May Half Term Children's Workshop: River Wandle Wildlife Play, Mon 25 May

Join children’s author and forest school leader Esme Finch for a playful, movement-based workshop inspired by the River Wandle and the wildlife that lives within it.

Water Body connects the health of the river with the health of our own bodies through eco-somatic movement. Using breath, imagination and gentle physical play, children are invited to experience the river from the perspective of its wildlife.

The session begins with a short guided meditation imagining the flow of the River Wandle and its underwater world. Children will then take part in a guided movement exercise where they become different river creatures, from gliding chalk stream trout to scuttling freshwater shrimp.

Partway through the workshop, a short theatrical sketch brings the river to life through the story of an unlikely friendship between a freshwater shrimp and a water vole. The session ends with a lively group game where children draw river animals from a hat and act out how they think those creatures might move.

This energetic and imaginative workshop encourages creativity, connection with nature and curiosity about the wildlife living in our local river.

Each session lasts approximately 35 minutes.

About the host: Esme Finch's work focuses on connecting people with nature through creativity, storytelling and outdoor learning. She previously co-founded Ways of the Wild, an outdoor education initiative helping city communities explore nature through play and environmental awareness.