Great and Small

Great and Small Great and Small is a community group exploring nature in the Cotswolds. It is for preschool children to come and learn about the environment all around them.

Each week we have different activities and themes.

Despite the wind and rain, we managed to make our Easter gardens again this year! The children and adults really enjoyed...
30/03/2026

Despite the wind and rain, we managed to make our Easter gardens again this year! The children and adults really enjoyed this beautiful activity, depicting Christ's resurrection from the burial tomb. We enjoyed snack and story time inside St Peter's Church and a small Easter egg hunt before the end of the session. We wish everyone a Happy Easter filled with joy and renewal.

'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die...'" 

John 11: 25-26

This Friday, we were blessed with a beautiful spring morning  for our seed planting at the Cotswold Home. One of our fav...
22/03/2026

This Friday, we were blessed with a beautiful spring morning  for our seed planting at the Cotswold Home. One of our favourite locations, we had the chance to see how our autumn bulbs that we planted last time, are looking in the garden. The residents watched the children play with watering cans and sponges,plus Vanessa made a yummy cake for snack time. We are so thankful we get to see many of the same residents each time we come and what a joy it is for all.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

Mark, 4.

Enjoy the rest of the lovely Spring weekend we're having!

This week, we have been  focusing on Lent,specifically the three pillars of this special time in the Christian calendar....
08/03/2026

This week, we have been  focusing on Lent,specifically the three pillars of this special time in the Christian calendar. We set up an activity for each station - Prayer,fasting and almsgiving. We used prayer sheets to draw the people in our lives that need our prayers, we practiced patience with placing stones in containers filled with water without spilling any and for almsgiving, we decorated crosses to give to people we love.

Almost halfway through Lent and a great time to reflect on growing closer to Christ. Have a happy rest of the weekend!

We had a lovely session this Friday at a farm in Alvescot, starting with a trail to the farm using cairns, chalk arrows ...
01/03/2026

We had a lovely session this Friday at a farm in Alvescot, starting with a trail to the farm using cairns, chalk arrows and arrows made of sticks. It was a soggy start but that means lots of puddles to jump in along the way! Farmer Ralph showed us his Shetland ponies and horses. We took shelter in the barn for crafts, snack and story time. Our theme was finding our way and leaning on God for direction, as well as our parents and trusted adults.

Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my way.
-Psalm 119:105

This week, in honour of Valentine's Day, we listened to the story of St Valentine, a priest in the year 200's who marrie...
15/02/2026

This week, in honour of Valentine's Day, we listened to the story of St Valentine, a priest in the year 200's who married people in secret so the Romans wouldn't find out and truly believed in upholding the power of God's love for everyone. We decorated cookies and made cards for loved ones, plus Jenny made some yummy brownies for snack time.

If you would like the full story of St Valentine, please click on this link:

https://churchleaders.com/children/childrens-ministry-articles/299062-learning-st-valentine-kidmin-tamera-kraft.html

A special thank you to Celia, Tim and Camilla at West End Farm in Shilton for welcoming our group once again! The children had a lovely time looking at the animals and jumping in muddy puddles!

Happy Belated Valentines Day to All 🥰❤️💗💕

What a soggy but terrific morning our Explorers had yesterday as we explored lichen and symbiotic relationships within n...
07/02/2026

What a soggy but terrific morning our Explorers had yesterday as we explored lichen and symbiotic relationships within nature. This transferred of course to chats about how we can help each other and also work together spreading God's love to each other and the wider community. We walked around the churchyard spotting lichen on graves and sticks, finding the very special snail on a gravestone and found many fat worms in the process! We sheltered inside for some sponge (lichen) painting followed by snack and stories.

The rain is set to continue for much of the weekend, however, it's amazing what you find even in inclement weather!

A bumper crop of Explorers and snowdrops made for a lovely morning at Black Bourton exploring the theme of Candlemas. It...
31/01/2026

A bumper crop of Explorers and snowdrops made for a lovely morning at Black Bourton exploring the theme of Candlemas. It's a reminder that forty days after Christmas day we celebrate the time that the baby Jesus was taken to the temple for the first time. It's also when traditionally churches blessed the candles they would use throughout the year. Each of the adults took away a tiny candle with the idea that they will be lit on Feb 2nd as a reminder that Jesus is our guiding light. Snowdrops are like little candles with flames flickering in a breeze and because they are in flower at this time of year they are a symbol of light and hope in the dark days of winter.

In honour of the RSPB's  Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend, we set up several bird related activities for the children, ...
24/01/2026

In honour of the RSPB's  Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend, we set up several bird related activities for the children, including making bird feeders from pinecones and lard, making our own binoculars and letting the children play with 'feeding' birds and creating comfortable nests for them. The children took turns birdwatching in the garden and we feasted on some yummy chocolate nests for our snack. In Matthew 6,9 and Luke 12, Jesus reminds us that if the birds and flowers are not worried about their basic needs, neither should we. God will provide for all the things He made and loves.

Happy weekend everyone! 🫶🏼💗🐦🕊🐥

We'd love to see you there...
12/12/2025

We'd love to see you there...

A special thank you to Hilary, The Hedgehog Lady who rescues and rehabilitates hedgehogs. Yesterday, she came to talk to...
22/11/2025

A special thank you to Hilary, The Hedgehog Lady who rescues and rehabilitates hedgehogs. Yesterday, she came to talk to us at St Peter's Church, Alvescot about their habitat and ways we can make our gardens more hospitable for them over winter as they hibernate. We spoke about being kind to them and clearing up any hazards we may see for them on our walks. We made our own little clay hedgehogs from the small sticks we gathered after a walk through the churchyard to a new dead hedge, which will attract lots of insects and minibeasts for any hedgehogs in the area.

We ended with stories and chocolate hedgehog snacks provided by Naomi. A thank you as well to Kerry for bringing in her wooden hedgehog house for the children to look at. They made sure their 'hoglets' were comfy in the their house surrounded by leaves and sticks. 🦔🦔🦔

Address

Alvescot

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Great and Small posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category