#hackneyoutdoors

[hackneyoutdoors]

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=

[outdoorpeeps]

Waking up to this view... #hammocklife #hackney #hackneyoutdoors #30dayswild

[hackneyoutdoors]

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=

[hackneyoutdoors]

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=

[hackneyoutdoors]

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=

[hackneyoutdoors]

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=

[hackneyoutdoors]

We had laugh at the @castle_climbing_garden ‘s wassail to wake the fruit trees this afternoon! This is the bit where we hung apple juice soaked toast from the trees as we blessed them, to grow well this year. Videos in Stories for more but I am really getting quite into nature- inspired or pagan ritual at the moment. I was also pleased to kick off a story circle around the fire where everyone adds a line to a tale - predictably our characters ended up in space 🚀 or down toilets 🚽. #wassail #pagan #community #hackneyoutdoors #natureblessings #wassailing (at The Castle Climbing Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZmtqVZoEp-/?utm_medium=tumblr

[hackneyoutdoors]

Found SO MANY #mushrooms at @abneyparkn16 today .. check out my current story for the full list & pics. Lots of #parasols out there but also Dead Man’s Fingers, Candlesnuff Fungus, Birch Polypore, Bonnets, Lumpy Brackets, King Alfred’s Cakes, Jelly Ears and a mystery all-white mushroom that made me excited and nervous as all white mushrooms tend to do! #mushrooms #fungi #fungiphotography #mycology #natureidentification #forestschoolsuk #hackneyoutdoors #themagnificentsevencemeteries #abneypark (at Abney Park Cemetery) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVQUv3hoycC/?utm_medium=tumblr

[hackneyoutdoors]

Mush 😆 excitement chez nous this morning as our home-grown #blueoystermushrooms are emerging from our @fatfoxmushrooms box! #mushrooms #fungi #ediblemushrooms #blueoystercult #oystermushrooms #mushroomcultivation #urbangardening #hackneyoutdoors https://www.instagram.com/p/CVPeFQHoG3g/?utm_medium=tumblr

[hackneyoutdoors]

Harvesting our sun-baked lavender heads this morning for their delicious smelling flowers. #herbalism #hackneyoutdoors #sensory #flowers #herbgarden #herbalism #kitchengarden https://www.instagram.com/p/CRn9FIoHEFw/?utm_medium=tumblr

[hackneyoutdoors]

Massive massive thanks to the amazing @descattys for posting me a lovely Catapault (the bottom one) to match my sons! We’ll be taking it out this weekend to hopefully hit snowballs lined up on a wall (if the snow arrives!). Perfect for stretching our longer distance vision after all those screens, & hand to eye coordination. So thanks for sharing your amazing whittling talent Des! We’re ending another homeschool week - wow it doesn’t get any easier with juggling work too - but hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel... #catapault #catty #slingshot #familyactivities #potshot #hackneyoutdoors #tech #whittling #whittlingwood #bushcraftforkids #bushcraft #actsofkindness https://www.instagram.com/p/CK6QR1OhWBe/?igshid=148ddj2kb2fa9

[hackneyoutdoors]

Maths! Lots of people struggle with it. I think my son engages best with mini challenges such as this one, which happened when we were exploring concepts like ‘equals to’ or ‘greater than’ as part of his school homework. Okay - it’s not quite #outdoorlearning but on a #rainyday we’re still using natural materials in this case #acorns we picked up at the weekend - which I think makes the exercise just that little more memorable, and associated with a fun weekend, so perhaps that helps it sink in & stick. Or maybe that’s wishful thinking! ⠀ ⠀ #maths #science #keystage1maths #greaterthan #equalto #acorns #trees #homeschool #homework #forestschooluk #outdoormums #parenting #forestschoolideas #switchoff #hackneyoutdoors https://www.instagram.com/p/CGW-He1gVOG/?igshid=10z08vkzfrqpb

[hackneyoutdoors]

Another good spot for trip into nature, not far from Hackney, is the Amwell Nature Reserve just between Stanstead Abbotts and Ware on the Lee Valley Canal. My son, husband and I spent a glorious early autumn Sunday up there on a bike ride a week or so back and it’s now a new favourite. We started at Stanstead Abbotts and cycled up towards Ware, crossing into the nature reserve as we went. We stopped in Ware and then returned back on the opposite towpath. It was about 4-5 miles round trip. Our sojourn was full of lovely moments to share - we saw Cormorants sunning themselves in the reserve, were peeped at by a cheeky robin while we ate lunch and made friends with first a canoeist and then a narrow-boater as he navigated a lock, all while enjoying the lovely canal & surrounds on two wheels. It’s really inspired us to try a canal boating weekend sometime soon! How to get there: St Margaret’s is the closest train station into Stanstead Abbots. Alternatively you can drive; there’s a car park next to the station. #blog #leevalley #nature #outdoorlearningforkids #canal #birdlovers #birdwatching #canalboats #hackneyoutdoors #londongreenspaces #hertfordshire #londonbikelife #amwellnaturereserve #outdoorlearning #rewild #outdoormums #familyactivities #outdooreducation #greenliving #parenting (at Stanstead Abbots) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGCaUROBv7a/?igshid=1owv1kmpdfft9

[hackneyoutdoors]

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=

[hackneyoutdoors]

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=

[hackneyoutdoors]

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=