Last summer we went on ‘walkabout’ visiting the Othona Community in Essex. We ran eco-activities for Othona's family Environment Week alongside A Rocha UK a Christian environmental charity that both Hopeswood and Othona partner with. We had loads of fun - some people camped, others slept in Othona's yurts, or their Straw Bale house. We shared fellowship over yummy home-cooked meals with people from around the world. We went swimming, built and walked around labyrinths, and had lots of fun. We found out about some of the other creatures we share God's amazing world with, and how we can care for them better.
Together we made mini-ponds from buckets and old washing-up bowls.
We found lots of ladybirds and all sorts of other different creatures on our mini-beast hunt...
We made wildflower seed bombs to take home to attract more insects into our own gardens...
...and went out on a nighttime bat walk to see and hear (with a bat detector) some of our nocturnal neighbours.
We made a labyrinth on the beach, decorating it with shells, pebbles and sand art. We walked the labyrinth on our own and together, before watching the tide wash it all away, to leave a clean 'canvas' of sand ready for fresh adventures!
Thank you everyone at Othona - we had a wonderful time!