Isn’t it wonderful that nature will always be there to restore a sense of joy and freedom? Despite the interesting events of 2020, we have flourished in our creek and bush play this year, and it was our pleasure to be able to share our joy with our community in our recent Spring Fair. COVID restrictions relaxed just in time for us to welcome our community into our Little Birdwings Forest Kindy site for a morning of Spring Celebration.

It was an absolutely delightful morning! Our market stalls were run by local businesses and organisations but mostly set up by enterprising children, who put a great deal of energy and thought into their shops.

Hand-made signs, hand-made products with a focus on creativity, fun, sustainability – and deliciousness. Their excitement was infectious and we loved to see all the happy customers come and visit.

Face painting, hand-made crafts, cookies, ice blocks and games put smiles on everyone’s faces, and some well-earned dollars for our Kids-In-Business.

Locals families, businesses and organisations came to support our Fair. We love that our community value nature play as much as we do.

Families spread out across our site. They relaxed, enjoyed the sunshine, played with their children and explored the creek.

Children played, just as they should, with freedom and confidence in the water and in the trees.

Simple play, nature play, every child’s right.

And our morning finished with stories pulled from a basket. Stories made of cloth and smiles and giggles. Stories for celebrating Spring and all the good things that come when happy people share space together.

The entry tickets and donations from our Spring Fair contributed towards our Ecological Project Fund. Our current project includes planting Pararistolochia praevenosa, Richmond Birdwings Butterfly vines, to protect the habitat of this sensitive species. We are also planning to restore the riparian zone of our forest school site in 2021. This is important work for children to be a part of.

This is our Birdwings Forest School community. A space for families to relax in nature, to have adventures, to learn and grow together and to advocate for children’s access to wild nature, and the protection of local nature spaces. Because that’s where we are meant to be!