MORE than 40 children packed into the wildlife garden at The Courts in Holt to learn how to create a campfire.

The children, aged from three upwards, were taking part in the latest of a series of summer outdoor skills workshops at the National Trust property.

Rob Curtis, a gardener and forest school practitioner, said: “We must have had 45 children and the idea was to get them to light a fire and toast a marshmallow.”

The children learned how to light a campfire safely, using flint and stone and matches, at Monday’s workshop session.

Mr Curtis said: “We’re trying to encourage children to get outdoors, so every Monday in the summer holidays and other holidays we’re doing what we call Bushcraft Mondays.

“The whole idea comes from Scandinavia. In Norway, each child is expected to spend three hours outdoors every day when in nursery and pre-school, whatever the weather.

“So many children here spend their time in front of a computer or the TV that when they do go outdoors it can be a scary place.

“These skills teach them how to look after themselves and gives them a lot more confidence. It’s Swallows and Amazons stuff for them.”

So far sessions have covered making rafts and dens and learning how to be safe with fire. Next week children will be making dream catchers.

Mr Curtis said: “A lot of parents have been really pleased with what their kids have been learning.

“One mother had a four-year-old and a seven-year-old and said she didn’t know where to start with fires.”