Hackney Outdoors Blog

Hackney Forest School trainee and mum of a 6 year old, rewilding my family and others in and around London. Also scouting, herbalism, bushcraft. Go to www.hackneyoutdoors.co.uk to view our latest events.

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Epic #elderpot making at my Wilderness and Climbing day camp today at @castle_climbing_garden @thecastleclimbingcentre !We learned about the elder tree, whittled some short branches with knives, hollowed the branches into pots by removing the inner pith, used hacksaws to cut lids, trimmed some twig bungs to attach the lids, then decorated. I loved that I had a few tweenage and teenage girls who really really got into this activity and made 2-3 pots apiece, revealing some pretty smart knife and sawing skills. Also loving the Tube train map design on the second picture #ilovelondon❤️ That’s pure #urbanforestschool :) #woodworking #whittling #whittlingwood #elderwood #woodcarving #woodcrafts #hackneyoutdoors #knives #forestschool #forestschoolideas (at The Castle Climbing Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChKquaCIotS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Never quite sure what clouds these are - #altocumulus or #cirrocumulus ? #cloudwatching #mackerelsky #sky #cloud #clouds #hackneyoutdoors (at Clissold Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd3Su4SI2Wu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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A sunny day is perfect for harvesting fragrant #lemonbalm (#melissaofficinalis) and turning it into something useful like a cold sore preventing lip balm! Lemon balm, long used by apothecaries, is one the most important members of the mint family. It’s rich concentration of citral and citronellal oils can calm the nervous system, so it’s perfect for an anti-anxiety tea, plus it’s polyphenol antiviral content makes it a handy cold sore remedy. Here I’ve infused fresh leaves in olive & wheatgerm oil, strained, then added a little beeswax, honey and tea tree oil. I love using my garden herbs! Thanks to @botanygeek for the recipe. Also - lip balm making is a good #forestschool activity for older kids especially if they’re #diycreators. #lemonbalm #herbalism #herbalife #diyremedies #homeremedies #urbanphysicgarden #urbangardening #herbalmedicine #hackneyoutdoors https://www.instagram.com/p/CdTX7NfoJBl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Lots of fun making white #clay bones together this morning and making up stories about them! Bottom right is a palaeontology ‘crime scene’ apparently where a baby stegosaurus was bitten & murdered by a mean old T-Rex. Also lots of rare preserved dino skin found (most definitely inspired by watching @bbcearth Dinosaurs: The Final Day from @davidattenborough ) #youngpaleontologists #dinosaurs #forestschoolideas #forestschool #history #hackneyoutdoors #keystage1 #homeschool https://www.instagram.com/p/CdSlpeNo8rO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I’m pretty chuffed with assessor’s feedback so far on my Forest School Portfolio! Only Unit 3 and my Handbook to complete in the next 4 weeks. This has been a chunky bit of work to manage with a day job and family commitments, but it’ll be well worth it in the end! Shout out to all the #forestschoolleader s! #forestschool #forestschoolleadertraining #hackneyoutdoors #outdoorlearningforkids #outdoorlearning #outdooreducation #portfoliocareer https://www.instagram.com/p/CdILzDeIGy8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Happy May 1 or Beltane to you all! Especially those of you like my friend George who was out Morris-ing at dawn at Haytor with this awesome gang! We’re now heading off to Hastings in search of the newly awakened Green Man... #beltane #beltaneblessings #mayday https://www.instagram.com/p/CdAd7D2osww/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I have dirty fingers but sharp knives! Thanks to Stokey’s @kitchenprovisions for tonight’s knife sharpening workshop, where I learnt to use my Suehiro combi #whetstone, feel for a burr, strop & and also sharpen a curved blade (my #opinelmushroomknife ❤️). Time to get whittling with the #moraknives! (And, come to think of it, sharpen my kitchen knives) #knivesofinstagram🔪 #knives #knifesharpening #whetstonesharpening #forestschool #whittling #forestschoolleader #outdooreducation #stokenewington #mushroomforaging https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc3bahLIOLx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I’ve been writing about methods of sustainable woodland management in my #forestschoolportfolio today (Unit 5) and was reminded by this timely post from @wildwoodtrustuk how the reintroduction of native animals such as Bison can help boost biodiversity! I’ll be pinching that example then 😃#forestschoolleader #forestschoolleadertraining #forestschool Posted @withregram • @wildwoodtrustuk Today is #EarthDay2022 and to save our planet we need to act fast! It’s going to take all of us. All in. Everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable. A partnership for the planet. We all have to do our bit and so at Wildwood we have launched our Wilder Blean project in partnership with @kentwildlife . We will be releasing a small herd of Bison into Blean woods near Canterbury, funded by players of @peoplespostcodelottery . The project will promote stronger habitats by restoring natural processes that are able to withstand the current environmental crisis and species decline, and in the long run, reverse it. In the UK, lack of woodland management is one of the eight biggest drivers of species decline. Wilder Blean aims to bring transformational change through a controlled trial with bison; a missing keystone species that is able to naturally manage woodlands. In addition to consuming great quantities of grasses and feeding on shrubs, bison influence the vegetation