderness Living

🪰 **A 🪰 **A Closer Look at the Mayfly**

While exploring down by the river today, I spotted this beautiful mayfly and managed to capture it using the micro setting on my phone. It's amazing what you can discover when you slow down and look closely.

Mayflies are one of nature's most fascinating insects. Although they spend most of their lives underwater as nymphs—sometimes for up to two years—their adult life can last for just a few hours or days. In that short time, their only goal is to mate and continue the next generation.

From an Oakwood perspective, mayflies tell us a lot about the health of our rivers and streams. They are highly sensitive to pollution, so finding them in good numbers is often a sign of clean, oxygen-rich water. They also play an important role in the ecosystem, providing food for fish, birds, bats, and other wildlife.

I’ve also included two photos from a sunset a few years back, where a mayfly can be seen flying across the evening sky—one of those small but magical moments that stay with you when you're out in nature long enough to notice them.

Next time you're by a river, take a moment to look a little closer. You never know what tiny wonders you might find waiting to be discovered.

Have you ever spotted a mayfly on your adventures—or noticed other insects that tell you something about the health of the water nearby?

🌿🐸Last week at Oakwood Bushcraft, we showed the Rossory Rainbows some cuckoo spit we found on the plants around the site. Many people know the frothy bubbles, but not everyone knows there's a tiny insect hiding inside, using the foam for protection while it grows.

These days you'll often hear it called a 🐸froghopper🐸but growing up in the countryside, of us simply knew them as little grasshoppers.

Looking through older folklore records, "grasshopper" appears plenty of times, while "froghopper" is nowhere to be found.

🌿🐞Whatever name you use, it sparked a great conversation with the Rainbows about wildlife, local knowledge, and how the names we use for nature can change over time.
🐿🐞
So, what did you call them growing up?

What an incredible four weeks it has been at Oakwood Bushcraft! 🌿🔥

The past month has been one of our busiest and most rewarding yet. We've hosted 8 fantastic birthday parties, welcomed families into the outdoors, and had the privilege of teaching over 200 children from across England about the wonders of nature at the Bushcraft Show.

From discovering the fascinating creatures living beneath the surface of our ponds, to learning about the vital role that UK bats play in our ecosystems, we've inspired young people to connect with the natural world around them. 🦇🐸

Our Forest School sessions have been packed with adventure, confidence-building and new skills. Children have been climbing trees, mastering archery, lighting campfires, cooking over open flames, exploring woodland habitats, and creating lifelong memories in the great outdoors. 🏹🌲🔥

We're also incredibly proud of the ongoing delivery of our Cross Border Generation Nature Programme, bringing teens together through shared experiences, environmental education, and a passion for protecting our natural heritage for future generations.

A huge thank you to all the children, families, schools, volunteers, and partners who continue to support our work. Watching young people develop confidence, resilience, curiosity and a love for nature is exactly why we do what we do.
Here's to many more adventures ahead! 🌿💚


Tag yourself if you spot a familiar face in the photos!"

🌿🐿Sometimes it's the unexpected wildlife encounters that make your day.

While relaxing in my hammock at Oakwood this afternoon, I caught sight of a red squirrel. Only the second one I've ever seen here!
🐿🌿
Seeing a red squirrel is always special, but it also got me thinking about the importance of wildlife corridors. These small, often overlooked links between woodlands, hedgerows, and green spaces allow species to move, feed, breed, and expand into new areas. Every connected habitat gives wildlife a better chance to thrive.🐿🌿

Could this little visitor be a sign that our local habitats are becoming better connected? I certainly hope so.🌿🪳

Moments like this remind us why protecting and restoring nature matters. Sometimes all it takes is sitting quietly in a hammock and letting the woodland reveal its secrets.

Have you spotted any unexpected wildlife recently?🐿🐸🪳

What an incredible four days at the Bushcraft Show it has been 🌿🔥

🥰To every single child and adult who joined us, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Hundreds of you came through our space and made it come alive with curiosity, laughter, muddy hands, wide eyes, and a real sense of adventure.🥰

From pond dipping and discovering the tiny hidden world beneath the water 🐟🪲, to gathering around the fire for campfire cooking and Dutch oven treats 🍲🔥, to learning fire lighting skills and seeing confidence grow with every spark ✨, it’s been a joy to watch skills and memories take shape in real time.

And of course, our bat walk at dusk 🦇🌙—quiet, magical, and full of wonder as we stepped into the night and listened to nature in a completely different way.

Moments like these are what bushcraft is all about: connection, confidence, curiosity, and time spent together outdoors 🌳

A huge thank you also goes to the fantastic team Stevie Mcclintock Dave Hall John Mcgrath Niall Duignan Clyde Gerry Barrett who supported me infront and also behind the scenes and helped make it all possible.

We’re so proud to be part of the Oakwood Bushcraft and Forest School family, and even prouder of every single person who stepped into the experience with us 💚

Until next time… keep exploring, keep questioning, and keep the fire going 🔥🌿