Cherry Trees school was first established in 1982 with Wendy's two daughters and based at her home. Twenty-four years later it has now grown to 280 pupils, aged from 3 months to 11 years and is housed in purpose-built classrooms in the village of Risby, set in 8 acres of Suffolk countryside. Wendy Compson has been a life-long committed environmentalist — natural history and the environment have always been her primary passion and the rural location of the school has allowed Wendy to indulge these interests to the full over the years. Not content with a layman's interest, she recently achieved an honours degree in Natural History Conservation and Ecology from the Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge and now uses her knowledge and experience to help Cherry Trees become an eco-school, by encouraging pupils and staff alike to reduce waste, reuse and recycle. When asked to host this event by the MSA, she was absolutely thrilled to be given the opportunity to share her experience and knowledge with a wider audience in the hope that other settings would be able to gain the same kinds of results.

The day started off with a short update on the MSA by Sarah Rowledge, the newly appointed Chair of Region 9 and Georgina Hood the Chair of Region 10. They then handed over to Wendy who set the scene for the day by giving a presentation on the Child in the Natural Environment. This was packed full of useful ideas and suggestions for environmental activities.

Then there was a choice of six different workshops for delegates to participate in. These ranged from Finding Food For Free and Building Mini-Shelters which were outdoors to a more general one on environmental activities for 3-6 year olds and one focused on primary aged children from 6-9 year olds. The workshops focused on practical tips and techniques for helping the children make the most of their time outdoors.

Wendy is totally committed to passing on her knowledge of our planet to young people, emphasising that it will eventually be placed in their care and encouraging the acceptance of a responsibility for the work in which they will be living and which is already under serious threat.

Cherry Trees teacher Denise Lyne who ran the Building a Mini-Shelter workshop said: "It was great to meet the teachers that had made the effort to travel from London. We swapped stories over lunch and it seems wherever you are our Montessori experiences are very similar."

Over an excellent lunch of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, delegates were able to network with their counterparts from 6 counties and also to peruse the excellent display mounted by Jacqui Relph from Artful Dodgers. The quality of the materials was clear for all to see. Jacqui kindly donated a raffle prize of a dressing frame, which was won by Miki Konish of Mary Magdalen Montessori from London.

In the afternoon there delegates had the opportunity to take part in a second workshop of their choice and the day was rounded off with a Q & A session. We hope you enjoy looking through the pictures and to seeing you again soon.