Creativity and Sustainability at Little Acorns

This Easter, Little Acorns welcomed Preacher the Storyteller and Nancy from Creatful for a joyful day of creativity, imagination, and sustainability.

Preacher the Storyteller performing at Little Acorns.

Nature and creativity

Children from across our holiday clubs, along with our Havant nursery, joined us for a day filled with exploration, nature, and hands‑on making.

We began the morning gently, giving children time to settle into the beautiful Little Acorns setting. Some visited the animals, others helped staff prepare the space, and many used the natural terrain to spark imaginative play with their friends. During this time, four‑year‑old Elouise proudly approached Site Manager Ange with a story she had written at home with her mum, hoping Preacher might read it later.

As soon as Preacher arrived, the children were drawn to his warm presence.

He invited them into playful conversation and freestyle activities, using his unique rhythm and storytelling style to open up discussions about creativity. Together, they experimented with sound using a pipe and a balloon, sparking wide‑eyed wonder. Preacher then guided the children through imaginative problem‑solving, asking how they might power a car without fuel. Ideas flowed from mud to rubbish and every suggestion was celebrated, encouraging children to think boldly and creatively.

Po, one of our friendly pygmy goats and Preacher enchanting his audience.

The magic of storytelling

When Preacher heard about Elouise’s story, he transformed her four lines into a lively 15‑minute performance of song, rhythm, and spoken word. All the children gathered to join in, celebrating the magic of storytelling and the power of children’s ideas.

After a delicious campfire curry cooked by Lauren, Nancy and volunteers from Creatful invited children to explore creativity through nature. They discussed the natural environment around them and introduced the idea of leaf printing.

When one child explained the paint‑based version, Nancy revealed that she had “forgotten her paint” so the children would need to use only the nature around them. She demonstrated how to create prints using nothing but the natural moisture inside leaves, a technique that fascinated the children, especially our preschoolers.

Natural printing

Armed with paper bags, the children set off to explore Little Acorns, collecting a variety of leaves to test. Once gathered, they experimented together, discovering which leaves and flowers created the strongest prints. Some of the older holiday club children even used their new skills to design and print their own tote bags to take home.

The day was a beautiful blend of creativity, sustainability, and community.

A wonderful celebration of imagination, nature, and the joy of learning together at Little Acorns.