We’ve been watching the mushrooms spring up everywhere this autumn!
Fungi are vital to all life in the forest and beyond. They form a web of connection within the soil, linking trees and plants by their roots and helping in the exchange of nutrients. They break down organic matter like old leaves and sticks and make them available as food for plants. Mushrooms also provide us with food and medicines.
So next time you go to the woods have a look out for the mushrooms in all their variety of strange and fascinating forms and think about all they do for us.
Extract from The Children’s Forest.
Carve a Wooden Mushroom
This activity is good for practising tool use with older children. For younger children, make mushrooms out of clay and leave to dry before painting.
TO MAKE:
1. Using a knife, carve the end of the stick into a smooth rounded mushroom cap shape.
YOU WILL NEED
- Green wood, e.g. hazel. A section approximately 30cm (12in) long and 4cm (2in) wide per child
- Pruning saw
- Carving knife
- Field guide and paints (optional)
- Sandpaper
2. Use the pruning saw to make a stop cut, a straight ring around the base of the mushroom cap, to prevent the carving knife from going too far.
3. Carve the stem of the mushroom by cutting in towards the stop cut.
4. When the basic shape has been completed, use the saw to cut the mushroom off the rest of the stick. Use sandpaper to smooth the surface.
5. The mushroom can then be painted using the field guide as a reference.
Fly agaric mushrooms are bright red with white spots; they look lovely as Christmas tree decorations. To do this, paint the mushrooms and when the paint is dry screw a small metal hoop into the top. Add thread to hang.
A Year With Findus: Seasonal crafts and nature activities
Eva-Lena Larsson, Kennert Danielsson and Sven Nordqvist
Brimming with Sven Nordqvist’s ingenious illustrations, here is a craft and activity book that will get you up and active. Read more…
