Living It!
Weekly Nature Programmes for Home Educated Children
Into the Woods
Weekly on Tuesdays
With Jack Durtnall and Danielle Barker
- This group of 6-10 year olds meets every Tuesday during term time from 10am-3pm to go into the woods and have some adventures. Typically we play games in the field near the drop off as the group is arriving and then journey down to the woods where we put our bags down and start gathering sticks and tinder for making a fire. After making a fire we have a story and eat our snacks and then we are ready for an activity or some games. Some of the activities we have done include: whittling, making spinners, making woodland necklaces, turning wood into charcoal on the fire and making charcoal pencils, tracking and trailing animals, hiding, building dens, making fairy shelters, gathering wild edible plants, cooking on the fire, wandering…and lots more. Check out some of the pictures of our time in the woods!
Wild Woodpeckers
Weekly on Wednesdays
With Sarah MacLaughlin and Jack Durtnall
This group was created Sep 2017 from us having reached our maximum capacity for our other groups and from our recognising that many of your children would rather have a more spacious time in the woods than the existing half day groups offer.
We are excited for the opportunities to develop skills, creativity and following individual passions in the woods. We have a rhythm of gathering for our circle of gratitude, playing a game, gathering firewood on our walk to our camp, lighting a fire and having a snack and a story. There are opportunities to cook on the fire, forage, play, craft, create, develop skills... whittling, tracking, bird and animal calls and sounds... Whilst lots of activities or crafts on offer and some opt to free play in the rich woodland surroundings.
We have a wider age span of 7-11 yr olds and the day runs from 9.15-3.15 weekly on Wednesdays.
We are excited for the opportunities to develop skills, creativity and following individual passions in the woods. We have a rhythm of gathering for our circle of gratitude, playing a game, gathering firewood on our walk to our camp, lighting a fire and having a snack and a story. There are opportunities to cook on the fire, forage, play, craft, create, develop skills... whittling, tracking, bird and animal calls and sounds... Whilst lots of activities or crafts on offer and some opt to free play in the rich woodland surroundings.
We have a wider age span of 7-11 yr olds and the day runs from 9.15-3.15 weekly on Wednesdays.
Young Adventurers
Weekly on Thursdays
With founder Vicky Mew
- Starting Feb 2026! Cultivating Curiosity Founder Vicky Mew is creating a woodland group for 6-9 yr olds and has been inspired to invite a few teens into this group as young mentors. This group brings together two of Vicky's major passions - cultural mentoring and nature connection.
In indigenous society it is often the teenagers' role to support young ones to develop their skills and some magic happens in this age gap when positive role modelling takes place.
There will be space for up to 12 younger children and space for up to 4 teens who are drawn to this role and have some nature connection / bushcraft experience.
The group will run from Plaw Hatch Farm 9am-2pm on Thursdays. £35/day with a termly commitment. We will play woodland games developing skills of sensory awareness, forage wild foods and teas, learn to light and tend fires deepening connection to this element, create dens and shelters, track the animals who share the woods with us, learn about the language of the birds and tend the land.
Having nurtured an abundance of young mentors in the past, Vicky is very conscious of how valuable an experience this is for them. Please get in touch if you'd like to learn more about this!
Spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
"Being part of this group has been a truly wonderful experience for my daughter. Every time I picked her up, she brought away with her the joy of nature, she’d be dancing with the raindrops and wind, glowing with the warmth of the sun and powerful with the sturdy earth. She was so nurtured and seen and cared for. This experience is utterly irreplaceable. I am so grateful she has had it." Erika, Jan 2020
Costs and Commitment:
We ask for termly commitments after an initial trial session. Along with us being able to plan our finances with this commitment, it also enables a group to settle without comings and goings.
The half day sessions work out at £18/ session with a financial commitment to all sessions in a term. Some concession places are available where finances are limited. The Tuesday full day group is £30/session. The Wednesday full day group is £36/session with a financial commitment to all sessions in a term.
Please email to go on our waiting list if you are interested in joining this group.
[email protected]
The half day sessions work out at £18/ session with a financial commitment to all sessions in a term. Some concession places are available where finances are limited. The Tuesday full day group is £30/session. The Wednesday full day group is £36/session with a financial commitment to all sessions in a term.
Please email to go on our waiting list if you are interested in joining this group.
[email protected]
Currently taking a break from:
Teens
Weekly on Mondays
With Steve Tilling and Orin Johns
- This group of teenagers meets every Monday during term time from 1-4pm to go into the woods and chill out. Typically we come together once the group has arrived to open our senses and share something we are grateful for. We then play games in the field before heading down to the woods. After making a fire we have a snack and chat or perhaps a story and then can opt into an activity or craft. Some of the activities we have done include: whittling, cooking on the fire, clay work, gathering wild edible plants, challenges, wandering…and lots more. Many of the participants find it relaxing to have some social time out in nature away from screens.
