Forest School Fun!
We love a good Forest School session, there is nothing like letting Little Oxplorers run free within nature’s very own classroom. Confidence, improved social skills, staying healthy and engaging with the environment are only a small portion of the huge benefits to children attending Forest School sessions. If you have never been to a Forest School then now may be a good time to try! Just bring yourself, your child, appropriate clothing and an open mind. The possibilities of a Forest School session really are endless.
Here are a small selection of Oxfordshire’s Forest Schools:
Session Day: Monday
Location: Hurst Woods, Wolvercote, OX2 8BD (Meet outside the Plough at 1pm)
Time: 1pm — 3pm
This relatively new Forest School throws itself into nature with mud pies, crafts, boat building and splashing! A busy afternoon guaranteed! Follow the Facebook page for regular updates.
£6 per child or £35 if you block book for six sessions.
Session Day: Monday
Location: Woods next Littleworth Rd, Wheatley OX33 1NW
Time: 10.30 am — 12pm
The focus of this Forest School session is very much free play and child led learning. There is a low key activity every week such as stick decoration and a fire pit where children can prepare dough and cook stick bread over the fire.
They will be running sessions in the summer holidays: 24th and 31st July, 21st and 28th August and 4th September 2017. Heart of the Wildwood also have Forest School sessions running at other sites, more details on the website.
£3 per child, £5 for two.
Session Day: Tuesday
Location: Hill End Activity Centre, Enysham Road, Farmoor OX2 9NJ
Time: 11am — 1pm (term time only)
These forest school sessions encourage the use of the different, exciting areas across the Hill End 65 acre site. The approach is that the best kind of learning for a young child is through their own explorations, interests and play activities.
During the school holidays Hill End will host Family Play Days, keep an eye on their website and Facebook page for up to date information.
£4 per child (from 6 months — 5 years old), £2 for siblings.
Tetsworth Outdoor Learning Centre Forest School
Session Day: Tuesday
Location: Tetsworth Outdoor Learning Centre, Marsh Lane, Tetsworth, OX9 7AU
Directions — Park on the gravel beyond the sports and social club and walk onto the green, following the hedge on your left. The bridge over the stream into the site is just a little way onto the green, gated with a pallet gate
Time: 10.15am — 11.45am
This collaborative Forest School session run by Heart of the Wildwood and Wild Bee Forest School is a drop in session for parents and toddlers. Join around the campfire for stick bread and use the outdoor space for free play and nature adventures or climb the rigging on their new pirate ship and set sail for adventures new!
Keep an eye on their Facebook page for up to date information on any sessions throughout the summer holidays.
£3 per child or £5 for two siblings.
Forest School Fun and Under the Trees
Session Day: Tuesday
Location: Ivy Dene, 12 Lynton Lane, Cassington, OX29 4ES
Time: 9.30am — 11am
Have fun at this Forest Tots session making mud pies, going on a mini beast hunt, singing songs around the campfire or just running wild. These pre booked Forest School sessions set in a beautiful rural environment are hugely popular and numbers are limited.
They also offer children’s birthday parties at their Cassington site, these come highly recommended!
£4 per child (purchased as a six week block). Twelve months and under go free.
Session Day: Thursday
Location: Rock Edge Nature Reserve, Rock Edge, Headington Oxford, OX3 8NE (opposite the Nuffield Hospital)
Time: 10am — 11.30am (term time only)
Every week at this drop-in Forest School session there are a huge range of activities to take part in including den building, treasure hunts, stories, songs, fire lighting, nature art and clay. Children can help prepare and cook their own snack (damper bread) over the fire and enjoy a drink. Tea and coffee provided for adults.
£5 per child or £8 for two siblings. No charge for non-walkers.
Worth a mention:
Location: Little Wittenham, Abingdon, OX14 4QZ
Session Day: Various
Times: Various
The Earth Trust offers numerous Forest School experiences for children from the ever popular Discover and Play for the under 5’s to Woodland Adventures for older children in the school holidays. Their Little Explorers sensory buggy and sling walk is also a great way to engage little ones with nature. Keep an eye on their events page for the wide range of activities on offer, some of which require booking.
Location: Barracks Lane Community Garden, Barracks Lane, off Cumberland Rd OX4 2AP
Session Day: Thursday
Time: 10.30am –12.30pm
This is not a forest school but an outdoor group for pre-school babies and children who meet to enjoy being outside in the community gardens. Parents, grandparents and carers can have a cup of tea and a chat while little ones explore the garden and sandpit. Indoor space available for bad weather. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for regular updates.
£3 for first child, additional children £1. This group is run by volunteers and admission goes towards the cost of garden hire.
Don’t forget that we are asking you nominate your Super Oxplorers to feature in one of our blogs! It could be a person who goes above and beyond to engage little ones with nature or it could be a Forest School that your Little Oxplorer never wants to leave! Don’t be shy, go onto our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages to nominate.
