The students really enjoyed exploring their senses in the gardens, looking around the lawns and greenhouses for herbs and then smelling and soaking them to make soapy suds. It was a beautiful sunny day, so it was a prime opportunity to enjoy the sun, let loose, and follow their curiousity — usually, this led them to the Cactus room!

Many of the students had not visited Torre Abbey at all before, so there was plenty to discover in the museum. The students carefully explored their surroundings so that they could gather clues for their riddle trail. Along the way we found an Olympic torch, a ballroom, and even a rhino (albeit a statue of a rhino). We’re really lucky to have such a rich historic monument here in the heart of the Bay.

The workshop is for all ages and experience levels and will feature a range of fun games and exercises that explore how we can create exciting art and theatre in response to a particular place. In this case, we will be exploring the spirit of Treacle Valley woods.

The workshop is part of the celebrations for Doorstep Arts’ upcoming show, The Inheritance – a new play created by Doorstep Youth Theatre taking place at Kent’s Cavern in July and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Please meet in the woods at the usual place from 6.30pm and we will have hot drinks and a campfire to welcome you. If you haven’t been to an Earthworks session before, please drop Rich an email at rich@taleblazers.org.uk and we will arrange to meet you at the campsite car park. We expect the evening to end at around 8pm.

Making wooden cookie figures

Using a saw and a drill, we made these charming wooden cookie people out of natural materials found in the woodlands, using some cut hazel and some bark shavings for legs. Aren’t they cute! Don’t be deceived by their name; they are sadly non-edible. A wooden ‘cookie’ is a round cross-cut of wood.

Making popcorn – Bushcraft style

Bushcraft popcorn: an open fire, some sieves lashed to some Hazel — and voila — popping popcorn! We have added some sugar, butter and cinnamon for a winning combination.

Looking for signs of wildlife

As we move through the woodland, we can look for badger sets, tracks, droppings, fur, or owl pellets to try and guess what might live in or visit the area. Sometimes, we’ve even spotted deer on our wildlife camera!

Making dens

As the old adage goes, we are estimated to survive for around 3 weeks without food, 3 days without water, and 3 hours without shelter (depending on conditions). In bushcraft, we practice our shelter building skills, letting the students lead and offering constructive feedback.

Hanging out in hammocks

With the trees above us, there’s nothing nicer than lying back and listening to the birds. On some sessions we’ve been more noisy, and played instruments (kazoos!) we’ve crafted, or bongos we’ve brought. We’ve meditated, we’ve cocooned, or swung gently in the breeze. And if we’re feeling a little more energetic, we might burn some of it off by tackling the slackline!

Recently, two of our students who are completing the John Muir Award spent an afternoon at Churston Cove, a location frequently visited by the public where seals can often be spotted enjoying the tranquil waters brimming with life.

After gaining insights into the objectives of The Seal Project, the students developed posters to raise awareness about appropriate actions when encountering seals, highlighting what to do — and behaviours to avoid. We also learned about the small population of Common Seals that visit the Bay, and the subtle differences in their appearance.

The students independently designed their own posters and were given the option to focus on either an anti-litter message or cautioning the public against feeding seals. Litter can ensnare seals in plastic, hindering their ability to feed properly. Directly feeding them can also lead to excessive dependence on humans or expose seals and humans to potential harm.

This was an issue for Devon and Cornwall police as recently as last year, with a seal named ‘Spearmint’ becoming vulnerable to anti-social behaviour, dog attacks and physical harm after being habituated towards humans. In a report (ITV), a spokesperson from Devon and Cornwall Police said:

“We have received reports of seals being fed from boats within Brixham Harbour.

Feeding wild seals creates really big problems for seals and humans. Seals are quick learners and just one feed can develop habituated behaviour for life.

In their minds, food becomes linked with people and boats. This reduces their natural fear of humans and puts them at greater risk from humans and boats”.

The students did an outstanding job crafting informative posters, and we shared their creations with The Seal Project, who were equally delighted with the results. Well done!

Taleblazers takes pride in being a recognised provider of the Torbay Council’s Healthy Holidays (HAF) scheme. These free school holiday programmes, funded by Torbay Council, primarily cater to children who receive free school meals. They are designed to ensure that children and young people can enjoy their school breaks in a secure yet wild setting. All activities are supervised by qualified staff and aim to positively impact the participants’ health and well-being, as well as help them develop new skills.

We also maintain a waiting list system to offer any unused places to children who may not meet the funding criteria. While the activities primarily target children in Years 3-6, we do consider older and younger children, especially if they are siblings of eligible participants.

