Sticks and Ropes

2025 was an incredible year for us and the woods. So many beautiful finds and memories made. Feeling so grateful for the time we spend and the space we have here. January 2026 may have been a bit grey but we're still out in the woods learning from nature and each other. Get in touch if you want in! We have spaces available.

See you in the woods!

🌞 Springing into Summer 🌞

Springtime is hard to beat when you're in such a beautiful woodland. The last month or so has been so much fun with river dipping, rock drawing, lots of climbing, foraging, cooking, bluebells, gazumbutts and much more.

Taco-spiced grilled beech leaves are now my favourite woodland junk food! But the witch elm seedpod pancakes and nettle and cleaver fritters aren't far behind.

As the may flowers and Beltane mark the shift into Summer and the cold nights are behind us, we will see life shift from young shoots to deepening greens and blooms a plenty. I am grateful to the sun for giving us so much light and warmth but also the trees for sheltering us from it!

We still have 2 more sessions of this block before half term. What adventures will the woods take us on next?!

Stay playful,
Will Sylvan 🌳

🪵 Stick to the Path! 🪵

Last Friday we collected and laid wood for the continuing restoration of the boggy bits of the woodland path. But not before laying out a balancing course through the holly, tried our hand at a variety of tools, lit our fire and practiced our circus skills! Can't wait for the spring circus performance! 🎪🤸🏻‍♀️

But there was a new mystery in the woods this day... One not easily solved, which aroused much suspicion in the group and led to judgements being laid with very little evidence... How did it get there? Who, if anyone, had a hand in it? The mystery continues next week. 😕⁉️

See you Friday! 😃

Will Sylvan 🌳 www.sticksandropes.co.uk
Wolf 🐺 Wild Ways Bushcraft & Survival Skills

🌱 Saplings & Spades 🌱

Our last session was less playing among the old trees and more planting young ones. We went on a visit to a local allotment to start planting hedgerow trees kindly donated by the The Woodland Trust. So many thanks to them. 🌳🌳

We planted a wide range of spieces including Oak, Rowan, Birch, Hawthorn, Willow and many more. We will now be able to watch them grow over the years into a beautiful hedgerow providing food, forage and shelter for human and non-human beings alike. 🐦🐦‍⬛

We also explored the compost mountain range, asked questions of the numerous vegetables growing and dug dug dug to our hearts content. ♠️👩🏻‍🌾

After a week off for one of our leaders to get his first aid training topped up we will be back this Friday to see what else we can do to give back to the woods that support us so readily. 💚💚

Stay playful,
Will Sylvan 🥦 www.sticksandropes.com
Wolf 🐺 Wild Ways Bushcraft & Survival Skills

🏞️ Clay, Mountains and Wild friends 🦌

Spring is hitting hard back at the lingering winter chills with sun and spring bulbs putting in some serious work. While we love the wood in all seasons, it was looking particularly pretty as the trees cast their long shadows and sunlight danced in the streams. 🌞😎

After a little clay modelling, we took it all in with a long walk to the 'mud slide' where we spotted deer, heron and buzzards, met our match on the slopes and found some delicious foragibles poking their leaves into the warming air. 🚶‍♂️🚶🏻‍♀️

Finally, a welcome visitor, brought out our reflective sides as we closed the day and wound down our games of hide & sneak. 🫥🤔

This week we do our bit for the restoration of hedgerow in the area by going on another forest school trip to a local allotment. 🌳🌱

See you there :)

Will Sylvan 🌳
Wolf 🐺 Wild Ways Bushcraft & Survival Skills

🦘 Paws & Jump! 🦘

For our last session of the block we built on last week's deer sighting and experimented with making casts of animal prints with sand and plaster of paris. With some excellent results! As the day rolled on we noticed several signs of animal activity in the area. Our tracking senses tingling... 👣🐾

After a nourishing lunch, while Wolf worked on a new shelter, we stuck the woodland telly on for another episode of Strictly Come Jumping, with all new themes, judges and unexpected moves from the contestants. With feet now suitably wet, we gathered around our fire to reflect on the day and look forward to the block to come. 💃🕺

Winter still grips on to the land but Spring is rearing her head to thaw it from those icy clutches. We are taking 2 weeks off this time so we will be back in the woods on Friday 28th February. 🥶🌱

