Working Woodland Day – Mummascribbles

I think I’ve written this post before, in fact I know I have, it’s here. Except this time Zach is a whole year older and you know how much things change within the space of a year when it comes to a toddler!

When my dad died, his ashes were buried within a huge woodland burial park in Essex. It was at his request as he wanted to be somewhere that people could visit but equally didn’t fancy the idea of a standard cemetery because they can be rather depressing places. And so, the burial park came up and was decided to be his final resting place.

It is the most wonderful place. It is somewhere you can go that doesn’t feel like you are there for a sad reason. There is no sadness. There is no reason to be sad because it’s just beautiful and it makes you happy to know that it’s where your loved one is. Dad is buried under a huge oak tree that has light aircraft regularly flying over and a little steam train driving on past. We all know that he is there admiring all of this and it’s the most wonderful place to take a toddler too!

Every year, they have a working woodland day. It’s a free family event and they have all sorts of things going on with stalls, entertainment for children and lots of very interesting information about the workings in the woodland. Like I said up there, this year Zach is older, more interested and I was really excited to take him. We were meeting mine and the other half’s family over there. Mine because we always go together and his because it was his mum’s birthday and we thought they’d love it too.

Zach is always mega excited at seeing his cousin Connor and the very first photo I got was this gorgeous one of the two of them. So cute

We then wandered in and the first stop was the bees! Now, Zach isn’t keen on bees and wasps so he was a bit apprehensive about going near a hive but after we’d explained that they couldn’t get to him, he was straight in and absolutely fascinated.

Then he was fascinated with the chickens!

And then he and daddy made a bird feeder!!

Then the coolest thing happened and Zach and his cousin held a little owl. Zach was so good with it, gently stroking it, and only freaked out when the owl spread its wings. He wanted to get down after that!

We then watched a working horse…

Daddy and Connor did a spot of archery!

And the boys tried out a tractor!

We saw some ferrets and some tiny chicks!

And then probably Zach’s most favourite thing of the day – child yoga! They were running sessions throughout the day and he spent about an hour doing it! Absolutely loved it

And my most favourite thing of the day happened. He had his face painted for the very first time! He became tiger Zach! He was so good and as it was his first time, she tested it on his hands first so he had tiger paws too!

And then the little tiger did some meditating!

After that, it was time to say goodbye to my family and we went for dinner with the other half’s family, meeting his brother and co too. I love this photo of Zach and his cousin with their grandad

Zach was very happy that he got to see all of his family in one day and that he also got to eat this…

We had such a wonderful day out in a place where we feel so close to dad, with all our loved ones