Greatwood Blog 2025
Day 4 - Thursday 5th June 2025
Today was an action-packed and unforgettable day at Kilve Court, filled with excitement, teamwork, and a touch of fossil-finding magic!
We kicked off the day with a rotation of four thrilling activities: high ropes, grass sledging, fossil hunting, and the climbing wall. Each one brought its own challenges and laughter.
At the climbing wall and high ropes, we didn’t just climb—we became a team. While some of us scaled the heights, others had important jobs like pulling the rope down and managing the “poisonous spaghetti” (a fun name we gave to the excess rope that needed tidying). The high ropes were especially magical—when our tower of crates toppled, we soared through the air like fairies, laughing and cheering all the way down!
Fossil hunting was a journey back in time. We explored the rocky beach and were amazed to discover real Devil’s Toenails and ammonites hidden in the stones.
Then came the grass sledging, which was pure joy. We zoomed down the hill on our sledges, taking turns pushing each other and we even allowed to roll down the hill at the end. The laughter echoed across the field as we flew down the hill, again and again.
As the sun began to set, we gathered around a campfire for a cozy evening. We sang songs, roasted marshmallows, and shared stories from the day. The crackling fire and sweet treats were the perfect end to a fantastic—but exhausting—day.
Day 3 - Wednesday 4th June 2025
Day three at Greatwood was packed with adventure as all groups completed their final rotations of Nightline, Archery, Low Ropes, and One Match, with everyone now having experienced each activity. The Nightline course was especially lively thanks to some enthusiastic 'squirrels', and during the fire-lighting session, we learned about the fire triangle—heat, fuel, and oxygen. In the afternoon, we took part in tracking and trailing, where one group laid a flour arrow trail and the other followed it through the woods, ending in a fun game of hide and seek. Our evening wrapped up with Jumblies, a fast-paced hunt for hidden anagrams scattered around the site, challenging both our minds and our teamwork.
Day 2 - Tuesday 3rd June 2025
We’ve had another brilliant day here at Greatwood. Each group took part in two out of four activities: archery, nightline, low ropes, or one match. Archery was a lot of fun, and after a bit of practice, some of us even managed to hit the bullseye. The nightline was a muddy, blindfolded obstacle course that had us relying on each other to get through—it was messy but full of laughs. The low ropes course tested our balance and teamwork, and although it was tricky, we encouraged each other and felt proud when we completed it. One match challenge (to light a fire) was made even more challenging by the wet and muddy ground, but we gave it our all and had a great time. In the afternoon, we all came together for the rocket challenge. Working in teams, we designed and built rockets with the goal of launching them as high as possible while keeping our egg “pilots” safe. Some eggs survived the flight, others didn’t, but watching the launches was a real highlight. It’s been a fantastic day full of teamwork, creativity, and lots of fun, and we’re all looking forward to what tomorrow brings.
Day 1 - Monday 2nd June 2025
Our Greatwood adventure began with a smooth journey and a quick pit stop to stretch our legs. Spirits were high as we arrived and dove straight into the fun—starting with the legendary duck races! With hilariously creative names, our ducks zoomed down the stream, cheered on by enthusiastic teams.
Next up: dam building! We crafted some truly impressive structures, earning bonus points for sitting or even lying in your dam! After all that excitement, we refueled with some delicious cake and enjoyed free time on the stunning field, soaking up the sunshine and laughter.
Dinner was a treat, and just when we thought the day couldn’t get any better, we set off on a night walk. The highlight? Spotting wild Quantock ponies in their natural habitat—an unforgettable moment to end a fantastic first day.