See you then! ☺️

Will Sylvan Sticks and Ropes 🌳
Wolf Wild Ways Bushcraft & Survival Skills 🐺

🌴 Plan B = Botanicals! 🎋

We were blown out of the woods last Friday and swapped wild for cultivated, as we spread our wings and landed at Sheffield's famous Botanical Gardens where spring was just starting to peek it's head. We used all but our eyes to get to know the magnolias, gave ursa major a makeover, found Oskars gallery and had a picnic on the lawn. And that was just the morning! 🐻🖌️

Our afternoon was spent travelling the world through plants and sussing out our suspicions in round after round of warewolf. Thank you Botanical Gardens for your shelter and safety in the storm. Next week we return (weather willing) to our beloved fire circle! 🌏😳

See you in the woods,
Will Sylvan 🌳
Wild Ways Bushcraft & Survival Skills 🐺

www.sticksandropes.co.uk

🤎 Bird Feed & Muddy Feet! 🤎

Well... what an adventure! New friends, the spring circus prep begins and bird feeders 3 ways in the morning. The afternoon took twists and turns following the winterworn river into a deadly bog, that threatened to consume us! Thought we were going to lose a few there. Shoes I mean 😆👞

Great to have some new faces in the group and can't wait to find out what happens next week! Bring your wellies, maybe even waders! 🥰🏞️

Ooh and you'll be glad to know the wasp eggs turned out to be deer poop!🥚💩

So grateful for these woods! Such fun, discovery and excitement 😃🤩

Stay playful,
Will Sylvan
Sticks and Ropes

💥Strike, Simmer & Circus🤸‍♀️

We've had a very busy final block of the calendar year with all sorts of diversions, activities and learnings along the way. We'll be back to weekly summaries next block to keep the world updated but as for this one, you had to be there! Here's a little flavour and I'll let you fill the gaps: 🪢🐾

8th November: Reconnection & Rope Games
15th November: Fire Preparation & Wood Storage
22nd November: Fire Safety & Lighting Practice
29th November: Giving Back to the Woods
6th December: Fire Trials & Campfire Cooking
13th December: Yuletide Party with Craft, Music & Circus!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all those involved, linked and who have supported Sticks & Ropes over the years. We are eternally grateful and it wouldn't be possible without you! 🎅🎉

All the very best for the next year. Can't wait to get back to the woods! Find more info about what we have planned on our website: www.sticksandropes.co.uk ⛺️🏞

See you in the woods,
Will Sylvan 🌳
&
Wolf 🐺 Wild Ways Bushcraft & Survival Skills

🎃 Pumpkin Patch Kids! 🎃

A dense mist engulfed our land this Friday past. The silence seemed to go on and on... And on. Not even the robin dared to tweet. To ward off any dormant evil spirits and bring light to the dark, we visited our friendly neighbourhood organic grower Matt and stocked up on pumpkins! 👻🧑🏻‍🌾

Our afternoon flew by, as we sliced, diced and disemboweled our soon-to-be lanterns, had a little dance and cooked up a few hocus potions. 🎃🧙🏼‍♀️

We extended gratitude to the woods, each other and the way we get to spend our time. As we enter the dark side of the year. It is time to rest, reflect and celebrate our harvests. 🙏🏽🎑

We are having a break next week. And will be back in the woods on 8th November! 😴🗓️

Stay safe,
Will 🌳 Sticks and Ropes
Wolf 🐺 Wild Ways Bushcraft & Survival Skills

With special thanks to:

Wholefoods
https://www.instagram.com/matt_and_el_from_beanies?igsh=MzJ4ZWd5YXZuM2hu

And Wolf for his awesome photography skills!

🏞️ Forest Flows & Strictly Come Jumping 🏞️

Last Friday all plans went out the window bar a little work on the den as a badger skull captured our imaginations and the tribe found themselves flowing to wherever the woods took them. A bracelet making class appeared, along with many interesting fungi that caught our eye.💀🍄

And LIVE from Newfield Spring Wood may we present Strictly Come Jumping!!! Contestants gave it their all, as many a shape flew through the air... With most landing with style!💃🏻🕺🏽

Samhain AKA Halloween draws close and it is time to celebrate the turning of the seasons, offer gratitude for the harvest and of course, honor the dead, who will RISE AGAIN! MUHAHAHAHAA! 🎃☸️

Stay spooky,
Will 🌳 Sticks and Ropes
Wolf 🐺 Wild Ways Bushcraft & Survival Skills