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Its been a crazy past few weeks for fungi at Sydenham Hill Wood and we've been doing lots of identification using the Collins fungi guide! The first photo shows 'stereum rameale', a crust fungi that is mainly found on branches. The second photo shows 'exidia glandulosa' also known as black witches butter. The third and fourth photos show 'tremella mesenterica' also known as yellow brain.

Slime mould is often mistaken for a fungi but is infact a living organism! They are single-celled organisms that group together and move about. The first photo shows 'mucilago crustacea', also known as dog sick slime mould due to it's vomit like appearance. The second and third photos show 'ceratiomyxa fruticulosa' and finally the last photo shows 'trichia decipiens'. Camera tip: hold a small magnifying glass up to your phones camera to capture some close-ups!

Image 1- This is a picture of the group after clearing and conserving the mini beasts area in Crane Park. The area they are standing in was previously Dense Shrubbery and the clearance was to allow access and sunlight to the mini-beasting constructions inlaid at the sides Image 2 Discovery and exploration of the River Crane taking place. The students are Kick sampling the river to investigate the range of life in the area and discovering the overall healthy nature of the area Image 3 Students conserving the pond area by removing invasive duckweed to allow light and diversity of growth to take place. Image 4 Students sharing their ideas and questions at the Hogsmill Sewage Treatment Plant. The staff shared ideas about water preservation and the nature of the water cycle. Students shared their experience via a video interview and by questioning experts on their roles and the important questions the students had about flooding and pollution. Discover Our group discovered Crane Park Nature reserve as a community resource for mental health and leisure as well as a place to learn essential skills for horticulture and team working. We later went on to discover the work and science involved in water treatment and how our water needs fit into the water cycle. Explore We explored the Crane Park island learning about habitat needs of wildlife and the history of Gunpowder making on the site. Students were given the opportunity to spend quiet time alone in nature to explore this as a resources for their mindfulness needs. We engaged at an in depth exploration of the river habitat by taking part in a kick sampling activity to understand the diversity of life in the river system that would normally be invisible to them. Conserve, The group were taught the importance of conservation in providing protection for these limited wild spaces, particularly in the built up urban area. Students took part in brush clearing activity's to open up wildflower and meadow areas to sunlight. They cleared Himalayan balsam, learning how these non-indigenous species spread and hinder the growth of a diverse range of plant species. The group went on to cut back overgrown willow areas and use these in the creation of dead hedging. They learnt this was an important habitat for a range of insects and to protect the hedgehogs which are in danger. Some students took part in Pond cleaning to allow a more healthy environment for the pond species to thrive. Share The students went on to learn important skills in media interviews - in particular how to take part in and conduct interviews and inquiries. This enabled them to share their experience via a media interview and to later find out about important environmental questions from Laura the project officer and from Deena the liaison at the Hogsmill Sewage Treatment Plant

So again inspired by Alison and her barefoot beach poems we decided to create some Autumn ones of our own. Using the letters AUTUMN to spell out the first letter of each line. We all joined in at different levels depending on age and ability. The little ones looking around to see what they could see that began with each letter. Passersby stopping to enquire and enjoying the poems also :) Littliest member decided to make up his own song and dancing on the picnic table occurred. Such joy.

8th Nov Inspired by Andy Goldsworthy's glowing trees we set off to create one of our own. Our search for yellow leaves drew us further into parts of the woods we hadn't explored before. Golden treasure and new places found. Some we will return to for picnics in the Spring. It took a lot more leaves than we had thought. And a lot more patience :)

10 Nov. It took several art and writing sessions to create these versions of our Autumn poems we wrote together in the woodland. We were very happy with our results.

We have received some free trees from the Woodland Trust and so have planted them in our Forest School area. We are learning what trees need to flourish and so will be looking after these saplings to encourage more wildlife to the area. Trees we planted were: rowan, dogwood, hazel, cherry and oak.