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Each week we are developing out wild nature, running, stalking, tracking, listening, and feeling

On week one much time was spend exploring the 26 ache woodland, walking, running, balancing and climbing

Getting to know each other through play and fun woodland activities

Fungi hunting today.

For our John Muir Family Award journey, we decided to focus our activity on our local park, Barham Park. Located in the London Borough of Brent, [Grid ref:TQ171851 (517253,185145)], this is a large park, measuring 10.5 hectares. Although some areas of the park are managed and have ornamental features, for example, the walled garden and children’s playground area, a large portion of it is comprised of open parkland which makes it suitable for award activity and provides scope for exploration as a wild place. In fact, we identified three specific areas which also constituted distinct habitats within the grounds, (see map in Explore section for exact location). These areas included a woodland-type habitat, situated along the Chiltern Railway track at the perimeter of the park, a large meadow area of long grass in the centre of the park and an area of coniferous trees alongside it, and, finally, a pond habitat. We focused on these areas and their different characteristics in our activities and they provided ample opportunities for using our senses and responding to these varied environments.

Our final work site of the course was a section of path on Ben Lomond. The issue with this section was the use of an older style of pitching that was built some time ago. While this style is undoubtedly resilient (especially considering the volume of footfall on Ben Lomond) it can be somewhat unpleasant to walk on. A result of this was apparent on this section in particular where walkers had deviated from the path, causing damage to the surrounding area in the form unsightly desire lines. The work that we undertook was to repair this damage to the landscape, but also to rebuild sections of path to encourage walkers to remain on the path. The photo shows one of four stretches of pitching that we built through this section, in a far more accommodating style than what was there previously.