The month started with gale force winds of up to 80mph - about sixteen trees were blown down, and some of our structures suffered damage. A tarp blew off the bikeshed
and the visitors’ bender, while both the agricultural shed and the workshop were flattened. Ben’s treehouse lost its walls and he abandoned it for a couple of weeks. The power of the wind was both awesome and frightening.

We spent a good deal of time clearing the storm damage ­ tarps were tied back down, blankets dried out and some of the fallen trees were cut up to season for firewood. The
kitchen needed quite a lot of work as one of the trees that blew down pulled up part of the kitchen on its way down.

The van got through its MOT amid the usual reluctance to get covered in grease and hurt by bits of metal in mending its various problems.

We part-hosted a five day course to prepare Forest School Leaders. Forest Schools bring children out of classrooms and into nature for active outdoor learning and play,
building esteem and encouraging those who find activity the best way of learning and interacting. The rest of the course was held in Moreton Parish Hall. About sixteen
people attended, one of whom is a local resident who is now in talks with the primary school about setting up regular Forest School sessions in the woods.

Merlin and Cheryll’s permaculture design coure in Ide neared its conclusion, and they started preparing for their final presentations. Visitors started coming back ­ it must be nearly Spring! We had a couple of visitors who stayed over, one of whom ­ Jeff ­plans to come back and stay for most of March.

And finally - a beautiful baby boy was born to Beccy and Merlin at 6.45 pm on the 23rd.