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Moorfoot Primary School and International Year of the Forest Project

To celebrate the international year of forests we invited children from Moorfoot Primary school to create small wooden figures that would remain in the forest and act as guardians protecting the trees in our absence.

To allow the newly created guardians the freedom to climb between the trees, children constructed ladders and bridges some of which were suspended between branches, others rested against the feet of trees to allow access from the forest floor.

Overlooking the smaller figures, nestled into the roots of a fallen tree, a larger figure adorned with a crown, necklace and colourful eye reaches for his hand carved staff.  The children and adults gathered to pass the figure’s wooden heart from person to person each being given the chance to whisper a wish into the heart before passing it on and whether these personal messages were mischievous or heartfelt were unimportant as the figures heart was placed into his hollow torso.

Within moments the children were engaged in other activities, enjoying the freedom and adventure that this environment offers, watched over by the guardians of the forest.

Stephanie Walker

Gorebridge Community Development Trust