By Iola Shaw
Fancy some apples and a bit of hocus focus? TCV Hollybush and the Friends of Hollybush have two major annual events coming up in October.
This Sunday, 4 October, is Apple Day from 11-3pm. You can join a variety of family friendly activities, including apple tasting and pressing.
And on Friday, 30 October it is Hocus Pocus, the annual magical spooky, sensory fun garden event for children aged two to 10 years old. Booking is essential.
These are in addition to the full programme of activities that runs every week at the gem that is Hollybush Centre, based next to the canal in Kirkstall.
Lisa Cockerton, runs Tiny Outdoor Explorers Forest School and is chair of the Friends of Hollybush group.
Lisa explained that the Friends of Hollybush group are all volunteers, and are always open to people joining them to help support Hollybush. They are a bit like a PTA at a school, focused on fund raising and help with activities that make the place special. Most recently they have helped with funding for the natural dye and healing herb garden, with it’s beautiful mosaic and intriguing planters.
Liz Isaac, the Friends of Hollybush secretary, said she got involved “for the satisfaction of contributing to such a wonderful place that is a safe haven for all different backgrounds of people”.
The Apple Day and Hocus Pocus are currently their biggest events but next year they hope to have a practical conservation day one weekend for the friends of Hollybush group members.
Lisa explained that her career has been as an environmental educator, her first role was in a disused Victorian Cemetery in Tower Hamlets in the mid 1990s, ensuring kids there had some contact with nature. She set up the Forest School in 2013 in Leeds, having wisely moved north before having children herself. She now runs four groups a week at Hollybush for two to five year olds.
The forest school movement focuses on play led learning in an outdoor setting, helping people connect with nature from an early age.
Recently the group has been looking at how seeds move, for example on the fur of creatures, in water or on the wind. The groups have a mix of free play and structure within the sessions running in term time all year.
Lisa offers a taster session (£8) for interested parents and children. If your child enjoys it you can sign up in half term blocks, there are more details at the website.
For general information about what’s on at TCV Hollybush visit their website. More information about Apple Day is shared here, and booking details for Hocus Pocus are here.
The Friends group is always keen to welcome new faces, whether that is to join in for an hour or more with your time, or share ideas for more activities supporting Hollybush to thrive. They have a Facebook page or you can email friendsoftcvhollybush@gmail.com.
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