The Phoenix Project

10/10/2026

The children have been asking when they can go back to Heal Rewilding, with some even wanting to volunteer there. We couldn’t have hoped for a better response to our day spent learning about beavers and getting involved in the restoration of this beautiful landscape.

Our Phoenix group were invited to help build leaky dams, creating the conditions for the resident beaver family to potentially expand their territory next spring. There was a wonderful amount of curiosity, determination and teamwork as the children got stuck into the mud, branches and digging.

It’s exciting to see children so interested in the natural world around them and genuinely wanting to contribute to its recovery. We’re so grateful to Heal for welcoming us and inviting us back to take part in their surveys next spring.

More opportunities for children to be involved in meaningful work like this!

24/09/2026

A stage in the woods, a giant map of Frome, rosehip syrup and a LOT of chaos tag 🍂

Such a good week at Phoenix and it really feels like everyone is finding their feet together now.

One of the highlights was finally bringing How Rabbit Stole the Fire to life after working on it over the last few weeks. A stage was built, all the handmade props came back out and the group performed the story together. We filmed it and watched it back over lunch, which was pretty special. Lots of laughing but also lots of pride, and some great conversations about what we’d do differently next time.

Our big map of Frome has started properly taking shape too. Working in pairs, different sections were drawn out onto the circular canvas and then papier mâché pulp was made to start building up the land. Everyone got involved and there was some serious concentration going on!

We also found quiet spots in the woodland to think back to a memory from the summer and capture it through writing and drawing, made a beautiful flower mandala, started our autumn altar, carried on with the mural, made crowns and talisman pendants and prepared apples for the fire.

Plus plenty of free play, roleplay, Chicken Run, Stuck in the Mud and, obviously, chaos tag.

We finished with circles around the fire, sharing reflections from the day and trying homemade rosehip syrup.

A busy, messy, creative Phoenix week 🍂

Our community gathering on Sunday 27th is a great time to pop down and meet us if you’re thinking of a trial for your child. 🩷

18/09/2026

We have been getting to know the land in all sorts of ways this week. Studying maps of the Mendips and Somerset, practising grid references, drawing maps of the places we live, and heading out across the site to identify trees, leaves, seeds and berries.

Our story work has carried on too. We have been following The Wild Robot over lunch and returning to our fire story through story maps, masks, tails and plenty of imagination. Everyone eventually took a turn in the story chair, speaking as their chosen animal character while one child became the journalist and took notes. Next week we will build a stage and bring the whole story to life.

There has been lots of time in the woods too, building dens, playing games and connecting as a new group.

Alongside all of that, the mural has continued to grow, we made elderberry cordial together, lit the fire, toasted marshmallows and ended our days sharing what we enjoyed, what challenged us and what we felt grateful for.

It was especially lovely to welcome new children for trial days. We are now full on Tuesdays but have some more spaces for our younger cohort on Monday ( 6-10) and Wednesday group. Get in touch if you'd like to have a trial.

31/08/2026

21/08/2026

Summer at Phoenix has been BUSY!

There have been mosaics, cardboard sculptures, group paintings, clay creations, watercolours, construction projects, so.many.games and a whole load of hammocks and paddling pools. It's been so lovely to meet so many new children over the summer and some of those families who are coming back for trial days in September.

If you've been wondering about Phoenix, we're having a Community Gathering on Sunday 30th August, where you can come and see the land, met us and get a feel for what we do. Some of us will be camping out after if you fancied an extended stay!

Our September trial days begin from 7th September, so do get in touch if you'd like to know more about spaces.

p.s. we have a couple of spaces left on the 27th and 28th Summer Sessions for anyone looking for a low-key, fun day at the end of the holidays, or for children who might like to get to know the land and our mentors before September.

24/07/2026

Adventure days!

On Tuesday we headed down to Vallis. We spent the morning in the river, building dams, cooling off and eating lunch at what the children now call River Bed HQ.

By the afternoon we’d reached the old rock face by the secret BMX track.

It looked high.

A few children weren’t convinced they could do it. So we waited. We watched. We encouraged. One by one they decided they were ready.

By the end of the day every child had climbed to the top and made their way back down again.

Afterwards we heard:

“I feel great.”

“I’m so proud of myself.”

“This is my favourite Phoenix day of all time.”

At Phoenix Project we know children need real adventures. The sort that ask something of them. The sort that remind them they’re braver than they first thought.

We ended the day with vegan ice cream, circled up back at Phoenix and finished another good Tuesday together.

We’ve got a few spaces on our Tuesday group from September. If you know a child who’d enjoy days like this, we’d love to hear from you.
🐦‍🔥

16/07/2026

These photos don’t really show what happens at Phoenix Project.

From the outside, it looks like children whittling, building dens, making smoothies, creating artwork, playing games and being outdoors.

That’s all true, but it’s not really what the day is about. The interesting bits are much harder to photograph.

A child standing up to explain an idea they wouldn’t have shared a few months ago. A disagreement over a construction challenge becoming a conversation about how to give feedback with kindness. A discussion about eco systems drifting into questions about people, responsibility and the world around us. Children learning to trust themselves with real tools, real responsibility and real freedom.

Nothing is squeezed in to 40 minute lesson because that’s not how curiosity works. Sometimes an activity lasts 10 minutes. Sometimes a conversation lasts an hour because everyone is invested in where it’s going.

No two days are the same, but they all have something in common. We try to create the time, space and relationships that allow children to become more confident, more capable and more connected to themselves, each other and the natural world.

That’s the part we wish every photograph could capture.