We find that children and young people tend to spend their time on the rope swings, clambering the huge trees, building dens, pond-dipping, clambering down into the dyke, sitting and making things with sticks, wool, clay, etc., using saws, drills and nails (just for fun or with a design in mind!), carving sticks for cooking on the fire, and helping to prepare the snacks. Some recent specific adventures have included playing manhunt, finding a newt in the pond, making a mud slide into the dyke and building a structure out of willow.

Younger ones are well catered for in the Kindergarten area, which is an enclosed area with a willow tree with low branches, perfect for small climbers, a well-stocked mud kitchen and lots of large loose parts which are currently set up in an obstacle course. For those who aren’t yet mobile, we tend to lay out a blanket with a range of items to explore.

For Staff CPD options, please get in touch with Rach (Co-Director and Administrative Manager) at rachel4learninginnature@gmail.com.

(We are well-versed in working with all age ranges, with our youngest children being babies and toddlers in our weekly Stay and Play groups, and we run our incredible Kindergarten every week for 3-6 year olds. We run FSA-recognised Forest School sessions each week for Home Edders and our School Holiday provision for primary ages is always well attended. For young people, we love running our fully funded Youth Camps and Youth Groups for teens. We also host Forest Bathing and Wild Well-being sessions for adults, and adore being able to offer the grown-ups space for a breather and a cup of tea, where parenting duties allow!)