The cockpit of any aeroplane is an awe-inspiring picture. So many knobs, dials, switches, controls and levers. Children from Bucklands Beach Kindergarten were mesmerised by a full colour poster that led them to dream of their own aircraft. Space restrictions steered plans towards a flight simulator. One that still had to have wings, an engine, throttle and two yokes.

The children were dedicated to the task of creating this special flying machine. So much so that parents felt inspired to join in at the end. One is a glassier who cut special windows to suit, another gave it a coat of paint to make it last. And then the piece de la résistance, a sign writer produced this stunning artwork to finish it off.

It is humbling to imagine that parents felt compelled to contribute. Thank you all.

At that special age of five there is often a need to celebrate a birthday and perhaps offer gifts in thanks of time well spent. Children at Dannemora Kindergarten needed somewhere to store these trinkets safely. A birthday box was an ideal solution but imagination got the better of them and it somehow became something that any swash buckling pirate would be proud of.

This dual purpose chest offers birthday opportunities and sand pit pirates a place to put their pieces of eight….and right good it be, aarrrrrgh!!

Congratulations to Sharon Mills of Sunnynook Preschool, Northshore, the winner of this years’ Winter Website Prize Draw. The prize is a free workshop of Rustic Sculpture.

I look forward to creating something special with the children of Sunnynook in the very near future.

There were 26 entries, 19 of which, were correct. The answers can be viewed here.

My sincere thanks to everyone who took time to visit my website and enter the Prize Draw. I hope you found some opportunity for yourself in any of the Educational Services I provide or my willingness to craft Rustic Furniture to your order.

Remember I would be delighted to discuss any project you might have in mind.

It is always intriguing to pose the question “what next?” I never know what is coming. The fact is that the children of Highland Park Kindergarten did and always do. They were clear that the playground needed a Dinosaur. One that we can climb over. One that we can ride.

The specification was clear. The effort then, was easy to muster. Gradually it took shape. Each piece was cut, carved, screwed, glued and nailed till it was time for the children to stand back and answer the question “what colour shall it be”.

Pink of course. With silver legs.

This is your chance to win a free Rustic Sculpture workshop for your child or local kindergarten

Simply take time to answer the four questions on-line on this website about my wide range of Educational Services and the Rustic Furniture that I craft.

All correct answers will enter the prize draw to win an amazing workshop for your child and up to two friends to make their own unique wooden sculpture in your own home.

Alternatively this prize can be donated to a kindergarten of your choosing**

The prize will be drawn on the 31st July – get your entry in soon!

**Conditions apply

...that have them capture the imagination of children, generation after generation?

Having completed the aviary, children at Somerville Kindergarten were keen for something different. A Rustic sculpture was just the opportunity. A chance to exercise a different skill set and get to handle a variety of traditional tools.

Milliseconds were spent on deciding what to make. A dinosaur. In fact, a baby stegosaurus. Called Ashley.

One parent was so taken with the efforts of the children that he donated a box full of oak off cuts that were just perfect for the spines and are sure to last throughout another Jurassic period.

This fine piece now graces the grounds attracting regular interest from all.

The lose of their treasured birds at Somerville Kindergarten was the perfect spur for some timely introspection about animal care. The children wondered whether the birds might have needed more room to grow into; some questioned whether they might have needed a quite place to go, when the kindy was too noisy; others felt that more toys would have kept them happier; one person thought that it would be a good idea if their birds could have had a change of scenery by being some times indoors and on other days, outdoors; that left only the thorny question of how you clean the cage out, without the birds escaping.

This quite adult reasoning at mat time is what happens when you care about something and was the perfect specification for a new aviary, one they decided to build themselves.

The result is something to be proud of. One that will offer the children a chance to continue to cater for someone else’s needs by designing toys and perches, water troughs and feed containers.

Tigers are awe-inspiring animals. Imagine being able to sit on one in your playground! Children at Anchorage Park Kindergarten decided to tame one; in fact they decided to make one from wood, for just that purpose.

Each week different children contributed to many the design decisions to be made about shape and form, each one of them mastering a new technology to cut and shape the wood. On one occasion we all dressed up for an animal garden tea party to celebrate our achievements.

‘Tropa’ the tiger a testimony to creativity.

Teachers at Somerville Kindergarten saw an opportunity to develop the grounds of their playground as well as the agility of their children. A wobbly bridge was just the trick. The project attracted a dedicated team of junior builders who enthusiastically helped craft this sturdy structure.

What will they take on next?

A trip to the zoo is always a special occassion. A chance to get lost in the drama of creatures bigger, stronger, fiercer than you. Children at Anchorage Park Kindergarten were clearly taken by the giraffe and wanted to replicate the elegance and grace of this gentle giant in their playground.

Together they made decisions on shape and form and learnt to craft natural materials to create their own rustic sculpture.

The tricky problem of how to put a tongue together was no challenge for one young man who simply declared ‘that you need to open the mouth up’. Obvious at one level but to be able to add, that you use a Japanese pull saw to do so was brilliance.

That was the way of this project with individual contribution adding to the whole. Like the need for body spots and a name like ‘Missie’.

I look forward to seeing the continued growth in confidence and thinking throughout the next project ……the tiger, rraaaaaaaaaaa.