‘Wild Nature’ provide bushcraft and outdoor play days for children in East Sussex. We recently went on the “Babes in the Wood” session, slightly shorter than the Wild Nature days as this one caters for 4-5 year olds. The exact location of the woodland is kept secret until you’ve booked onto it, and you then receive a map with driving directions. All I can say is that is just past Lewes, and allow yourself half an hour at least, if you are driving from Hove. It would be worth checking the weather before you set out, as if its raining, there is a little ‘off track’ driving to negotiate when you get there. The woodlands are absolutely beautiful, with camps set up and activities planned for a special day with you and your children. When we arrived, we were taken on a walk to our particular site, by our facilitators, who started by asking the children to look out for animal footprints along the track (we saw deer and dog footprints), and pointed out some of the beautiful wild flowers – before long, my daughter was tasting Gorse flowers for the first time! At our site in the woodlands, our children learnt how to build a camp fire, enjoyed toasting bananas pieces on the fire (and eating them of course!), how to create a picture on the ground using only their imagination and objects found in the forest; and above all, how to respect and love the natural world. My daughter loved her time on this activity session, and it was great way for me to spend some quality time with her doing something that is both fun and educational. A highlight for both of us, was when we all made a “Magic Potion Tea”. Whilst a kettle of water was heating on the camp fire, the facilitators took us off to forage for some wild flowers for the ingredients – we collected pine needles, Gorse flowers, bramble tips and violets – and if I can find these ingredients again on outdoor adventures then I will be making more “Magic Potion Tea” for sure, as my daughter and I loved it! Overall, our “Babes in the Wood” adventure with Wild Nature flew by, it stimulated our senses and encouraged us all to think about the natural world more and take notice of our surroundings in the great outdoors.
Wild Nature days run on selected dates during school holidays. All details are on the Wild Nature website: www.wildnature.org.uk
Or read the Child Friendly Brighton listing.
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