There are many different types of outdoor learning from bushcraft to gardening. Forest School is run by a qualified forest school leader and ‘offers children and young people the opportunity, over repeated visits, to engage with the rich natural diversity of the woodland environment to help build confidence, sensitivity, resilience and curiosity’ Forest School Training.
Oxfordshire Forest Schools
Here’s a round up of all the forest schools and outdoor nature sessions for children in Oxfordshire with credit for the stunning photos going to Alexandra Tandy Photography An award-winning professional family photographer, Alexandra is renowned for putting children at ease to capture fun and relaxed images. The photographs have been taken at both a Hedgehog Club and Muddy Feet forest school session.
FEATURED – THE HEDGEHOG CLUB
The Hedgehog Club run fun and relaxed forest school sessions at Cogges Manor Farm in Witney, 9.30-11.30am each Tuesday in term time. Designed for 9 months to 4 years, explore the great outdoors, have fun in the mud kitchen, enjoy stories, crafts and nature exploration and finish off with snacks cooked on the fire. Whole day sessions for 5 to 12 year olds run during the school holidays.
Science Oxford Nature Club (Oxford)
Perfectly tailored for 5 to 9 year olds, Science Oxford’s Nature Club takes place on a Saturday, each time with a different theme. Explore the natural world in different ways each month, where you will be making the most of the beautiful surroundings. Led by expert club leaders, try out bespoke activities designed to provide science-inspired fun challenges.
Muddy Feet (Bicester)
Muddy Feet run well established and popular weekly Forest School preschool adventures, which is a fun parent and toddler session as well as family day events through the year.
Bramblers Forest School (Benson)
Classes for preschoolers from walking to age five run on term-time Mondays from in Benson, and are full of natural crafts, messy science and hands-on learning about the natural environment. Holiday specials run for preschoolers and older children and they have a Home Educators group.
Earth Trust Little Acorns Forest School (Little Wittenham near Abingdon)
Forest Acorns offers children an opportunity to explore and experience nature at their own pace. It is a child-led experience, with trained tutors there to support and guide children, but not direct them. This allows each child to lead their own learning while developing a range of life skills, including being able to assess and manage potential risks. Enjoy themed activities, games, and crafts.
Little Wellies at Oxford City Farm (Oxford) FREE
The session runs in term time on Tuesday morning, 9-11am, outside at the farm. They have a small polytunnel if it rains. There are opportunities to interact with the animals, play with the mud kitchen and explore the playhouse.
Little Wild Things (near Charlbury)
At a Little Wild Things session children will be encouraged to explore and play through specifically designed activities aimed to encourage their interest in the natural world. Activities might include bug hunting, mud painting or den building. Regular sessions run everyday apart from Tuesdays. Look out for school holiday workshops too.
Flo’s Forest School (Oxford)
Flo’s Forest School is set at the beautiful Barracks Lane Community garden.Sessions run on from 9.30–2.30 term-time only
Forest Tots at Hill End Centre (just outside Oxford)
Forest School style sessions for pre-schoolers at the beautiful Hill End setting take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Treemendously Wild (Shipton-Under-Wychwood)
Treemendously Wild is set up for families and children in a private woodland with a fully qualified forest school leader, providing a safe environment for children of all abilities and backgrounds to learn and develop through child-led play and to greater physical and mental wellbeing.
Tiny Wildings (Kingston Bagpuize)
Stay and play nature sessions for 0-5 year olds. Tiny Wildlings is an outdoor playgroup which adopts a forest school ethos, encouraging pre-school aged children to learn through child-led play. We set up invitations to play and encourage the children to explore their interests.
Wildflowers Forest School (Wallingford)
Woodland stay and play sessions run by early years teacher and nursery practitioner in the beautiful Braziers Park private woodland.
Secret Adventures (South Oxfordshire)
Secret Adventures run regular expert foraging and wood fired cooking in their beautiful mature woodlands in South Oxfordshire. Walk through the woods with trained herbalist and forager Justine Gens. Learn to identify and forage plants in the woods and open glades. Gather wood from the woodland floor, light a campfire and cook over an open fire. These sessions are suitable for anyone over 6 years old as it does involve some walking sometimes on muddy and uneven terrain.
