Hatton Children’s Nursery has always been unique in Warwickshire due to its idyllic location within Hatton Country World.
Every day the nursery children have free all-day access to all the fun and exciting activities offered at the Hatton Adventure Farm, its their own huge outdoor play area.
It is this closeness to nature that has inspired the nursery to take a leap forward establishing a hugely popular forest activity programme. We are very fortunate to have private access to a well established Woodland Play area directly located next to the nursery which children have daily use of as a Forest activity area surrounded with giant Oak Trees and wild flowers including patches of Blue Bells.
What do we do in the forest?
All our activities are carefully planned depending on the season, weather and children’s interests. At the beginning of each session children are given a briefing of the activities and can then take part in a planned adult led activities or choose to explore the woodland.
Typical activities include:
- Exploring the forest
- Sensory walks
- Mini beast hunts/visiting our bug hotel
- Fairy garden
- Nature scavenger hunts
- Den building
- Mud kitchen play
- Being creative with materials found in the forest
- Creating shelters and feeders for wildlife
- Camp fire/marshmallow toasting
The list of activities that can happen in the forest are endless!
Alison Deere the Nursery Owner and Manager tells us that:
‘’Part of our ethos here at Hatton Nursery is offering our children the chance to grow up in harmony with nature. The children really love playing outside, spending time with the animals and exploring the Adventure Farm. After researching the benefits of a Forest activity programme, it seemed an amazing way to further foster an awareness of the natural world and fantastic way for the children to learn through play’’.
The roots of the woodland play approach originated in Scandinavia, the natural environment is regarded as an educational resource where children can learn through play, develop confidence and self-esteem whilst experiencing appropriate risk and challenges.
The forest activities programme is planned to flow throughout the year, following the seasons and in all weather. Although the aim is to encourage children to develop and lead their own learning, a set structure offers chances to use real tools, build dens, learn about the environment and toast marshmallows over an open fire.
