We had a Funtastic time at Leeson House this weekend searching for fairies and other magical creatures.

Friday evening started with a discussion about the realm of faery and moved on to what fairies might be like today and whether they have evolved to adapt to our changing environments. This was a perfect kick start for designing our own wands and wings. We thought about camouflage needs and utility features to assist fairies with their tasks!


Saturday morning saw us squelching a muddy path to the coast. The wind picked up along the way but the sun still shone and our spirits stayed high enough to create some original onomatopoeic words like ‘hoowawh’ to describe the wind (by Kitty) or ‘ziziziz’ for pebbles crunching together (by Kai). We also had evocative descriptions using our five senses like ‘lushy mud’ (by Sophie) and ‘the itchy, prickly, spiny mud felt horrible down my legs’ (by Emily). Words and descriptions like these can really make a piece of writing feel alive.

In the afternoon we were back at Leeson House starting stories and poems, drawing illustrations, and making our wings. We spent a while thinking up some original descriptive similes. Similies can be really fun to use in writing because you can be so inventive. Here are three that are really unique:

‘Sinking in the mud like weetabix in milk.’(Rosina).
‘Mushrooms the colour of the sunset.’ (Emily).
‘A bush as silver as lead.’(Kai).

Everybody worked really hard with lots of different projects going on and the time flew until evening. After dinner we went out in the dark to search the grounds for any nocturnal fairies or fantastical creatures that might have been lurking about. However, the wind began to really howl and buffet us about and it soon blew us back to the cosy classroom!

The weekend finished with a bustle of activity as everyone got ready for the presentation. Parents enjoyed seeing their young fairies reading their work and showing off their wings!

If you’re interested in this course we have it coming up again soon, this time at Kilve Court in Somerset from March 27th – 29th. Call Kilve Court for details (01278 741270). If you’d like to see what else we’re up to and the other courses we have coming up, please take a look at our website and the ‘upcoming courses’ page!

In the meantime, why don’t you head out for a blustery walk yourself? Have a go at thinking up some wonderful descriptions and similes and send them to us. If we’re really impressed we’ll put them in our newsletter (send us your email address if you’d like to be added to the mailing list: creativecreatures@hotmail.co.uk).