Due to Covid-19 restrictions currently limiting off-site watersports opportunities, this term Middles and Senior pupils have been offered "Outdoor Pursuits" as an additional Games option. Instead of the usual sailing on Grafham Water and canoeing on the River Ouse, our Outdoor Pursuits team have put together a varied programme of on-site canoeing and kayaking (in the Duchess and Spinney ponds), alongside Bushcraft activities in the School grounds. 

On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, Mr Lucas has been working with small cohorts of Third to Sixth Formers covering Bushcraft skills such as sharp tool use, fire lighting, tree identification, tool making, fence making and conservation. Meanwhile Mr Sweet has been coaching pupils on the water, honing their paddle strokes, capsize and rescue techniques.

The picture here shows Fourth Form students using willow, evergreen cuttings, cones and wild berries (all sourced from the School grounds) to make seasonal wreaths. Several lengths of willow are shaped into a circular base for the cuttings and decorative elements to be threaded into. The only other materials used in the creation of these rustic wreaths are red ribbon and a small amount of twine as a hanging loop!

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