Touching moment Princess Kate hides in woodland den she helped children make

The Prince and Princess of Wales got stuck in as they lent a hand to primary school children who were preparing food around a campfire and making woodland dens.

A touching visit to a school in Hereford saw William and Kate help with whittling wood and meeting pupils as they took part in a forest school session. An adorable moment from the visit saw Kate hiding in a woodland den after helping the youngsters build it with her husband.

It came during a visit to Madley Primary School, which views open-air learning as an essential part of the day-to-day curriculum. It says it boosts pupils’ physical and mental wellbeing.

The future king declared: “We need more schools to do this – it’s really good,” when the visit came to an end.

Kate at one point held down a small log so William, wearing protective gloves and glasses, could saw it in half for the youngsters to make their den. But she turned down the offer of a pair of workman’s gloves, saying her fingers were “stuck” together, in reference to two of her digits on her right hand being strapped together after she injured them in a trampoline accident.

The couple also sat around a campfire as the children roasted what William dubbed the “healthy version of marshmallows” – pieces of apple dipped in cinnamon and sugar. The prince told the youngsters “whenever you cook something on a fire, I think it always tastes so much better”.

He later sat down with 10-year-old Jake who showed him how to whittle a stick. The royal quipped: “hard to whittle when your fingers are quite cold”.

Each child attends the forest school at least once a week. During the classes they learn national curriculum subjects in the woodland environment, and environmental awareness, conservation and woodland management.

The Duchy of Cornwall and the primary school have been partners in the forest school initiative for 12 years. The duchy, owned by Prince William, proves the site at Brampton Hill Wood, near Hereford.

The duchy is a portfolio of land, property and investments valued at around £1 billion, which provides an income for the heir to the throne, and over the years it has increased the woodland available to the school as it activities have expanded. Madley Primary School could be a blueprint for other duchy sites, it is hoped.

William and Kate also spoke to the school’s eco reps, who wear a green polo shirt instead of their usual uniform. They told the couple about the wildlife living there, including deer and badgers, spotted at night on a badger cam.

Told they also do litter-picking activities, the princess replied: “We do a lot of that at home.” William and Kate were impressed by various shelters built from branches, mud and tarpaulin and Kate climbed inside one to get a closer look.

Speaking afterwards, headteacher Lee Batstone said of the royal couple: “I think through the children they got a real understanding and a real sense of how this works, connects together. Hopefully the next stage is to open this up to lots of children and schools using other sites so that all children can experience this.”

William’s Duchy of Cornwall and the primary school have been partners in the forest school initiative for 12 years, with the duchy providing the site for the outdoor learning at Brampton Hill Wood near Hereford.

The duchy is a portfolio of land, property and investments valued at around £1 billion, which provides an income for the heir to the throne, and over the years it has increased the woodland available to the school as it activities have expanded.

Madley Primary School could be a blueprint for other Duchy sites, it is hoped.

William and Kate also spoke to the school’s eco reps, who wear a green polo shirt instead of their usual uniform.

They told the couple about the wildlife living there, including deer and badgers, spotted at night on a badger cam.

Told they also do litter-picking activities, the Princess replied: “We do a lot of that at home.”

William and Kate were impressed by various shelters built from branches, mud and tarpaulin and Kate climbed inside one to get a closer look.

Speaking afterwards, headteacher Lee Batstone said of the royal couple: “I think through the children they got a real understanding and a real sense of how this works, connects together.

“Hopefully the next stage is to open this up to lots of children and schools using other sites so that all children can experience this.”