As we look back over the summer, it’s clear that the season gave us everything- sunshine, drought, rain showers, muddy puddles, blooming flowers, and a whole lot of outdoor magic. Forest school life never stands still, and this summer was a beautiful reminder of how much children learn when nature leads the way.

Our summer party in July was a perfect example of forest‑school resilience. A little bit of rain tried to join the celebration, but it didn’t dampen our spirits one bit. Families gathered for an outdoor picnic, children hoola hooped, and we saw some ukulele singing from our school leavers. Spike Bonzo kept everyone giggling with his brilliant entertainment alongside his furry sidekick Cheesecake. Face paints turned our little ones into butterflies, tigers, mermaids, and superheroes- all proudly showing off their colourful designs ( despite the drizzle.) One of our Pre-School parents brough along their Coffee Trailer Joyful Bean to supply caffeine for the parents.

There was something wonderfully grounding about celebrating outdoors, even with the unpredictable weather. It reminded us that joy doesn’t depend on sunshine- it grows wherever children are free to play.

Eco‑School Success: Harvests, Wildflowers, and Growing Together

This summer also marked a huge achievement for our eco‑school journey. Whilst the weather might have been a bit too hot for us in past weeks, the plants in the greenhouse have been thriving! We have seen beautiful yellow flowers on both our pumpkin and courgette plants, and the tomato plant is growing taller than some of the children! The children in Honeybees and Ladybirds have enjoyed tending to and watching our produce grown. We are all excited to try some vegetables come harvest time.

One of the biggest lessons this summer came from the long stretch of drought. The children saw first‑hand how thirsty the plants became, how the soil changed, and how much effort it took to keep our gardens alive. Watering became a daily ritual, and conversations blossomed about why rain is important, how plants drink, and what happens when nature doesn’t get what it needs. Our pond needed some extra help this year too, so not to dry out. It was a powerful, real‑world learning experience, and one that made the eventual rainfall yesterday feel like a celebration.

After weeks of dry days, we all appreciated the rain in a new way.

Summer’s Outdoor Gifts

Despite the challenges, summer offered endless opportunities for exploration:

• building dens in the shade
• collecting dry leaves, sticks, and seeds
• observing insects that thrive in warm weather
• creating art with natural materials
• enjoying long stretches of outdoor play

Every day brought something new to discover, and the children embraced it with curiosity, creativity, and confidence.

Our forest school holiday club has been a huge success, it’s in full swing with some dates still remaining so get booked on today!- Inspirations Nurseries and Forest School – Booking by Bookwhen

The hottest summer on record isn’t over yet, but the hot weather is. As we move into autumn, we carry with us all the lessons summer taught us- resilience, teamwork and appreciation of rain! Our forest school nursery continues to grow, just like the children within it, and we can’t wait to see what the next season brings.

-Nathalie