Forest Days

Children can choose how they spend their day at Forest and Beach. There is a whole range of activities on offer and they can decide to fill their day in a way that suits them. With high levels of child:adult ratio, if your child wants to focus on a particular activity, then they are able to do so.

Each day we have available archery, fire lighting, shelter building, the mud kitchen, giant marble run, child catcher net, camp fire cooking, toasting marshmallows, drinking hot chocolate, using tools for sawing or whittling, a plethora of crafting activities, the adventure slack line, using clay or just chilling in the hammock to list but a few. As well as the other children there all waiting to make new friends. Each day is different, depending on how the children’s play unfolds and develops. 

Children are always supported by at least 3 qualified Forest School practitioners, Pete, Andrea (both experienced primary school teachers) and Gareth, all of whom are GB archery trained.

 The day begins at 9.30am. After checking your child in, they will meet the other children, and be introduced to the ‘layout’ of Forest and Beach, so that your child feels confident in their surroundings, knowing where the toilets are, their boundaries and where to access all the activities that they choose. 

Once the day begins, the children have time to find their bearings, begin their play in the woods, before coming around the campfire for a second breakfast cooked on the fire, vegetarian or meat, with hot chocolate and biscuits. Then, after another period of play all the way up to lunch, the afternoon is only interrupted for toasting marshmallows on the fire before home time at 3.30pm.

Children’s ages range from 5 to 14 years old. From our experience, children love to play alongside children of other ages, both older and younger. Mixed age range play allows older children to develop leadership qualities, a strong sense of empathy, and a stronger ability to collaborate, and younger children take on new challenges by emulating the older children’s actions and imagination. In the woods a difference in age does not prevent playing together, it provides a new aspect of play, play that benefits all ages.

Our forest days are set in a beautiful, peaceful, private forest, where children can explore, play and investigate nature in a safe and secure environment. The emphasis is always on having fun, making new friends and learning new skills.