Compostable Play

Over the past few days, while clearing the children’s dens from last year, I have been reminded of the simple joys and countless benefits of playing with the natural resources available in our garden.

Den building happily occupies the children for whole afternoons and has become a staple in our daily timetable. They often tell us at the start of the day how much they are looking forward to it—and they don't like it if the time is cut short (we have learnt not to do that!)

The children’s dens, crafted entirely from garden cuttings and brash, grow into vast, sophisticated structures over the months we are open. Willow forms the initial shapes and frameworks in spring, and as the year progresses, we weave in seasonal cuttings: scythed long grass, cut to encourage wildflowers, mixed with mud to make cob walls in summer; ferns for floor coverings; and, in autumn, hazel branches with catkins and leafy willow become thatched roofs.

After winter—once the dens have had time to host wildlife—we collect the brash and cuttings and heap them onto a large mulch area. This composts naturally, feeding our willow plantation and creating a miniature bug city. From that same plantation, we gather this year’s cut willow and return it to the den-building area, ready to begin the cycle again—literally walking the carbon cycle. In this way, the children are creating temporary, sustainable dwellings that store carbon while they stand, and then return nutrients to the soil as they decompose - perhaps miniature versions of the sustainable wooden housing that they experience here. Materials such as willow, grass, and hazel are particularly ecological because they regenerate quickly.

Through den building, children learn first-hand about the properties of natural materials, how to create structures that withstand all seasons, how to choose the perfect building spot, and the benefits of shade and shelter—something we’ve found invaluable both for rain and sun protection.

A practitioner once observed, “They’re building a settlement—it’s extraordinary.” And indeed, we’ve seen solar panels go up, mud “beds” dug to measure, water systems created, food stores, workshops with tools hanging from branches, a tiny Orchid Cottage (after finding an orchid next door), “Mac Donalds,” fires, toilets, animal traps and defense lines, leisure areas with hand-made swings and relaxation zones. Each child follows their own interests, and when we walk around and share our creations at the end of an afternoon, it becomes clear that we’ve built more than dens—we’ve built a community.

I could go on, but instead, I’ll let these pictures paint a thousand words.