Treacle Valley Adventure

Location: Treacle Valley Campsite, Daccombe Hill, Daccombe, Newton Abbot. TQ12 4ST

Dates: W/c July 24^th & July 31^st  (Monday – Thursday)

We are thrilled to announce the return of our Treacle Valley adventure for Summer 2023!

Nestled in a picturesque valley, just 2 miles from Torquay, Treacle Valley offers a stunning campsite where children can immerse themselves in nature and forge lasting connections. Our adventure programme at Treacle Valley aims to inspire young people to engage with the land while fostering meaningful relationships through enjoyable activities. Here, children have ample space to simply be themselves, play, and absorb the sights and sounds of the surroundings, all within a safe and nurturing environment.

Our programme boasts a range of exciting and immersive activities, including environmental games, a night walk in search of bats and owls, enchanting campfire storytelling, breathtaking sunset views over the hills, and much more!

As part of our Treacle Valley adventure, we offer a nutritious lunch along with plenty of physical activity.

Itinerary

Dates: Monday & Tuesday

Minibus collection from Chelston 9.45am & return 2.15pm

Overnight camp Wednesday & Thursday – Minibus collection Chelston 4.45pm Wednesday & return 12 noon Thursday

Age Group: 7 to 11 year olds (siblings of children in this age group can also be accommodated)

Number of places: 12 places.

Please email haf@taleblazers.org.uk if you have any further questions. To request to book, please fill out the sign-up form at the bottom of this page or click here

Healthy Holidays at the ROC Centre

Location: ROC Centre, 6 Old Mill Road, Chelston, TQ2 6AU

Dates: W/c 14^th & 21^st August  (Monday – Thursday) 10am-2pm

Join us at the ROC Centre for an unforgettable summer holiday filled with well-deserved fun!

We have a fantastic lineup of activities, including engaging active games, time to have fun and play with friends and creative arts and crafts. This is the perfect chance for young people form new friendships, and explore and play in a nurturing atmosphere. To keep everyone energised, we will be providing a free, nutritious lunch every day, ensuring that everyone has the fuel they need to make the most of their time.

Age Group: 7 to 11-year-olds (siblings of children in this age group can also be accommodated)

Number of places: 12 places

If you have any other questions, please email haf@taleblazers.org.uk. To request to book, please fill out the sign-up form at the bottom of this page or click here.

The festival was a great success as families gathered around to make their mark on history and join in the festivities. Everyone enjoyed making their contribution to the mosaic and the festival was a success, with lots of people learning about Cullompton’s Roman history through talks, pottery making, walks, demonstrations and crafts, hosted by Creative Cullompton. The festival celebrated not only Roman Cullompton, but the recent archeological digs at the Hill Fort. 

It was amazing to see everyone’s individual contributions come together to create a beautiful tree!

It’s not every day that you get to make your own piece of history.

Slacklining is a great way to stay active while also improving balance, focus, and coordination. Plus, it’s just plain fun! It’s amazing how quickly they can make progress, developing confidence after a few turns up and down the line.

Students are encouraged to work together to figure out the best way to use the slack line and help each other out as they learn. It’s a great way to build teamwork and cooperation skills — all from just something so simple as two sturdy trees and a line.

If you visit us at one of our Earthworks community days, you’ll have to come and give it a go!

Our dedicated John Muir Award student became a vital part of the team, collecting data and making a valuable contribution to seaweed and climate change research.

Surveying seaweed along our beautiful coastlines plays a crucial role in understanding the effects of climate change. As climate change indicators, seaweeds provide valuable insights into shifts in our marine ecosystems. By participating in the #BigSeaweedSearch, anyone can actively contribute to a nationwide effort to collect important data that helps scientists and researchers monitor these changes and research their findings in more depth.

The John Muir Award, known for its dedication to exploring and conserving wild places, provided the perfect platform for our student to actively engage in a very meaningful environmental project. Through their involvement in the #BigSeaweedSearch, they not only contributed to a vital conservation initiative but also gained firsthand experience in scientific research and citizen science.

Now, you might be wondering, how can you get involved and become a seashore explorer yourself? It’s easier than you think! Joining the #BigSeaweedSearch allows you to monitor the impact of environmental change on Britain’s sealife on your next visit to the beach. All you need to do is head out to your local beach, armed with curiosity and a keen eye for detail. As you explore the seashore, bring their ID form to document the living seaweeds you encounter, noting their types and abundance. Your observations will contribute to a nationwide database, empowering scientists and researchers to better understand the effects of climate change on our coastal ecosystems.

Participating in the #BigSeaweedSearch is not only a chance to contribute to scientific research but also a fantastic opportunity to be an active participant in the conservation of our precious marine environments here in Torbay.

Learn more and participate in the #BigSeaweedSearch at: https://bigseaweedsearch.org/