The close of a soaring season…
As the dust settles on a beautiful season of woodland activities, we reflect on the programme which, following some false starts and pandemic issues in 2020 and 2021, took full flight for the first time this year.
We hosted an exciting range of activities; some at our group campsite behind May Hill Village Hall and others throughout the expansive woodlands of May Hill. With so many secret and magical spaces for gathering and simply being, these woods are the perfect place for running, playing, relaxing, retreating and re-calibrating.
From the orienteering event on May Day, through CaniX (Canicross), Qigong and festival celebrations, to the Buddhist camp in October, it has been a busy season with something for everyone. Our friend Danny from Walking Your Promise lead countless people into the woods to explore deeper connections to themselves and to nature; families joined us for bushcraft camps; and Morris of Touch Wood (who has his own green woodworking space adjacent to the Scout’s Field) led many green woodworking courses and taster days.
New in 2022 was a reciprocal round pole build with Shelter Craft. This low-impact building course took place over 9 days, during which around 15 people came together to build a beautiful roundhouse from start to finish. The roundhouse is incredible and has created another very special congregation point in the woodlands.
Alongside new activities and events we continued to host the events of friends and organisations who have been using the Scout’s Field for many, many years. These included Barnstorm Youth Theatre Camp, which (as always) was absolutely marvellous. This year the performance space was created in the Scout’s Field itself rather than in the village hall where it has been traditionally. This open-air setting made for an incredible atmosphere and we’re already excited for what next year will bring.
We continue to host the local May Hill and Huntley Scouts group, as well as Brownies, Cubs and various other youth and outdoor activities.
So, all in all a pretty packed year! Yet we are looking forward to hosting even more community-based activities and events as well as private gatherings, courses, workshops and retreats in 2023.
If you’re interested in booking the Scout’s Field for an event, or hosting an activity in the adjacent Woodlands please get in touch. Call Piers on 07864822336, or e-mail info@mayhillwoodlands.com.
