Book review. "Make it Wild" by Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield.

 I had this book for my birthday
 hmmmm that seems a while ago....
between the good weather, school and bank holidays it all seems a long time ago.
Anyway, a book review. Don't do these very often  but I want to tell you about this one.
Picture the scene on the birthday
A respectable pile of pressies and 3 children desperate to "help" you open them.
This book was one of the first.

Now before the applause starts for j for finding books like this he is wise enough to know that mostly my presents come from an Amazon list and hints. Occasionally he find a treasure and  I appreciate the effort he puts into buying things so he can have a little applause but not too much in case it goes to his head. Stop now
Back to the books. its written by... actually now  I flick through the book I cant find a biography but I seem to remember they organise workshops for Natural England but maybe I made that bit up!
I seem to have had a lot of american books recently so its nice to "hear" an English voice.
Essentially this books is a series of activities to go out and  in all seasons in the "wild".



 We, 3 kids and myself , flicked through it politely, which very quickly turned into pawing, as children wanted to see the pictures.

Now that last time a book had this reaction it was the Argos catalogue.
Ok so I exaggerate but that would give you an idea of how excited they got.

I have always loved making things out doors and often take a penknife and string in the bottom of my bag for impromptu raft building if we come across an stream.( miniature raft building)
This book was full of ideas. Some we have tried, some we want to try. Face and body painting with mud seemed to get the most votes.

Its a book to look through and build up a bank of ideas. Some need preparation and others can be quite spontaneous.
I particularly loved the chapter on snow and ice.
hmmm
wrong season.
We went for a walk in a local patch of woods we have recently discoverer and the 11 year old dove off into the undergrowth. Closely followed by the 4 year old and the soon to be 7 year old.
This is normal. We spend a lot of time hauling our children out of the undergrowth.
The 11 year old appeared with a 3 metre long piece of ivy, trailing it on the ground with the other 2 trying to catch the tail.
Much hilarity.
Quick talk on not taking living things from the woods.
11 year old promptly wound it into an ivy wreath.
I promptly claimed it for the easter table centre.
Now it sits above a mirror with an old weather vane we once found.

A couple of footnotes
The Easter table centre usually consist of a few branches of blossom onto which we hang some wooden eggs. This year has been so warm the few branches were covered in leaves and it looked my like a small bush.

My penknife was given to me by an ex boyfriend who had had it for his 18 birthday. he gave to to me as a token of his love and affection. It has his initials on it. I always feel guilty that I never returned it so If GHD is reading this it is well used and I will happily return it.
I really don't think its likely that GHD is reading this
Do you?!