by de-barking trees, breaking open dense undergrowth (by literally walking right through it), and creating bare soil patches (by dust bathing), which allows pioneer plants to move in. In addition, bison disperse nutrients (dung) and seeds across their territory. Breeding birds use bison winter fur as nesting material, and magpies follow the bison herd to pick off ticks and other parasites. To put it scientifically the bison are a catalyst for biodiversity. In 2007, bison were introduced into the Kraansvlak coastal dune reserve in the Netherlands. This project has been a great success: the bison herd is thriving and – thanks to the bison and other grazers – the landscape has regained the dynamic and varied dune formations it used to be known for. #earthday #conservation #britishwildlife #biodiversity https://www.instagram.com/p/CcpurKooaMU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I love #oak leaves at this time of year. Fresh out of the box, smooth and perfectly formed, and a beautiful spring 💚 green #oak #oakleaf #trees #spring #springtime #hackneyoutdoors #nature #abneypark (at Abney Park Cemetery) https://www.instagram.com/p/CckITjWoqyM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Is this wee thing possibly a #stgeorgesmushroom ? As it’s the right time of year (close to St George’s Day), as found at @abneyparkn16 but on its own, not in a ring. About 5cm cap diameter. I should’ve sniffed it of course, as St George’s mushrooms apparently smell like flour! If it is, it’s an edible shroom, found between April and May in the UK. #mycology #mushrooms #mushrooms #mushroomhunting #calocybegambosa #stgeorgesmushroom #mycology #mycologists #hackneyoutdoors (at Abney Park Cemetery) https://www.instagram.com/p/CciNRxkIFdR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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This elm leaf is 6000 years old, and can be seen at the astonishing World of Stonehenge exhibition at the @britishmuseum. It is one of many incredible objects that help explain the context of why our early farming ancestors were inspired to build & reshape monuments and ritual sites such as the famous Henge over thousands of years, as part of a collective sun worship. It’s quite an emotional exhibition - a real love letter to the past - I’d hugely recommend it if you even have a passing interest in ‘old stones’ . #megalithicmarvels #megalithic #oldstones #stonehenge #worldofstonehenge (at British Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcVuVtGoF9G/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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A reminder how astonishingly beautiful nature can be! An #emeraldswallowtail as seen at the #butterfly house at @zslwhipsnadezoo today. The wing scales refract the light to provide that stunning 💚 green #butterflies #butterfly #emeraldswallowtailbutterfly #papiliopalinurus #familydayout #familyday #hackneyoutdoors #butterflies🦋 #whipsnadezoo (at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcTWXFeomIj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I found a #mermaidspurse out on a lovely bright beach walk today. These are egg cases from sharks or rays that protect a developing embryo ... I think this one may be from a lesser spotted dogfish (also known as a small spotted catshark) as we’ve seen quite a few of them washed up onto the shore. #beachcombing #beachcombingfinds #mermaidspurse #lesserspotteddogfish #smallspottedcatshark #dungeness #kent #getoutside #hackneyoutdoors (at Dungeness) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcI1vBioWdw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Hagstone haul! Hagstones (stones with holes created by water) are supposed to protect you from bad luck as only good fortune can pass through the hole... wear one around your neck to #staylucky #hagstones #hagstone #beach #beachcombing #dungeness #greenwitch (at Dungeness) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcGZz5CI-Mx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Absolutely knackering non Forest School work schedule at the moment is limiting how much outdoor time I am getting - but at least the #potmarigold and #chamomile seeds have germinated! #urbangarden #urbanphysicgarden #herbalism #gardeningwithkids #hackneyoutdoors https://www.instagram.com/p/CcFMq3KIael/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Posted @withregram • @naturepremiumuk 🚨 We need your help! 🚨 We want the government to recognise the Nature Premium as part of their strategy for levelling up skills, education and wellbeing for children. The Nature Premium aims to secure funding for schools to support regular time in nature for all children. Repost this message to show you support the Nature Premium to help us raise awareness and get it on the government agenda. #NaturePremium #NaturePremiumNow #GrowUpGreener #Nature #Outdoors #Children #MentalHealth #ChildrenMentalHealth #ChildrensHealth #HealthandWellbeing #Wellbeing #Health #Outside #Adventure #Exploring #Education #Educate #Schools https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb11mqAIJmh/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Shhh don’t tell him but I just sorted my son his first knife for his 7th birthday which is happening in the next few days. This lovely little @morakniv Scout is a nice size, has finger guards and a rounded tip. I also got him a pair of cut resistant gloves for his ‘helping hand’ when we try a bit of whittling. Now I just need to up my own sheath knife game! Starting with actually learning to sharpen them so I’ve also just bagged a whetstone from @kitchenprovisions. #whittling #whittlingwithkids #sheathknife #morascout #morascoutsafe #sheathknife #forestschool #forestschoolkit #outdoors #hackneyoutdoors #outdooreducation #lifeskills #lifeskillsforkids https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbznoczod-r/?utm_medium=tumblr