Nature Nursery is back

(Goblin is 43 months)

A fortnight ago we made it back to Nature Nursery. The farm has been closed for a while because they are doing lots of renovations in preparation for opening the Steiner kindergarden. I was so excited to see what had changes and to let Goblin run loose for a while. 

Goblin still wasn't 100% after being ill for so long and this resulted in mini melt downs on several occasions when the flow of the morning didn't go exactly how he wanted. So while I enjoyed feeding the sheep Goblin was busy sulking because he'd wanted to go to the polytunnels. 

Once we finally made it back up to the polytunnels he was delighted. While we've been away they have laid a wheelchair and buggy friendly track all the way from the barn to the polytunnels. Goblin and Elfin had a great time exploring them and the various lose parts lying around.

But as usual the best bit of Goblin's morning was some unstructured time just mucking around in the hay barn. He found a pile of nylon ties that had been used around the bails. He called them tomato sauce and the hay was his spaghetti. He and the girls got down to moving the hay around and putting tomato sauce string on the top. And when this imaginary play was done they had a game of hide and seek. I'm so glad Nature Nursery is back.

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Hidden delights at Nature Nursery

(Goblin is 36 months)

There is construction work a foot at the farm this week. The kids went to investigate the new wooden walkways that have been installed running to the wood and a garden area. At the end of one of the paths they discovered a currently unused polytunnel.

The tunnel housed delight and wonder. It had a fluffy plant that scattered its fluff into the air if you poked it. 

And there were old bits of wood and loose dirt and tractor tires that had been used as raised flower beds. Goblin and Elfin were in their element and set to work doing ..... well just doing stuff, as only children can. What ever it was it was very important and they worked away industriously moving the earth around.

What I love about Nature Nursery are all the different ways the children play. They find a new thing to occupy themselves with ever time. We don't have a structure to the visit and that suits them perfectly. They are all curious kids and they learn through doing. I'm sure some parents might have stuck their heads into that polytunnel and recoiled at the broken spiky bits of wood and other potential death traps, but really what the children saw was a little haven of exciting adventure.

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Nature Nursery and Sex Education!

(Goblin is 36 months)

We went to nature nursery this week. They are doing lots of building work on the farm preparing for opening a Steiner (Waldorf) kindergarden.

This was great news for the kids who enjoyed knocking over the traffic cones and then playing in the ditch they were supposed to be protecting. Goblin and Elfin played for at least half an hour throwing clods of mud from the ditch to the puddles beyond. 

They did take a short break to feed the sheep

And we walked down to see the cows. One of the cows was in season - according to our Farmer the cows are fertile for one day a month. On this day the bull gets to 'hop on'. I was really hoping we'd see this taking place. I want Goblin to be able to see the act of insemination in animals because I want to educate Goblin as early as possible about sex, and making babies. I want him to learn the basics before it becomes embarrassing, so that it doesn't become embarrassing. I'd like him to understand it in such normal terms that it is as matter of fact as other functions like how your lungs work to oxygenate blood. 

Unfortunately the bull didn't want to share his intimate moments with us.

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Nature Nursery

(Goblin is 31 Months) 

What a difference a fortnight makes. Two weeks ago at Nature Nursery we had beautiful weather. In fact it was so hot that after feeding the baby lambs we all retreated to the woods for some shade and a game of hide and seek. 

This week was a different story, it tipped it down! We had a Steiner (waldorf) teacher visiting and the plan had been to make stick streamers - or "whooshy sticks" and let the kids run around with them. 

And I am pleased to say that despite the rain that is exactly what we did. (Learning for life would be so proud of us). I should probably point out that Goblin had been sensibly clad in a hat and raincoat at the start of our activity but he ran out into the rain after a cake break and got so instantly wet that it seemed pointless to redress him.

I wondered at one point whether the parents were having ore fun than the kids - it was certainly an activity that appealed to all ages. 

Elfin decorated the dung heap with her wands.

And took on some of her big sister duties with her tiny little brother. Don't worry she did wash her hands first!

And long after everyone else had gone home Bjorn and Goblin were still playing "fishing" in the biggest puddle - which grew in the three hours we were there.

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Nature Nursery 2

(Goblin is 25 months)

We had an amazing time at nature nursery today. About ten minutes after we arrived the farmer came to tell us that a cow had just given birth. He took us to the edge of the field where the mum and calf were and we were able to watch its first stumbling footsteps in this world.

Although the kids enjoyed looking at the cows they are a bit young to appreciate what an amazing experience it is seeing such a new life. They were actually more excited by the straw they could throw around and running about shouting "moo". 

 The herd are Shetlands and they have beautifully soft coats. In the same field as the newborn calf there was a two week old with her mum. Rudy the calf has the most amazing fluffy coat.

As well as seeing the cows we got to feed the sheep - one of mine and Goblin's favourite activities. 

 Look at this beautiful sheep. It had been rubbing up against plants and had greenery around its nek that made it look like 'the green man'. 

 I'm not the only mum who loves this activity. 

 This is Goblin's 'I am not a threat to you' stance. He does this with any animal if he wants them to approach. I have seen him do it with dogs and cats but the sheep was a new one. 

After feeding the sheep we played with some clay and made pots and stuff. I got so into this activity I forgot to take any photos. Goblin decided he wanted to play in the car instead. I'm normally not comfortable leaving Goblin to play in the car on his own because its usually parked on the road by our house and he can get in and out the doors. But at the farm its safe and enclosed and I'm happy to let him spend the time turning the indicators on and off and adjusting my mirrors and light settings!

 And when we were packing away the kids found one of my plastic sheets I'd brought for the activity. Elfin said it was her kite and ran around the yard with it.  Goblin decided it was his kite and did a runner with it. 

So we had an interesting lesson in learning to share. It wasn't 100% successful but it didn't end in tears so I count that as a plus. Being in the outdoors is great, but being in the outdoors with other lovely likeminded people and fun friendly kids is just fantastic. 

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