At first glance on google maps, an urban estate in North-East of the city of Norwich is an unlikely site for a wildcraft day, but think again as this enterprising eco church team pulled it off. Jane Cubitt reports.
Wildcraft day at St. Francis, Heartsease was the blessed day we had prayed for. Our keen team of ‘Let it Grow’ gardeners had prepped for us and a valiant team of church family got stuck in. We had decided to do the event in conjunction with our cafe, table top sale and bike kitchen to cater for and draw in footfall. The weather was lovely and a variety of people from local communities came to specifically enjoy the wildcraft activities and space and others joined in too.
Many were attracted by the opportunity to make a bird or hedgehog house from flat pack kits made by Keri, an 88-year-old very talented gentleman, who worked heroically for four hours to make sure most children could go home with one, and the church has a hedgehog house now too.
Other activities included making dens, foraging in our ‘ Let it grow‘ area and four-tree orchard, planting wild flowers and bulbs and making a wild life pond. We were very fortunate to have a landscape gardener and his family turn up who created a wonderful pond.
Everyone got very involved and excited making a fire with a flint and steel and thoroughly enjoyed cooking and devouring vegan marshmallows, although to start with they were a bit charred as it proved too tempting to wait for the flames to die down!
Families and children were asked if they enjoyed the event and which activities in particular and the overwhelming response was, “EVERYTHING!” and, “Can we do it again soon?!” God willing, we will.
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